Seeking Allah’s Help Through Prayer in Times of Distress

How Prayer Helps Seek Allah’s Assistance During Distress

Human life consists of two parts: one related to comfort and ease, and the other related to hardship and distress. In life, a person may experience comfort at times, while at other times, they may face difficulties. For a believer, there is guidance from Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in both of these situations. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
عَجَبًا لأَمْرِ المُؤْمِنِ، إنَّ أمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ خَيْرٌ، وليسَ ذاكَ لأَحَدٍ إلَّا لِلْمُؤْمِنِ، إنْ أصابَتْهُ سَرَّاءُ شَكَرَ، فَكانَ خَيْرًا له، وإنْ أصابَتْهُ ضَرَّاءُ، صَبَرَ فَكانَ خَيْرًا له (صحيح مسلم:2999)
Translation: “The matter of a believer is amazing. His entire affair is good for him, and this is only for the believer. If something good happens to him, he thanks Allah, and that is better for him. If something harmful befalls him, he shows patience, and that is better for him.”

This hadith addresses both the good and bad circumstances of life and explains that in times of comfort, a believer should express gratitude to Allah, and in times of hardship, they should exhibit patience. In Surah Al-Baqarah, Allah commands the believers to seek help through patience and prayer during times of distress. Allah says in one place:
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ (البقرة:45)
Translation: “And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive.”

In another verse, Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ (البقرۃ:153)
Translation: “O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”

These two verses from Surah Al-Baqarah indicate that in times of distress and difficulty, a believer should be patient and seek Allah’s help through prayer.

Prayer is one of the key pillars of Islam and the second most important act of worship. It is the most important means to find peace, solve problems, and seek Allah’s help during times of distress. Allah revealed Surah Al-Mu’minun, where the success of the believers is proclaimed in the very first verse:
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ (المؤمنون:1)
Translation: “Certainly, the believers have succeeded.”

Allah then describes the characteristics of the successful believers, starting with the second verse, where He mentions that they are focused in their prayer:
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ (المؤمنون:2)
Translation: “Who are humble in their prayer.”

In the ninth verse, Allah mentions that the successful believers maintain their prayers consistently:
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ (المؤمنون:9)
Translation: “And they who carefully maintain their prayers.”

In the following ten to eleven verses, Allah further elaborates that such believers are the true heirs of Jannah Al-Firdaus (the highest Paradise), where they will remain forever. The purpose of mentioning these verses in detail is to highlight that Muslims today are in distress because they do not engage in true worship of Allah. Among those who do worship Allah, many are engaged in innovations and shirk (polytheism). Consequently, Muslims remain in distress. Prayer is the purpose of life and a means of removing hardship, which is why Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would turn to prayer during moments of sadness and anxiety.

عن حذيفةَ قالَ كانَ النَّبيُّ صلَّى اللَّهُ عليْهِ وسلَّمَ إذا حزبَهُ أمرٌ صلَّى (صحيح أبي داود:1319)
Translation: Hudaifah رضي الله عنه said, “Whenever something distressed the Prophet ﷺ, he would pray.”

This hadith teaches us that prayer is a cure for distress. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to recite the Qunoot Nazila during times of distress caused by the disbelievers. He also commanded prayer during solar and lunar eclipses, which are signs from Allah to warn people. Similarly, when there was a drought, he commanded the prayer of Salat al-Istisqa (prayer for rain).

The Battle of Badr was a critical and difficult moment for the Muslims, perhaps the most dangerous moment in Islamic history. During this challenging time, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed to Allah, saying that if the small Muslim army was wiped out, no one would remain to worship Allah on Earth. On the night before Badr, regarding this moment, Imam Ali رضي الله عنه described the Prophet’s state:
ما كان فينا فارسٌ يومَ بدرٍ غيرُ المقدادِ ، ولقد رأيتُنا وما فينا إلا نائمٌ ، إلا رسولُ اللهِ تحت شجرةٍ ، يصلِّي ويبكي ، حتى أصبحَ (صحيح الترغيب:3330)
Translation: “On the Day of Badr, we had no knight except for Al-Miqdad. We were all sleeping, except for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who was praying under a tree and crying until the morning.”

Our predecessors followed the example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and even before him, the righteous used to pray during times of distress and seek Allah’s help. In the Tafsir of Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 45, it is mentioned that when Ibn Abbas رضي الله عنه received the news of his brother Quthm’s death during a journey, he read “Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’un” (Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him is our return), then moved aside from the path, made his camel kneel, and prayed two long rak’ahs. Afterward, he recited this verse:
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ (البقرة:45)
Translation: “And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive.”

Abdullah ibn Muhammad ibn Hanfiya narrates:
انطَلَقتُ أنا وأبي إلى صِهرٍ لنا من الأنْصارِ نَعودُه، فحَضَرتِ الصَّلاةُ، فقال لبَعضِ أهْلِه: يا جاريةُ، ائْتُوني بوَضوءٍ، لَعلِّي أُصلِّي فأسْتَريحَ، قال: فأنْكَرْنا ذلك عليه، فقال: سَمِعتُ رسولَ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ يقولُ: قُمْ يا بلالُ، فأَرِحْنا بالصَّلاةِ (صحيح أبي داود:4986)
Translation: “I and my father went to visit a relative from the Ansar, and the time for prayer arrived. He asked one of his family members to bring him water for ablution so he could pray and find comfort. We objected to this, and he said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “O Bilal, relieve us with prayer.”‘”

Similarly, in Sahih Bukhari (2482), the story of Jareej, a righteous man from the Israelites, is mentioned. When he was occupied in prayer and did not answer his mother’s call, she cursed him. Later, a false accusation was made against him, but through prayer, Allah cleared his name, and the baby spoke to reveal the truth.

In the story of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his wife Sarah, when they encountered the tyrant king who desired Sarah, Prophet Ibrahim ﷺ turned to prayer for help, and Allah protected them from harm. Sarah later responded to Ibrahim’s inquiry, saying:
خَيْرًا، كَفَّ اللَّهُ يَدَ الفَاجِرِ، وَأَخْدَمَ خَادِمًا (صحيح مسلم:2371)
Translation: “All is well. Allah has kept the hand of the evil-doer away, and He provided me with a maidservant.”

In conclusion, during times of hardship and distress, one should turn to prayer and seek Allah’s help. The five daily prayers are obligatory and must be performed under all circumstances. In addition, offering extra prayers (nawafil) during times of distress is a practice that follows the example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is unfortunate that many today resort to superstitions like wearing amulets, going to shrines, or offering sacrifices for relief, which are all un-Islamic and, in some cases, shirk (polytheistic). We should avoid these practices and adhere to the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.