1. Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that at times of distress, the Messenger of Allaah (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) used to say:
"There is no god but Allaah, the All-Great, the Patient; there is no god but Allaah, Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no god but Allaah, the Lord of heaven, the Lord of earth, and the Lord of the Noble Throne."
(reported by al-Bukhaari, may Allaah have mercy on him, no. 5870).
2.The Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said: "The prayer for one stricken by distress is:
"O Allaah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for a blink of an eye, and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshipped except You."
(Reported by Imaam Ahmad in al-Musnad, Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Kitaab al-Adab, Baab maa yaqool idhaa asbaha; see also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, 3388).
3.Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays said: "The Messenger of Allaah (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said to me: ‘Shall I not teach you some words to say at times of distress?
"O Allaah, You are my Lord and I do not associate anything with You."’"
(Reported by Abu Dawud in al-Sunan, Kitaab al-salaat, Baab fi’l-istighfaar; see also Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 2623).
4.The Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) said to his companions: "Shall I not tell you some words which, if distress or grief befalls any of you and he offers this prayer (supplication), it will bring him joy? It is the du‘aa’ of Dhoo’l-Noon (i.e. Yunus or Jonah):
‘There is no god but You, Glory to You; verily I was one of the wrongdoers.’"
(Saheeh al-Jaami‘, no. 2605).
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Shall I not tell you of something that, if any worldly calamity or disaster befalls any man among you and he says these words, he will be relieved of it. (It is) the du’aa’ of Dhu’l-Noon:
“Laa ilaaha illa anta subhaanaka inni kuntu min al-zaalimeen
(none has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allaah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers).”
According to another report: “No Muslim man says this du’aa’ concerning anything but Allaah will answer his prayer.”
Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer wa Ziyaadatuhu, 2065
5.Anas ibn Maalik said: "Whenever something distressed him, the Prophet (Peace & Blessings of Allaah be upon Him) used to say:
‘O Ever-Living, O Self-Sustaining, by Your mercy I seek Your help."
(Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no. 3446).
6.It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “My Lord came to me tonight in the most beautiful form…” and in this hadeeth he said that Allaah said, “O Muhammad, when you pray, then say:
‘Allaahumma inni as’aluka fi’l al-khayraat wa tark al-munkaraat, wa hubb al-masaakeen, wa an taghfira li wa tarhamani wa tatooba ‘alayya. Wa in aradta bi ‘ibaadika fitnatan, faqbidni ilayka ghayra maftoon
(O Allaah, I ask You (to enable me) to do good deeds and avoid evil deeds, and to love the poor, and (I ask You) to forgive me, have mercy on me and accept my repentance. If You will that some trial should befall Your slaves, then take me to You [i.e., cause me to die] without having subjected to that trial).”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3233; al-Albaani said of this hadeeth in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa’l-Tarheeb (408), it is saheeh li ghayrihi.
7.Abu Burdah ibn ‘Abd-Allaah narrated from his father that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was afraid of some people he would say,
“Allaahumma inna naj’aluka fi nuhoorihim wa na’oodhu bika min shuroorihim
(O Allaah, we place You before them and we seek refuge in You from their evil).”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1537; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 1360.
8.It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to say at times of distress:
“Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah al-‘Azeem al-Haleem, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb al-‘Arsh al-‘azeem, la ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb ul-samawaati wa Rabb ul-ard wa Rabb ul-‘Arsh il-kareem
(There is no god but Allaah, the All-Powerful, the Forbearing; there is no god but Allaah, Lord of the mighty Throne; there is no god but Allaah, Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, and Lord of the noble Throne).
” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6345; Muslim, 2730.
9.The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The words of relief are:
Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah al-‘Azeem al-Haleem, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb al-‘Arsh al-‘azeem, la ilaaha ill-Allaah Rabb ul-samawaati wa Rabb ul-ard wa Rabb ul-‘Arsh il-kareem
(There is no god but Allaah, the All-Powerful, the Forbearing; there is no god but Allaah, Lord of the mighty Throne; there is no god but Allaah, Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, and Lord of the noble Throne).”
Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer wa Ziyaadatuhu, 4571.
10.When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) went on a military campaign he would say,
‘Allaahumma anta ‘adudi wa anta naseeri wa bika uqaatil
(O Allaah, You are my help and You are my support and by Your help I fight).”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3584; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2836.
11.The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to teach his Sahaabah to say these words when they felt afraid:
“A’oodhu bi kalimaat-illaah il-taammati min ghadabihi wa min sharri ‘ibaadihi wa min hamazaat al-shayaateeni wa an yahduroon
(I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allaah from His wrath and from the evil of His slaves and from the evil promptings of the devils and from their presence).”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3893; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 3294.
12.The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The du’aa’ of the person who is in distress is:
‘Allaahumma rahmataka arjoo fa laa takilni ilaa nafsi tarfat ‘ayn wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu laa ilaaha illa anta
(O Allaah, for Your mercy I hope, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for the blink of an eye; rectify all my affairs. There is no god except You)’”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 5090; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 4246.
13.If some matter was troubling him, he would say,
Yaa Hayyu yaa Qayyoom bi rahmatika astagheeth
(O Ever-Living, O Sustainer, by Your mercy I seek Your help).”
According to another report: “If some matter worried him or distressed him.” Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer, 4791.
14.The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: to Asma’ bint ‘Umays, “Shall I not teach you some words which you can say at times of distress and hardship?
‘Allaahu Allahu rabbee laa ushriku bihi shay’an
(Allaah is my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him).’”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1525; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 1349.