Seeking Relief in Times of Distress: Authentic Dua from the Hadith
When in distress:
Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “The supplications of the one in distress are: ‘Allahumma rahmataka arjoo, fala takilni ila nafsi tarfata ‘ayn, wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu, la ilaaha illa ant (which means: O Allah, it is Your mercy that I hope for, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for the blink of an eye, and rectify for me all of my affairs. None has the right to be worshiped except You).”
[Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, Ibn Hibbaan, and An-Nasaa’i in As-Sunan Al-Kubra]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with them, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, when he was in distress, used to say, “La ilaaha illa Allah Al-‘Atheem Al-Haleem; la ilaaha illa Allah rabbul-‘Arshi Al-‘Atheem, la ilaaha illa Allah rabbu-Samaawaati wa rabbu Al-Ardhi wa rabbul-‘Arsh Al-Kareem (which means: none is worthy of worship but Allah, the Great, the Forbearing; none is worthy of worship but Allah, the Lord of the Great Throne, none is worthy of worship but Allah, the Lord of the heavens and the Lord of the earth, and the Lord of the Noble Throne).”
[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim] This wording was cited in Saheeh Muslim.