The Dua When Feeling Sad or Upset
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
Transliteration:
Lā ilāha illā anta, subḥānaka innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn
Translation:
There is no god except You. Glory be to You. Indeed, I have been among the wrongdoers.
Incident from the Life of Prophet Yunus (AS):
This dua was made by Prophet Yunus (Jonah), peace be upon him, when he was trapped in the belly of a great fish. He found himself surrounded by layers of darkness: the darkness of the night, the depth of the sea, and the darkness inside the fish.
Prophet Yunus (AS) had left his people before receiving Allah’s command. When he realized his mistake, he did not complain or question Allah’s decision. Instead, he turned sincerely to Allah with repentance, humility, and complete submission.
Allah accepted his dua and commanded the fish to release him safely. This incident shows that no matter how severe the situation is, sincere repentance can bring Allah’s mercy.
Tafseer (Explanation):
This short dua is extremely powerful and contains the essence of repentance and faith.
“Lā ilāha illā anta”
This phrase affirms Tawheed, the oneness of Allah. It acknowledges that only Allah has absolute power, control, and authority. In moments of distress, it reminds believers to depend solely on Allah.
“Subḥānaka”
This means Glory be to You. Prophet Yunus (AS) declared that Allah is free from any fault or injustice. It makes clear that Allah never wrongs His servants.
“Innī kuntu minaẓ-ẓālimīn”
Here, Prophet Yunus (AS) openly admitted his mistake. This teaches us that true repentance begins with self-accountability, without excuses or blame.
Core Message of the Dua:
- Acknowledge Allah’s oneness
- Glorify Him
- Admit your mistake sincerely
This dua teaches that even in the darkest moments of life, turning to Allah with humility and honesty leads to relief and mercy. Allah responds to sincere hearts, not lengthy words.
