16 supplications
Verses of Hope and Comfort for Hard Times
These verses are not supplications but reminders from Allah to His servants when the heart is heavy. Reciting them and reflecting on them is a remedy for despair: Allah promises ease after hardship, nearness to the one who calls and forgiveness for every sin.
With hardship comes ease
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
Fa-inna ma‘al-‘usri yusra, inna ma‘al-‘usri yusra.
For indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease.
Source: Qur’an 94:5-6
Ease after hardship
سَيَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍ يُسْرًا
Sayaj‘alullahu ba‘da ‘usrin yusra.
Allah will bring about ease after hardship.
Source: Qur’an 65:7
Hearts find rest
الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Alladhina amanu wa tatma’innu qulubuhum bi-dhikrillah, ala bi-dhikrillahi tatma’innul-qulub.
Those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Truly, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.
Source: Qur’an 13:28
I am near
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ ۖ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ ۖ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ
Wa idha sa’alaka ‘ibadi ‘anni fa-inni qarib, ujibu da‘watad-da‘i idha da‘an, falyastajibu li wal-yu’minu bi la‘allahum yarshudun.
When My servants ask you about Me, I am indeed near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me and believe in Me, that they may be rightly guided.
Source: Qur’an 2:186
Call upon Me, I will answer
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ
Wa qala rabbukumud‘uni astajib lakum.
And your Lord says: Call upon Me; I will respond to you.
Source: Qur’an 40:60
Do not despair of Allah’s mercy
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Qul ya ‘ibadiyal-ladhina asrafu ‘ala anfusihim la taqnatu mir-rahmatillah, innallaha yaghfirudh-dhunuba jami‘a, innahu huwal-ghafurur-rahim.
Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Source: Qur’an 39:53
Never lose hope
وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ
Wa la tay’asu mir-rawhillah, innahu la yay’asu mir-rawhillahi illal-qawmul-kafirun.
And do not despair of relief from Allah; no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.
Source: Qur’an 12:87
Do not weaken or grieve
وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Wa la tahinu wa la tahzanu wa antumul-a‘lawna in kuntum mu’minin.
Do not weaken and do not grieve, for you will be superior if you are believers.
Source: Qur’an 3:139
Allah’s help is near
أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ
Ala inna nasrallahi qarib.
Unquestionably, the help of Allah is near.
Source: Qur’an 2:214
Mercy is near to those who do good
إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ
Inna rahmatallahi qaribum-minal-muhsinin.
Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to those who do good.
Source: Qur’an 7:56
The verse of the way out
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ
Wa man yattaqillaha yaj‘al lahu makhraja, wa yarzuqhu min haythu la yahtasib, wa man yatawakkal ‘alallahi fahuwa hasbuh.
Whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from where he does not expect. Whoever relies upon Allah, He is sufficient for him.
Source: Qur’an 65:2-3
Seek help through patience and prayer
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
Ya ayyuhal-ladhina amanusta‘inu bis-sabri was-salah, innallaha ma‘as-sabirin.
O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.
Source: Qur’an 2:153
Glad tidings to the patient
وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُوا إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ أُولَٰئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ
Wa bashshiris-sabirin, alladhina idha asabathum musibatun qalu inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un, ula’ika ‘alayhim salawatum-mir-rabbihim wa rahmah, wa ula’ika humul-muhtadun.
Give good news to the patient, who, when a calamity strikes them, say: “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” Upon them are blessings and mercy from their Lord, and they are the rightly guided.
Source: Qur’an 2:155-157
Ya‘qub’s beautiful patience
فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُ
Fa-sabrun jamil, ‘asallahu an ya’tiyani bihim jami‘a, innahu huwal-‘alimul-hakim.
So patience is most fitting. Perhaps Allah will bring them to me all together. He is the All-Knowing, the Wise.
Source: Qur’an 12:83
Ya‘qub’s complaint to Allah
إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ
Innama ashku baththi wa huzni ilallah.
I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah.
Source: Qur’an 12:86
My Lord is near and responsive
إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ
Inna rabbi qaribum-mujib.
Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive. The words of the prophet Salih.
Source: Qur’an 11:61
One hardship, two eases
In “with hardship comes ease” the word “hardship” is defined and repeated, while “ease” is indefinite. Scholars of language deduced that one hardship is followed by two eases, and a narration from Ibn Mas‘ud and others says: “One hardship will never overcome two eases.”
Allah also opened the door of hope to the sinner: “Do not despair of the mercy of Allah; Allah forgives all sins” (39:53). Ibn ‘Abbas considered it among the most hopeful verses of the Qur’an.
Using these verses
Read them slowly when sadness comes, write one down where you will see it, and turn each into a du‘a: “O Allah, You promised ease after hardship, so grant me ease.” Reflection on the Qur’an is itself a cure for the heart (10:57).
Verses of Hope and Comfort for Hard Times: questions and answers
Which verse is best for depression and sadness?
“Truly, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (13:28) and “With hardship comes ease” (94:5-6). Combine them with the prophetic du‘a for anxiety and with professional help if needed.
Is it allowed to recite verses for a worldly need?
Yes. Reciting the Qur’an with hope in its promise is worship, and using its words in du‘a is recommended.
Related duas
- Duas for Anxiety, Worry and Distress
- Duas for Patience (Sabr) in Trials
- All the Rabbana Duas of the Qur’an, with Meaning
- Rabbi Duas: Supplications Beginning with “My Lord” in the Qur’an
- Praising Allah in the Words of the Qur’an: Tasbih and Tahmid
- Verses of Tawhid and the Names of Allah for Remembrance
- Qur’anic Verses of Tawakkul: Words of Reliance on Allah
- Ayat ash-Shifa: the Healing Verses and Qur’anic Ruqyah