Refuge from helplessness and laziness
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْهَرَمِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika mina-l-'ajzi wa-l-kasal, wa-l-jubni wa-l-haram, wa a'udhu bika min fitnati-l-mahya wa-l-mamat, wa a'udhu bika min 'adhabi-l-qabr.
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from helplessness and laziness, from cowardice and frail old age. I seek refuge in You from the trials of life and death, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave.”
Anas reported that the Prophet ﷺ used to say this. He ﷺ named laziness among the things he sought refuge from, so asking Allah (SWT) for energy in worship and in work follows his example.
Du'a 2 · Morning adhkar
On entering the morning
أَصْبَحْنَا وَأَصْبَحَ الْمُلْكُ لِلَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. رَبِّ أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ مَا فِي هَٰذَا الْيَوْمِ وَخَيْرَ مَا بَعْدَهُ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا فِي هَٰذَا الْيَوْمِ وَشَرِّ مَا بَعْدَهُ، رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْكَسَلِ وَسُوءِ الْكِبَرِ، رَبِّ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابٍ فِي النَّارِ وَعَذَابٍ فِي الْقَبْرِ
Asbahna wa asbaha-l-mulku lillah, wa-l-hamdu lillah, la ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahu-l-mulku wa lahu-l-hamd, wa Huwa 'ala kulli shay'in Qadir. Rabbi as'aluka khayra ma fi hadha-l-yawm wa khayra ma ba'dah, wa a'udhu bika min sharri ma fi hadha-l-yawm wa sharri ma ba'dah. Rabbi a'udhu bika mina-l-kasali wa su'i-l-kibar. Rabbi a'udhu bika min 'adhabin fi-n-nar wa 'adhabin fi-l-qabr.
“We have entered the morning, and the dominion belongs to Allah. Praise is for Allah. There is no god but Allah alone, with no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is able to do all things. My Lord, I ask You for the good of this day and the good of what comes after it, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this day and the evil of what comes after it. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from laziness and the wretchedness of old age. My Lord, I seek refuge in You from punishment in the Fire and punishment in the grave.”
Du'a 3 · Daily-life du'as
The dhikr the Prophet ﷺ taught Fatimah for bedtime
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Allahu Akbar (34 times), SubhanAllah (33 times), Alhamdulillah (33 times).
“Allah is the Greatest (34 times). Glory be to Allah (33 times). Praise be to Allah (33 times).”
Fatimah was worn out by the hand mill and asked for a servant. The Prophet ﷺ came to her and 'Ali at bedtime and taught them to say Allahu Akbar thirty-four times, SubhanAllah thirty-three times and Alhamdulillah thirty-three times when they lay down, and said it was better for them than a servant.
Du'a 4 · Healing & wellbeing
A du'a for worry, grief, helplessness, and debt
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْجُبْنِ وَالْبُخْلِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika mina-l-hammi wa-l-hazan, wa-l-'ajzi wa-l-kasal, wa-l-jubni wa-l-bukhl, wa dala'i-d-dayn, wa ghalabati-r-rijal.
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from worry and grief, incapacity and laziness, cowardice and miserliness, the burden of debt, and being overpowered by people.”
A comprehensive Prophetic dua addressing emotional pressure and the practical forces that can deepen it: helplessness, inaction, fear, withholding, debt, and being overpowered.