Dua When in Distress
“There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the mighty Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.” The Arabic, how to say it, when to read it, and its source.
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
- Transliteration
- Lā ilāha illallāhul-ʿAẓīmul-Ḥalīm, lā ilāha illallāhu Rabbul-ʿarshil-ʿaẓīm, lā ilāha illallāhu Rabbus-samāwāti wa Rabbul-arḍi wa Rabbul-ʿarshil-karīm
- Meaning
- There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the mighty Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.
- Source
- Sahih al-Bukhari 6346
When to say it
- In a crisis, bad news or a panic
- When a problem feels bigger than you
- Before making your own dua for help
About this dua
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say this at times of distress (karb) (Sahih al-Bukhari 6346).
It does not ask for anything directly. It reminds the heart how great Allah is, so the problem shrinks in comparison. After it, ask Allah for what you need.
Another dua for hard moments is the call of Prophet Yunus عليه السلام from inside the whale (Quran 21:87):
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Lā ilāha illā anta subḥānaka innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn: “There is no god but You, glory be to You; I have been among the wrongdoers.” For everyday worry, see the dua for anxiety.
If you are in crisis or thinking of harming yourself, please contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. Dua and help go together.
Quran and hadith references link to quran.com and sunnah.com. Reviewed 19 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
More duas
Frequently asked questions
What is the dua when in distress?
Lā ilāha illallāhul-ʿAẓīmul-Ḥalīm, lā ilāha illallāhu Rabbul-ʿarshil-ʿaẓīm, lā ilāha illallāhu Rabbus-samāwāti wa Rabbul-arḍi wa Rabbul-ʿarshil-karīm: “There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the mighty Throne. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6346).
Is this dua authentic?
Yes. It is from Sahih al-Bukhari 6346, an authentic hadith collection. The source is linked on this page so you can check it.