The Prophet ﷺ was asked what a person should ask Allah for. His answer centred on one word: 'afiyah.
"Ask Allah for pardon and 'afiyah, for no one has been given anything — after certainty of faith — better than 'afiyah." — Narrated by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3558 (hasan sahih); Sunan Ibn Majah 3849; authenticated by Ibn Hibban and al-Albani
After yaqin, nothing better. Not wealth, not success. Every du'a below is a version of asking for it.
What 'afiyah actually means
'Afiyah is usually translated as "good health," but it's wider. It means being kept safe from what harms you — illness, affliction, trial, and harm to your faith.
To be healthy is 'afiyah. To be safe is 'afiyah. To be forgiven and spared punishment is 'afiyah. And to have a sound, settled mind is 'afiyah too.
That last one matters, and the Prophet ﷺ named it — see du'a 4.
1. The du'a he never abandoned — morning and evening
Allahumma inni as'alukal-'afwa wal-'afiyah fid-dunya wal-akhirah. Allahumma inni as'alukal-'afwa wal-'afiyah fi dini wa dunyaya wa ahli wa mali. Allahummastur 'awrati, wa amin raw'ati, wahfazni min bayni yadayya, wa min khalfi, wa 'an yamini, wa 'an shimali, wa min fawqi, wa a'udhu bi-'azamatika an ughtala min tahti.
"O Allah, I ask You for pardon and wellbeing in this world and the next. O Allah, I ask You for pardon and wellbeing in my faith, my worldly life, my family and my wealth. O Allah, conceal my faults and calm my fears. O Allah, guard me from in front of me and behind me, from my right and my left, and from above me — and I seek refuge in Your greatness from being taken from beneath me." — Narrated by Ibn 'Umar. Sunan Abi Dawud 5074; Sunan Ibn Majah 3871; also Musnad Ahmad and Sahih Ibn Hibban; authenticated by al-Hakim and al-Albani
If you learn only one du'a from this page, learn this one. It asks for wellbeing in every direction at once — and "calm my fears" is in it.
2. For your body, hearing and sight
Allahumma 'afini fi badani, Allahumma 'afini fi sam'i, Allahumma 'afini fi basari, la ilaha illa ant. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-kufri wal-faqr, Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhabil-qabr, la ilaha illa ant.
"O Allah, grant wellbeing to my body. O Allah, grant wellbeing to my hearing. O Allah, grant wellbeing to my sight. There is no god but You. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from disbelief and poverty, and I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave. There is no god but You." — Narrated by 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakrah. Sunan Abi Dawud 5090 (5049 in al-Albani's numbering)
Recited three times morning and evening. It names the body part by part — you're asking specifically, not vaguely.
3. For protection from every harm — three times
Bismillahil-ladhi la yadurru ma'asmihi shay'un fil-ardi wa la fis-sama'i wa huwas-sami'ul-'alim.
"In the name of Allah, with whose name nothing on earth or in heaven can cause harm, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing." — Narrated by 'Uthman ibn 'Affan. Sunan Abi Dawud 5088; Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3388 (hasan sahih gharib); Sunan Ibn Majah 3869
The Prophet ﷺ said whoever says it three times in the evening will not be struck by a sudden affliction until morning, and three times in the morning, until evening.
4. For protection from serious illness — including of the mind
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-barasi wal-jununi wal-judhami wa min sayyi'il-asqam.
"O Allah, I seek refuge in You from vitiligo, from loss of the mind, from leprosy, and from all severe illnesses." — Narrated by Anas ibn Malik. Sunan Abi Dawud 1554; Sunan an-Nasa'i 5493; graded sahih by al-Albani
Notice what's on the list. Among the illnesses the Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from by name is junun — which the commentators define as zawal al-'aql, the clouding or loss of sound mental capacity and reasoning.
And the closing phrase, sayyi' al-asqam — severe illnesses — is understood by the scholars as a general category covering all chronic, serious and debilitating conditions, physical and psychiatric alike.
That is the tradition's own position: the mind can be unwell, and that is an illness — something to seek protection from and treatment for, not a spiritual failing. More on mental health in Islam.
5. When you are already unwell — the du'a of Ayyub
Anni massaniyad-durru wa anta arhamur-rahimin.
"Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful." — al-Anbiya 21:83
Ayyub (AS) was tested with illness for years. Read what he didn't say — no complaint, no demand. He stated his condition and named Allah's mercy. The next verse says Allah answered him and removed his affliction.
6. For someone who is sick
Allahumma rabban-nas, adhhibil-ba's, ishfi antash-shafi, la shifa'a illa shifa'uk, shifa'an la yughadiru saqama.
"O Allah, Lord of mankind, remove the harm and heal — You are the Healer. There is no healing but Your healing, a healing that leaves no illness behind." — Narrated by 'Aisha. Sahih al-Bukhari 5743, 5675; also from Anas, Bukhari 5742; Sahih Muslim 2191
The Prophet ﷺ said this when visiting the sick. If you're making du'a for a parent, a child, or anyone you love who is unwell, this is the one.
And on a sick visit specifically — whoever visits a sick person whose time has not come and says seven times:
As'alullahal-'azim, rabbal-'arshil-'azim, an yashfiyak.
"I ask Allah the Mighty, Lord of the Mighty Throne, to heal you." — Narrated by Ibn 'Abbas. Sunan Abi Dawud 3106; Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2083 (hasan)
7. For pain — with your hand on it
Bismillah (three times), then A'udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir (seven times).
"In the name of Allah. I seek refuge in Allah and His power from the evil of what I feel and what I fear." — Narrated by 'Uthman ibn Abi al-'As. Sahih Muslim 2202; also Abu Dawud 3891, at-Tirmidhi 2080, Ibn Majah 3522
The Prophet ﷺ taught a companion in pain to place his hand on the part of the body that hurt and say this. "What I feel and what I fear" — it covers both the pain and the worry about what it might mean.
8. The du'a of Ibrahim — knowing who heals
Wa idha maridtu fa-huwa yashfin.
"And when I am ill, it is He who cures me." — ash-Shu'ara 26:80
Notice Ibrahim's grammar: "when I am ill" — he attributes the illness to himself and the cure to Allah. It's an act of adab as much as a request.
Du'a and treatment are not in competition
The same Prophet ﷺ who taught all of these also said:
"O servants of Allah, seek treatment — for Allah has not made a disease without appointing a remedy for it." — Sunan Abi Dawud 3855; at-Tirmidhi (hasan sahih)
Make the du'a and see the doctor. Ibn al-Qayyim explained that medicine is itself part of Allah's decree — taking it is not a lack of trust, and abandoning it is not stronger faith.
That applies to the mind exactly as it does to the body. If what you're carrying is anxiety or low mood that won't lift, du'a steadies you through it — and treatment is what the same Sunnah prescribes alongside it.
When to recite them
Morning and evening: du'a 1 once, du'a 2 three times, du'a 3 three times. When you feel unwell: du'a 5, and du'a 7 with your hand on the pain. For someone else: du'a 6, and the seven-times du'a on a sick visit. Any time: du'a 4 — the Prophet ﷺ made it regularly.
A note on this article
The du'as here are authentic, and the sources are listed with each. They are not medical advice. If you or someone you love is unwell, see a doctor — that is what the Sunnah itself instructs.
For questions about the du'as or anything you've been told about illness and faith, you can ask a verified scholar free and privately on Khidma.live. If the illness is of the mind, Islamic counselling online with a Muslim psychologist is there too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dua for good health? The du'a for 'afiyah — Allahumma inni as'alukal-'afwa wal-'afiyah fid-dunya wal-akhirah — which the Prophet ﷺ never abandoned, morning or evening. He said no one is given anything, after certainty of faith, better than 'afiyah.
What does 'afiyah mean? Wellbeing and being kept safe from harm — in body, mind, faith and worldly life. It's wider than "good health."
What is the dua for health of the body? Allahumma 'afini fi badani, Allahumma 'afini fi sam'i, Allahumma 'afini fi basari — recited three times morning and evening (Abu Dawud 5090).
What dua did the Prophet ﷺ make for protection from disease? Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-barasi wal-jununi wal-judhami wa min sayyi'il-asqam — seeking refuge from vitiligo, loss of the mind, leprosy and all severe illnesses (Abu Dawud 1554).
What dua should I read for someone who is sick? Allahumma rabban-nas, adhhibil-ba's, ishfi antash-shafi (Bukhari 5743). On a sick visit, also say seven times: As'alullahal-'azim, rabbal-'arshil-'azim, an yashfiyak (Abu Dawud 3106).
What is the dua for pain? Place your hand where it hurts, say Bismillah three times, then A'udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir seven times (Muslim 2202).
Is there a dua in the Quran for healing? Yes — Ayyub's anni massaniyad-durru wa anta arhamur-rahimin (21:83), and Ibrahim's wa idha maridtu fa-huwa yashfin (26:80).
Does making dua mean I don't need a doctor? No. The Prophet ﷺ commanded seeking treatment, and Ibn al-Qayyim held that medicine is part of Allah's decree. Do both.
Is mental health included in dua for health? Yes. The Prophet ﷺ sought refuge from junun — the loss of sound mental capacity — by name, and sayyi' al-asqam covers psychiatric as well as physical illness.
Ask a scholar your question — free → About these du'as, or about illness and faith. A verified scholar records a private audio answer — no payment, nobody told.
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