Dua for the Oppressed: Supplications Against Injustice and Distress

دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُوم

The supplication of one who suffers injustice rises to Allah with no veil. Here are the hadiths that affirm it and the duas to say.

What the hadiths say about the dua of the oppressed

When the Prophet ﷺ sent Mu‘adh ibn Jabal to Yemen, he ended his advice with: “And beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no veil between it and Allah” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1496; Sahih Muslim, 19).

He also said: “Three supplications are answered without a doubt: the supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveller and the supplication of a father for his child” (Abu Dawud, 1536; at-Tirmidhi, 1905). See also the dua of the traveller.

Supplications to say in the face of injustice

1. Allah is sufficient for us

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Hasbuna Allahu wa ni‘ma l-wakil

“Allah is sufficient for us, and what an excellent Disposer of affairs!”

Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:173 — Sahih al-Bukhari, 4563

Ibn ‘Abbas reports that Ibrahim said it when he was thrown into the fire, and the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions said it when they were told that the enemy was gathering against them.

2. The dua of Nuh

أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ
Anni maghlubun fantasir

“I am overcome, so help me!”

Surah Al-Qamar, 54:10

3. The dua of Yunus in the belly of the whale

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu mina z-zalimin

“There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”

Surah Al-Anbiya, 21:87 — at-Tirmidhi, 3505

The Prophet ﷺ said that no Muslim makes this supplication for anything without Allah answering him (at-Tirmidhi, 3505).

4. The dua of distress (du‘a al-karb)

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ الْعَظِيمُ الْحَلِيمُ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ، لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَرَبُّ الْأَرْضِ وَرَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْكَرِيمِ
La ilaha illa Allahu l-‘Azimu l-Halim, la ilaha illa Allahu Rabbu l-‘arshi l-‘azim, la ilaha illa Allahu Rabbu s-samawati wa Rabbu l-ardi wa Rabbu l-‘arshi l-karim

“There is no deity except Allah, the Great, the Forbearing. There is no deity except Allah, Lord of the Great Throne. There is no deity except Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.”

Sahih al-Bukhari, 6346 — Sahih Muslim, 2730

How to make dua when you are oppressed

  1. Purify yourself and face the qibla if possible, after wudu.
  2. Begin by praising Allah and sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.
  3. Present your situation to Allah sincerely, in whatever language you wish.
  4. Choose the best times: prostration, the last third of the night, between the adhan and the iqama, and Friday.
  5. Do not lose hope: the Prophet ﷺ said that one is answered as long as one does not grow impatient and say “I made dua and I was not answered” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 6340).

Find more supplications on our page duas: the essential supplications and in Hisnul Muslim.

Advertisement

Also worth reading

All of Prayer & worship
Prayer & worship

Dua for breaking the fast

The dua to recite at iftar: Dhahaba adh-dhama'u in Arabic, transliteration and English, its source in Abu Dawud, and the right moment to say it.
Prayer & worship

Dua for Travelling (Traveller’s Dua)

Dua for travelling in Arabic, transliteration and English: leaving, arriving, returning, farewell dua and shortening the prayer (qasr) while travelling.
Prayer & worship

Dua of the last 10 nights

The dua to recite during the last 10 nights of Ramadan and Laylat al-Qadr: Allahumma innaka Afuwwun, in Arabic, transliteration and English, with its source.
Prayer & worship

Community dua requests

Post your dua request (health, exams, work, family, the deceased) and let the Muslim community pray to Allah for you. Simple, free and anonymous.
Prayer & worship

Istikhara Prayer: Dua and Steps

How to pray Istikhara (salat al-istikhara): two rak‘ahs, the istikhara dua in Arabic, transliteration and English (Bukhari), and how to know the answer.
Prayer & worship

The Adhan and the Iqamah

Learn the Adhan and the Iqamah phrase by phrase: Arabic text, transliteration, English translation and audio, including the extra line of the Fajr call.
Frequently asked questions

You may be wondering…

Is the dua of the oppressed always answered?

The Prophet ﷺ said to Mu‘adh: “Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no veil between it and Allah” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 1496; Sahih Muslim, 19). The answer can take three forms: the request is granted, a harm is averted, or a reward is kept for the Hereafter.

Which dua should one say when suffering injustice?

The best known is “Hasbuna Allahu wa ni‘ma l-wakil” (Allah is sufficient for us, and what an excellent Disposer of affairs), said by Ibrahim when he was thrown into the fire and by the Companions (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:173; Sahih al-Bukhari, 4563). One can also make the dua of Nuh: “I am overcome, so help me” (Surah Al-Qamar, 54:10).

May one make dua against the person who wronged us?

It is permitted within the limit of the wrong suffered, without excess. But forgiving is more rewarding: “Whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah” (Surah Ash-Shura, 42:40). Many scholars recommend asking Allah to bring justice rather than cursing.

Is the dua of a non-Muslim who is oppressed also answered?

Yes. According to a hadith of Anas reported by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad, the supplication of the oppressed is answered even if he is a disbeliever, because Allah does not tolerate injustice. Injustice is forbidden towards every human being.

Quiz

Test your knowledge of Islam

3 questions, then as many rounds as you like.

Loading questions…