Of the many ways in such Allah (SWT) has ordained for us to call upon him and seek His help is the recitation of duas, or supplications. While some beautiful duas are to be found in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of our dear Prophet Muhammad (S), many others are found in the practices of the family of the Prophet (S), his Companions, and pious scholars of Islam.

We can make dua, generally, in any form or language that we prefer. This is mainly because it encourages us to call upon Allah (SWT) sincerely from our hearts. However, there is much reward and virtue in reciting duas in their original Arabic form, especially those from the Quran and Sunnah. 

Duas are something we can use in any situation in our lives, in times of gratitude, agitation, or simply to express our servitude to Allah (SWT). Here we will share duas for safety and difficulty that you and your child can learn and use in your daily lives.

 

Duas for Safety and Protection 

 

Duas for safety and protection often involve seeking refuge in Allah (SWT) and protection from harm. Many of these duas ask for protection from particular sources of harm from which one desires extra protection. 

 

Duas in the Qur’an:

Some of the most well-known and beautiful duas duas for safety are found in the Qur’an. Many times these duas call upon the beautiful names of Allah (SWT), relating His beautiful attributes to the ways in which He can protect us from harm. 

Most commonly, the powerful and immensely effective combination of Surah Fatihah, Surah Nas, Surah Falaq, Surah Ikhlas, and Ayatul Kursi is recited for protection. 

Many other verses of the Qur’an also function as duas we can recite for safety, particularly for those around us. Verse 40 from Surah Ibrahim asks for the protection of our offspring and family by making them those who establish Salah regularly:

 

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِى مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِى ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ

Rabbi ijaalnee muqeemas salati wamin dhurriyyatee rabbana wataqabbal dua’

O my Lord, make me one who establishes regular prayer and (also) from my offspring, our Lord, and accept my invocation

 

Another ayah asks for the protection of our spouses and children by making them the comfort of our eyes and leaders of the righteous:

 

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍۢ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا 

Walladheena yaqooloona Rabbanaa hab lanaa min azwaajinaa wa dhurriyaatinaa qurrata ‘a’yuninw waj ‘alnaa lilmuttaqeena imaamaa

And those who pray, “Our Lord! Grant unto us wives and offspring who will be the comfort of our eyes, and give us (the grace) to lead the righteous.”

(Surah Furqan, Ayah 74)

Duas from Hadith:

1. Protection from all harm in the heavens and Earth 

This dua’ calls upon the beautiful names of Allah (SWT), the All-Hearing and All-Knowing, in seeking protection from all that surrounds us: 

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لَا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma’asmihi shay’un fil ardhi wa la fis-sama’i wa huwas-Sami’ul ‘Aleem

In the Name of Allah with Who, by His Name, nothing in the Earth or heaven can cause harm. And He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing 

(Sunan Abi Dawud)

 

       2. Protection from the evil of creation 

Another special dua for protection from all kinds of evil that the Prophet (S) was known to recite in the mornings and night is the following: 

أَعـوذُ بِكَلِمـاتِ اللّهِ التّـامّـاتِ مِنْ شَـرِّ ما خَلَـق

A‘udhu bi kalimati’llaahi’t-taammaat min sharri ma khalaq

I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created

(Sahih Muslim)

This dua asks for protection from all evil creation, be it visible, harmful creatures such as snakes and scorpions and the unseen, such as jinn. 

 

       3. Protection from all directions 

The following dua asks Allah (SWT) to protect us from all directions from which harm could possibly emerge: 

اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِي مِنْ بَينِ يَدَيَّ, وَمِنْ خَلْفِي, وَعَنْ يَمِينِي, وَعَنْ شِمَالِي وَمِنْ فَوْقِي, وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَن أُْغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِي

Allahummah-fazni min bayni yadayya, wa min khalfi, wa ‘an yameeni, wa ‘an shimali wa min fawqi, wa a’udhu bi’azamatika an ughtala min tahti

O Allah protect me from my front, behind me, from my right and my left, and from above me, and I seek refuge in Your Magnificence from being taken unaware from beneath me 

(Sunan Ibn Majah)

Dua in Difficulty and Hardship

 

When we face times of difficulty and hardship, it is important for us to remember that the best of help can only come from the Most Merciful and Most Loving Allah (SWT). We must teach our children to recite dua in difficulty and to have reliance on Allah (SWT) when we face our lowest, most trying times. 

 

Duas from the Qur’an 

Surah Yunus relates the heart-touching story of Prophet Yunus (as) and when he was trapped in the belly of a whale after abandoning his people. After realizing his mistake, he calls out to Allah (SWT) with this beautiful dua:

لَّآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنتَ سُبْحَٰنَكَ إِنِّى كُنتُ مِنَ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ

La ilaaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina az-zalimeen

There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers

(Surah Yunus, Ayah 87)

 

Duas from Hadith:

1. Seeking Relief 

One of the best dua to Allah (SWT) that we can make in times of difficulty is simple, beautiful, and short. It asks Allah (SWT) for relief by way of His mercy. 

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّوْمُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيْث

Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum! Bi rahmatika astagheeth!

“O Living and Eternal Sustainer! By Your mercy, I seek relief!”

(Tirmidhi)

 

       2. Seeking refuge from anxiety, sorrow, weakness, miserliness, and debt.

In this dua, the reciter requests refuge from specific sources of difficulty and their effects: 

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْهَمِّ وَالْحُزْنِ وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allahumma inni a’udhu bika minal-hammi, wal-huzni wal-‘ajzi wal-kasali wal-bukhli wal-jubni wa ḍala’id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal.

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and sorrow, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, the burden of debts and from being overpowered by men.”

(Bukhari)

Just as we place our hopes in dua to Allah (SWT) at times of difficulty, it is important to seek help from the means Allah has created when we are experiencing heightened states of anxiety and sorrow. Although Allah (SWT) is the Most Powerful and can make anything happen, we should seek professional help where needed. 

A reliable resource for Muslim mental health, spiritual counselors, and therapists is the Khalil Center,  a psychological and spiritual community wellness center advancing the professional practice of psychology rooted in Islamic principles.

 

       3. Seeking sufficiency in halal and dependence on Allah (SWT)

This dua asks Allah (SWT) to make halal sustenance sufficient for the supplicator, and making one independent of all other than Him. 

اللَّهُمَّ اكْفِنِي بِحَلاَلِكَ عَنْ حَرَامِكَ، وَأَغْنِنِي بِفَضْلِكِ عَمَّنْ سِوَاكَ

Allaahummak-finee bihalaalika ‘an haraamika wa ‘aghninee bifadlika ‘amman siwaaka.

“O Allah, suffice me with what You have allowed instead of what You have forbidden, and make me independent of all others besides You.”

(Tirmidhi)

This dua, along with many duas you can find in our Duas archives, can also be categorized as one of the duas for safety, as the reciter asks to be protected from dependence on others than Allah (SWT) and from what is forbidden. 

 

       4. Hoping for the Mercy of Allah (SWT) 

The beauty of this dua is that the reciter acknowledges that they are nothing without the mercy and help of Allah (SWT). The reciter asks Allah (SWT) to never leave them alone with their affairs for even the blink of an eye, as no one can correct their affairs except Him.

اللَّهُمَّ رَحْمَتَكَ أَرْجُو فَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ وَأَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَا أَنْتَ

Allahumma rahmataka arju fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘aynin wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu la ilaha ila anta

“O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for a blink of an eye. Correct all of my affairs for me. There is none worthy of worship except You.”

 

       5. Asking for ease 

Often used by those about to take an exam, the below dua asks that Allah (SWT) make difficulties easy, all the while acknowledging that there is no ease except through Him. 

اللّهُمَّ لا سَهْلَ إلا ما جَعَلْتَهُ سَهْلا وَأنتَ تَجْعَلُ الحَزْنَ إذا شِئْتَ سَهْلا

Allahumma la sahla illa maa ja’altahu sahlan, wa Anta taj’alu l-hazna idha shi’ta sahlaa.

“O Allah! There is no ease except that which You make easy, and indeed You, when You want, make difficulties easy.”

(Sahih Ibn Hibban)

 

       6. Placing trust in Allah (SWT)

This incredibly beautiful and powerful dua is more of a statement of dependence on Allah (SWT). We must feel that He is truly sufficient for us, and if we place our trust in Him and His power and majesty, there is nothing that can harm us. This is undoubtedly one of the most powerful duas for all problems. 

حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَآ إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

Hasbiyallaahu laa ‘ilaaha ‘illaa Huwa ‘alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa rabbul- ‘Arshil -‘Azeem

“Allah is sufficient for me. There is none worthy of worship but Him. I have placed my trust in Him, He is Lord of the Majestic Throne.”

(Sahih)

 

       7. Asking Allah for better 

The beginning of this dua is commonly recited when hearing of death or loss, specifically in the statement that we all belong to Allah (SWT) and are to eventually return to Him. This dua requests that Allah (SWT) bring something better than what has been lost, as all good comes from Him. 

إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي، وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْراً مِنْهَا

Innaa lillaahi wa ‘innaa ‘ilayhi raaji’oon, Allaahumma’-jurni fee museebatee wa akhlif lee khayran minhaa.

“We are from Allah and unto Him we return. O Allah take me out of my plight and bring to me after it something better.”

 

If you’re looking for a compilation of duas for different scenarios and uses in day-to-day life, you can visit the website Dua and Adhkar. 

 

Learn more Beautiful Duas 

 

When we need protection and safety, or wish to seek help in times of difficulty, there is none better than Allah (SWT) for us to call upon and rely on. Learning and reciting the above beautiful duas makes it easier for us to ask Allah (SWT) for help when in need, no matter the situation. What’s more, we receive innumerable rewards for the remembrance of Allah (SWT). Of course, dua can take any form, so by uttering your servitude to Him (SWT) in your own language and using your own words is a great idea as well! 

What is your go to dua to recite for safety and in times of difficulty? Comment below!