Remembrance in hardship and affliction

This section of Imam an-Nawawi's Kitab al-Adhkar gathers the chapters of adhkar of hardship and distress, the du'as a Muslim says when worry or grief comes upon him, or he fears an enemy or an oppressor, or his livelihood becomes difficult, or he is burdened with a debt he cannot meet, or a calamity strikes him. It comes to 39 items on this page, all taken from an-Nawawi's text with their sources.

Chapters of the adhkar of hardship in an-Nawawi's book

An-Nawawi arranged this section practically according to the state a person passes through, and among its chapters:

• The du'a of distress, and du'a at important matters.
• What he says when something startles or frightens him.
• What he says when worry or grief strikes him.
• What he says when he fears a people or a ruler, and when he looks at his enemy.
• What he says when a devil appears to him or he fears it.
• What he says when a matter becomes hard for him or his livelihood becomes difficult.
• What he says to repel afflictions, when a misfortune strikes him, and when he has a debt he cannot meet.

The most famous established du'as of distress

The du'a of distress in the two Sahihs

Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported from Ibn 'Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet ﷺ used to say at distress: "There is no god but Allah, the Almighty, the Forbearing; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the Noble Throne." It is a du'a built on tawhid and praise, and in it is an eloquent lesson: relief of distress begins with glorifying Allah before asking Him.

The call of Dhun-Nun

It is the du'a of Yunus (peace be upon him) in the belly of the whale: ﴿There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers﴾ (meaning: "There is no god but You; glory be to You; I was among the wrongdoers") [Al-Anbiya': 87]. At-Tirmidhi reported from Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ informed that no Muslim calls with it about anything except that Allah answers him, and the people of knowledge graded it sahih.

The du'as of the distressed

Abu Dawud reported from Abu Bakrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The du'as of the distressed: O Allah, Your mercy I hope, so do not leave me to myself for the blink of an eye, and set right all my affairs; there is no god but You," and the people of knowledge graded it hasan.

O Ever-Living, O Sustainer

At-Tirmidhi reported from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when something distressed the Prophet ﷺ he would say: "O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, by Your mercy I seek relief," and some hadith scholars graded it hasan.

Du'as for worry, debt and fear

• Seeking refuge from worry and grief: in Sahih al-Bukhari from Anas, the Prophet ﷺ used to say often: "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, and from the burden of debt and the domination of men."
• Du'a for paying a debt: at-Tirmidhi reported from 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) the du'a "O Allah, suffice me with Your lawful against Your forbidden, and enrich me by Your bounty from all besides You," and graded it hasan.
• Fear of a people: Abu Dawud reported from Abu Musa that when the Prophet ﷺ feared a people he would say: "O Allah, we place You at their throats and seek refuge in You from their evils."
• "Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs": in Sahih al-Bukhari from Ibn 'Abbas, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said it when he was thrown into the fire, and Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions said it when they were told that the people had gathered against them.
• At a calamity: in Sahih Muslim from Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her): "We belong to Allah and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me in my calamity and replace it for me with something better."

What did the scholars say about the adhkar of hardship?

Ibn al-Qayyim affirms in his books, among them "Zad al-Ma'ad", that the remedies of distress in the Sunnah revolve around tawhid, istighfar, reliance and thinking well of Allah, and that du'a is among the strongest causes for repelling what is disliked. The scholars mention that taking material means, such as treatment, consultation or striving for provision, does not conflict with these adhkar, but is part of complete reliance.

Practical advice

• Memorise one short du'a of distress and repeat it with a present heart, for a little that is constant is better than much that is interrupted.
• Join du'a with action: whoever has a debt makes du'a and strives to pay it, and whoever fears an oppressor makes du'a and seeks legitimate protection.
• Review the grading of each du'a in the app, for some narrations in this chapter are weak and an-Nawawi himself pointed that out.

Conclusion

The adhkar of hardship in an-Nawawi's book are a first-aid kit of faith for every tightness. Open them in the app whenever your chest is tight, and remember that relief comes with distress, and that with hardship comes ease.

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