Prayers to Soothe the Heart and Alleviate Worries
In the Prophetic tradition, there is a collection of surefire supplications from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), which he recited during times of distress, providing comfort to the heart. Some of these are as follows:
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and sorrow, from incapacity and laziness, from stinginess and cowardice, from the burden of debt and the oppression of men.”
- According to Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) would invoke during times of tribulation: “There is no deity but Allah, the Most Great, the Most Forbearing; there is no deity but Allah, the Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no deity but Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the Noble Throne.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated: “No one has ever experienced worry or sorrow and said: ‘O Allah, I am Your servant, son of Your servant, grandson of Your servant. My forelock is in Your hand. Your decree upon me is executed, and Your judgment regarding me is just. I implore You by every name that belongs to You, which You have named Yourself, have revealed in Your Book, have taught to one of Your creatures, or have kept in the knowledge of the unseen with You, to make the Quran the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the departure of my sorrow, and the removal of my worry,’ except that Allah Almighty will remove his worry and substitute his sorrow with joy.”
- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “For the one in distress: O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye. Rectify for me my affairs in their entirety, for there is no deity but You.”
- Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “When calamity or hardship befalls you, say: ‘Allah is our Lord, and there is no partner with Him.’
- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) advised: “If any of you experiences grief or distress, let him say: ‘Allah is my Lord, and I do not associate anything with Him.’
- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned: “The supplication of Dhun-Nun, when he called while in the belly of the fish: ‘There is no deity but You; glory be to You, indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers,’ for no Muslim has ever prayed with it in any situation but that Allah responded to him.”
Overcoming Worry
The life of a Muslim is not devoid of sadness and worry, which can diminish the joy of earthly existence. However, such trials elevate ranks, expiate sins, and draw the servant closer to their Creator for supplication. There are several remedies to dispel anxiety from the heart, the most important of which is performing righteous deeds and having faith in Allah, as stated in the Quran: “Whoever does a good deed, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a believer, We will surely grant them a good life, and We will surely give them their reward according to the best of what they used to do.” The joy and acceptance of whatever befalls a believer brings them immense reward from Allah, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “No hardship or pain befalls a Muslim, even if it were a thorn that pricks him, but that Allah expiates his sins through it.”
Moreover, understanding the nature of worldly life and its transience aids in alleviating sadness. It has been narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed by a funeral, he remarked: “One is relieved and one is relieved from.” When asked what he meant by this, he explained: “The believer is relieved from the hardships of this world and enters into the mercy of Allah, while the wicked one is relieved from the burdens of the people and the land, as well as the trees and the animals.” In addition, supplication is an effective remedy for alleviating worries, with trust in Allah in all endeavors. Regular recitation and reflection on the Quran are some of the most significant strategies to rid oneself of anxiety.
Etiquettes of Supplication
When a believer turns to Allah in prayer, several etiquettes should be observed to ensure the acceptance of their supplications. Here are some important ones:
- Avoidance of illicit wealth.
- Persistence in supplication without rushing or despairing, as Allah has decreed matters with wisdom.
- Sincerity in prayer; as stated in the Quran: “Invoke Allah, making religion sincere for Him alone, even if the disbelievers dislike it.”
- Staying away from sins and repenting to Allah.
- Being persistent in supplication, repeating it up to three times.
- Seizing favorable times and places for supplication.
- Avoiding disrespect in one’s prayers to Allah.