Dua to Remove Hardships

Explanation
This dua is recited in times of distress. The source book also recommends it as a spiritual safeguard against being harassed by unseen beings.
Dua Text
اَلرَّحْمٰنُ الرَّحِيمُ، يَا رَحْمٰنُ يَا رَحِيمُ، يَا رَؤُوفُ يَا عَطُوفُ، أَجِبْ يَا جِبْرَائِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَنْ تُسَخِّرَ لِي قُلُوبَ جَمِيعِ الْمَخْلُوقَاتِ الرُّوحَانِيَّاتِ مِنَ الْعُلْوِيَّاتِ وَالسُّفْلِيَّاتِ، سَمِيعًا مُطِيعًا بِحَقِّ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ، وَبِحَقِّ الرَّؤُوفِ الْعَطُوفِ، وَبِحَقِّ الْمَلِكِ هُوَ زَاجِرُ الْمُوَكَّلِ بِقَوَائِمِ الْعَرْشِيَّةِ
Transliteration
Ar-Rahmanur-Rahim, ya Rahmanu ya Rahim, ya Ra’ufu ya ‘Atuf, ajib ya Jibra’ilu ‘alayhis-salamu ‘ala an tusakhkhira li quluba jami’il-makhluqatir-ruhaniyyati minal-‘ulwiyyati was-sufliyyati, sami’an muti’an bi-haqqir-Rahmanir-Rahim, wa bi-haqqir-Ra’ufil-‘Atuf, wa bi-haqqil-Maliki huwa zajirul-muwakkali bi-qawa’imil-‘arshiyyah.
Meaning
Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. O Most Gracious, O Most Merciful; O Compassionate (Ra’uf), O Most Tender (’Atuf)! O Jibril (peace be upon him), answer by turning to me the hearts of all spiritual beings of the higher and lower realms, attentive and obedient — for the sake of the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, for the sake of the Compassionate and the Most Tender, and for the sake of the Malik appointed over the pillars of the Throne.
What Is Asked in This Dua
The dua opens with Allah’s names that express mercy: the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate and the Most Tender. In distress, the servant seeks help not from Allah’s majesty but from His mercy and compassion; calling on Him by these names shows that he has tied his hope to Allah’s mercy.
The request is made for the sake of the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, for the sake of the Compassionate and the Most Tender, and for the sake of the King who holds the pillars of the Throne. The servant asks that the hearts of all creatures be turned toward him. This means that the hostility, unrest and distress that may come from people and other beings are lifted, and that those around him soften toward him and leave him in peace. The source book states that this dua is also recommended as a spiritual safeguard against being harassed by unseen beings.
When and How to Recite
It is recited in times of distress. The source book especially recommends reciting it at least three times in the morning and in the evening; it is also mentioned as a spiritual safeguard against being harassed by unseen beings.
It can be recited at least three times in the morning and evening, preferably with wudu and while reflecting on its meaning, and it can also be repeated during the day when distress increases. Those who find the Arabic difficult can also pray with its meaning in their own language; what matters is sincerely taking refuge in Allah’s mercy.
Virtue
It is especially recommended to recite it at least three times in the morning and in the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the dua to remove hardships recited?
It is recited in times of distress; the source book especially recommends reciting it in the morning and in the evening.
How many times is the dua to remove hardships recited?
The source book recommends reciting it at least three times in the morning and in the evening; there is no harm in reciting it more often when needed.
Can the dua to remove hardships be recited without wudu?
Wudu is not a condition for dua, though being in a state of wudu is virtuous; since the text contains no Quranic verse, the rulings concerning the Mushaf do not apply.
Source
Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 2, p. 131.
The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?
Published: 2 September 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026
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