6 supplications
Duas for Patience (Sabr) in Trials
Patience is mentioned in the Qur’an in about ninety places, and Allah promised its people a reward without measure. The Prophet ﷺ taught words to say at the moment of calamity, and the Qur’an preserved the duas of believers who asked to be filled with patience.
At a calamity
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي، وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un. Allahumma’jurni fi musibati, wa akhlif li khayran minha.
Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better. Umm Salamah said it when Abu Salamah died, and Allah gave her the Prophet ﷺ as husband.
Source: Sahih Muslim
When something goes wrong
قَدَرُ اللَّهِ وَمَا شَاءَ فَعَلَ
Qadarullahi wa ma sha’a fa‘al.
Allah has decreed, and what He wills He does. “Do not say: if only I had done such-and-such, for “if” opens the door to Satan.”
Source: Sahih Muslim
Pour patience upon us
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa thabbit aqdamana wansurna ‘alal-qawmil-kafirin.
Our Lord, pour patience upon us, make our steps firm and give us victory over the disbelieving people.
Source: Qur’an 2:250
For patience until the end
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ
Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa tawaffana muslimin.
Our Lord, pour patience upon us and let us die as Muslims.
Source: Qur’an 7:126
Ya‘qub’s beautiful patience
فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
Fa-sabrun jamil, wallahul-musta‘anu ‘ala ma tasifun.
So patience is most fitting, and Allah is the One whose help is sought against what you describe.
Source: Qur’an 12:18
On hearing displeasing news
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
Alhamdu lillahi ‘ala kulli hal.
Praise be to Allah in every circumstance.
Source: Sunan Ibn Majah
Patience at the first strike
The Prophet ﷺ passed by a woman weeping at a grave and told her to fear Allah and be patient. Later he said: “Patience is at the first strike” (al-Bukhari, Muslim). The reward is for the believer who holds back anger and complaint at the moment of the shock, not after time has eased it.
He taught to say at a calamity: “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un, Allahumma’jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha”. Umm Salamah said it when Abu Salamah died, and Allah replaced him with the Prophet ﷺ himself (Muslim).
Three kinds of patience
Scholars describe patience in obeying Allah, patience in avoiding sin, and patience with painful decrees. Allah says: “Indeed the patient will be given their reward without measure” (39:10), and He is with them (2:153). Patience does not forbid tears: the Prophet ﷺ wept at the death of his son Ibrahim and said: “The eye weeps and the heart grieves, but we say only what pleases our Lord” (al-Bukhari).
The magicians’ du‘a
“Rabbana afrigh ‘alayna sabran wa tawaffana muslimin” was said by Pharaoh’s magicians when they believed and were threatened with crucifixion (7:126). “Afrigh” means to pour abundantly, as water is poured until a vessel is full. Ya‘qub’s “sabrun jamil” is patience without complaint to people, while complaint to Allah remains open: “I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah” (12:86).
Practical tips
- Say “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un” immediately at any loss.
- Remember the reward without measure promised to the patient.
- Complain to Allah, not to people.
- Pray two rak‘ahs when grief is heavy.
- Read the stories of the prophets’ patience.
Duas for Patience (Sabr) in Trials: questions and answers
What should I say when I receive bad news?
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un, Allahumma’jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha” (Muslim), and “Qadarullahi wa ma sha’a fa‘al” (Muslim).
Is crying against patience?
No. Tears and sadness are mercy; what contradicts patience is objection to the decree, wailing and tearing clothes.
Is it allowed to ask Allah to remove the trial?
Yes. Ayyub asked Allah to remove his harm and was praised as patient (21:83, 38:44).