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28 Safar 1448 AHDuas · Sabr & courage
Authentic Islamic prayers for strength — for patience in hardship, courage before a difficult task, and relief from anxiety — from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah.
The most beloved words of strength in Islam are "Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil" — Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs (Quran 3:173) — and "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" — there is no might nor power except with Allah, a treasure from Paradise (Bukhari 4205). Before a difficult task, pray the dua of Musa: "My Lord, expand my chest and ease my task" (Quran 20:25).
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Each of these is authentically reported from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ or taken directly from the Quran. Memorise the short ones — they were given for exactly the moment you need them.
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil
“Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.”
The words of Ibrahim (AS) when thrown into the fire, and of the Prophet ﷺ when people warned him of a gathering army — and it only increased them in faith. Say it when the situation is bigger than you.
Quran 3:173 · Sahih al-Bukhari 4563
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
“There is no might to change, nor power to act, except with Allah.”
The Prophet ﷺ called it "a treasure from the treasures of Paradise" and advised repeating it often — a confession that strength is borrowed, not owned.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4205 · 7384
رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِنْ لِسَانِي يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي
Rabbish-rahli sadri, wa yassirli amri, wahlul 'uqdatan min lisani, yafqahu qawli
“My Lord, expand for me my chest, ease my task for me, and untie the knot from my tongue so that they may understand my speech.”
Musa (AS) prayed this when sent to Pharaoh — the Quran’s own prayer for courage before a daunting task: an interview, an exam, a difficult conversation.
Quran 20:25–28
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-'ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa dala'id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijal
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from the burden of debt and from being overpowered by men.”
The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge with this frequently — the most comprehensive prophetic dua against anxiety, paralysis of will, and overwhelm.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6369
اللَّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ
Allahumma a'inni 'ala dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni 'ibadatik
“O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You in the best manner.”
The Prophet ﷺ held Mu’adh’s hand and said: "Do not leave it after every prayer." — a dua to say inside your Salah, before the taslim.
Abu Dawud 1522 · Nasa’i 1303 (sahih)
يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ، أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ، وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ
Ya Hayyu ya Qayyum, birahmatika astaghith, aslih li sha'ni kullahu, wa la takilni ila nafsi tarfata 'ayn
“O Ever-Living, O Self-Sustaining, by Your mercy I seek help. Set right all of my affairs, and do not leave me to myself even for the blink of an eye.”
What the Prophet ﷺ said to Fatimah (RA) every morning and evening — for days when you cannot hold everything together on your own.
An-Nasa’i 10405 (hasan)
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
La ilaha illa Anta, subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin
“There is no god but You; glory be to You. Indeed, I was among the wrongdoers.”
Yunus (AS) called this from inside the whale. The Prophet ﷺ said: no Muslim ever supplicates with it for anything except that Allah answers him.
Quran 21:87 · Tirmidhi 3505
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
La ilaha illallahul-'Azimul-Halim, la ilaha illallahu Rabbul-'Arshil-'Azim, la ilaha illallahu Rabbus-samawati wa Rabbul-ardi wa Rabbul-'Arshil-Karim
“There is no god but Allah, the Magnificent, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Magnificent Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth, and Lord of the Noble Throne.”
The Prophet ﷺ would say this when distressed — the dua for the heaviest nights.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6346 · Sahih Muslim 2730
Quran 2:45
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ
“Seek help through patience and prayer — the divine formula for strength: sabr and Salah together.”
Quran 2:286
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear. Whatever you are carrying today, its weight was measured for you.”
Quran 94:5–6
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا · إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
“Indeed, with hardship comes ease. Truly, with the hardship comes ease — repeated twice as a promise.”
Quran 65:2–3
وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ
“Whoever is mindful of Allah — He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from where he does not expect.”
"Seek help through patience and prayer" (Quran 2:45). When the Prophet ﷺ was troubled by a matter, he would hasten to the prayer (Abu Dawud 1319). If you are asking Allah for strength, begin by guarding the five daily prayers — they are the strength you are asking for. Check today's times for London, Birmingham, Bradford or your city.
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The most beloved prophetic words of strength are "Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil" — Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs (Quran 3:173) — and "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" — there is no might nor power except with Allah, which the Prophet ﷺ called a treasure from Paradise (Bukhari 4205).
The dua of Musa (AS): "Rabbish-rahli sadri wa yassirli amri" — My Lord, expand my chest and ease my task (Quran 20:25–28). Musa said it before facing Pharaoh; it is the Quran’s prayer before exams, interviews, surgery or any daunting moment.
Yes — the Prophet ﷺ frequently said: "Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-'ajzi wal-kasal…" (Bukhari 6369), seeking refuge from worry, grief, incapacity and laziness. For heaviness of heart he would also repeat "La ilaha illallahul-'Azimul-Halim…" (Bukhari 6346).
There is no fixed count for most of them. "Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal-wakil" and "La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah" may be repeated as often as the heart needs — morning and evening adhkar commonly use 3, 7, 10 or 100 repetitions. What matters is presence and certainty, not arithmetic.
Yes — personal dua is valid in any language. Recite the Arabic prophetic wordings for their exact blessing, then pour your heart out to Allah in the language you think in. He hears both.
No — strength in Islam is tawakkul: tie your camel, then trust Allah. The Quran pairs patience with prayer (2:45), not patience instead of effort. Make the dua, then take the step.