Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan (اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ) is one of the most powerful Sunnah duas the Prophet ﷺ ever taught — a single supplication that names eight different evils and seeks Allah’s refuge from each. He taught it personally to a companion crushed by debt and grief, and that man returned the next day relieved of his burden.
This guide covers the full Arabic of the dua, its transliteration, the meaning of every phrase (the eight evils and how they map to internal vs external suffering), the story of Abu Umamah — the companion the Prophet ﷺ taught it to — and the morning and evening adhkar where it appears.
Table of Contents
The Full Dua in Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ
Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa dala‘id-dayn, wa ghalabatir-rijal.
Meaning: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, from weakness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from being overwhelmed by debt and overpowered by men.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 6369, narrated by Anas ibn Malik. Versions are also recorded in Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawud 1555, and Sunan an-Nasa’i 5449.
Word-by-Word Breakdown of the 8 Evils
The dua is structured in four matching pairs. Each pair targets one type of suffering, and the pairs progress from inner anguish to outer oppression:
- Al-Hamm (الْهَمّ) — anxiety about the future. The dread of what has not yet happened — bills, illness, failure, separation, the unknown. The forward-leaning weight on the chest.
- Al-Hazan (الْحَزَن) — grief over the past. Sorrow about what has already happened — loss, regret, missed chances, those who have died. The backward-pulling weight on the heart.
- Al-‘Ajz (الْعَجْز) — incapacity. Genuine inability to act — you cannot. Physical limitation, lack of resources, the door that simply will not open.
- Al-Kasal (الْكَسَل) — laziness. The opposite condition — you can act, but you do not. Loss of motivation when ability is intact.
- Al-Bukhl (الْبُخْل) — miserliness. Hoarding wealth, time, knowledge, or kindness out of an unjustified fear of running out. The shrinking of the soul.
- Al-Jubn (الْجُبْن) — cowardice. Paralysis when standing up is required. The opposite of bukhl: bukhl holds back from giving; jubn holds back from acting.
- Dala‘ ad-Dayn (ضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ) — the overwhelming weight of debt. Literally “the bend of debt,” the bending of one’s back under financial obligation. Not a small debt, but the kind that disturbs sleep.
- Ghalabat ar-Rijal (غَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ) — being overpowered by men. Oppression, injustice, harassment by people stronger than you — whether by force, position, or numbers.
Notice the architecture. The first pair targets emotional suffering (past + future). The second pair targets internal will (genuine vs chosen incapacity). The third pair targets character (the contraction of the soul). The fourth pair targets external pressure (financial + social). The Prophet ﷺ mapped almost the entire human battlefield in eight phrases.
The Story of Abu Umamah — Why the Dua Was Taught
The most famous account of this dua is the hadith of Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him). He narrated:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered the masjid one day at a time other than the prayer time, and he saw a man from the Ansar called Abu Umamah. He said: “O Abu Umamah, why do I see you sitting in the masjid at a time other than the prayer time?” He said: “Worries that took hold of me and debts, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Shall I not teach you words by which, if you say them, Allah will dispel your worries and pay off your debt?” I said: “Of course, O Messenger of Allah.” He said: “Say in the morning and the evening: Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika minal-hammi wal-hazan, wal-‘ajzi wal-kasal, wal-bukhli wal-jubn, wa dala‘id-dayn, wa ghalabatir-rijal.” Abu Umamah said: “I did that, and Allah took away my worry and paid off my debt.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud 1555, hasan)Related:
The lesson is precise: this is not a generic dua of well-being. The Prophet ﷺ prescribed it as a remedy for the specific combination of anxiety + debt — the two storms that almost always travel together. He told Abu Umamah to recite it morning and evening; that is the schedule the Sunnah preserves.
When and How to Recite
- Morning, after Fajr. Part of the standard morning adhkar in Hisn al-Muslim (Fortress of the Muslim).
- Evening, after ‘Asr or Maghrib. Same dua, second time of day.
- In sujood — the closest a servant comes to Allah (Sahih Muslim 482). For someone in acute anxiety, recite it in every prostration.
- In the last third of the night during Tahajjud, when Allah descends and answers callers (Sahih al-Bukhari 1145).
- After every fard prayer for those in financial or emotional crisis.
Recite it slowly. Pause between each pair and let the meaning land — the dua works most when the heart can match the words it is saying. Mechanical repetition still earns reward, but presence (khushu‘) earns relief.
Hamm vs Hazan — Two Different Diseases
The classical scholars (Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Hajar) drew a sharp distinction between the first two evils because they require different cures:
- Hamm is anxiety about what has not yet happened. Cure: tawakkul — trust the One who controls the future.
- Hazan is grief about what has already happened. Cure: qadar — accept that what has passed could not have been otherwise.
The Prophet ﷺ named both because the soul rarely faces just one. Most suffering is layered — you grieve a past loss and dread a future one in the same hour. The dua sets refuge against both at once.
Other Sunnah Duas for Anxiety and Distress
- The dua of distress (Dua al-Karb): La ilaha illa Allahul-‘Azheemul-Halim, La ilaha illa Allahu Rabbul-‘Arshil-‘Azheem, La ilaha illa Allahu Rabbus-samawati wa Rabbul-ardi wa Rabbul-‘Arshil-Karim (Sahih al-Bukhari 6346).
- The dua of Yunus ة: La ilaha illa Anta, Subhanaka, inni kuntu minaz-zalimin (Surah al-Anbiya 21:87). The Prophet ﷺ said: “No Muslim ever supplicates with this dua for anything except that Allah responds to him.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 3505).
- Hasbunallahu wa ni‘mal-wakil: “Allah is sufficient for us and the best Disposer of affairs.” The dua of Ibrahim ة in the fire and the believers at Uhud (Surah Al ‘Imran 3:173).
What does Allahumma inni auzubika minal hammi wal hazan mean?
It means: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from anxiety and grief, from weakness and laziness, from miserliness and cowardice, from being overwhelmed by debt and overpowered by men.” It is a Sunnah dua recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari (6369) that the Prophet ﷺ recited regularly and taught Abu Umamah for relief from anxiety and debt.
What is the difference between hamm and hazan?
Hamm (anxiety) is fear about what has not yet happened — future-oriented dread. Hazan (grief) is sorrow about what has already happened — past-oriented sadness. The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from both together because they often attack the heart simultaneously.
When should I recite this dua?
The Prophet ﷺ instructed Abu Umamah to recite it morning and evening (Sunan Abi Dawud 1555). It is part of the standard morning and evening adhkar in Hisn al-Muslim. For acute distress, also recite it in sujood, after every fard prayer, and during Tahajjud in the last third of the night.
What are the eight evils mentioned in this dua?
The dua names eight evils in four pairs: (1–2) anxiety + grief; (3–4) incapacity + laziness; (5–6) miserliness + cowardice; (7–8) overwhelming debt + being oppressed by people. It maps emotional, willpower, character, and external suffering in eight phrases.
Will this dua remove debt?
The Prophet ﷺ promised Abu Umamah specifically that Allah would “dispel your worries and pay off your debt” if he recited it morning and evening. Abu Umamah confirmed: “I did that, and Allah took away my worry and paid off my debt” (Sunan Abi Dawud 1555). Pair the dua with effort: budget, work, repay what you can, and ask Allah for the rest.
What is the source of this dua?
The primary source is Sahih al-Bukhari 6369, narrated by Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him). The fuller story of Abu Umamah is in Sunan Abi Dawud 1555 (graded hasan). It is also recorded in Sahih Muslim and Sunan an-Nasa’i 5449.
Make this dua your morning and evening shield. The Prophet ﷺ gave it to a man crushed by anxiety and debt; he can give it to you for whatever combination of inner and outer storms you carry. Recite it slowly, mean each word, and trust the One who taught it to know exactly what your soul needs refuge from.
