Short answer
No single surah is assigned to anxiety in the Sunnah, but the whole Quran is a healing for what is in the hearts. Passages that comfort many people include Surah al-Duha, al-Sharh and Yusuf, verses such as 13:28, 94:5-6 and 65:2-3, and the dua of Yunus. Recite them alongside proper treatment, not instead of it.
Reciting the Quran for comfort and healing of the heart is recommended (mustahabb), with no fixed surah required. Treatment for an anxiety or depressive disorder is also permitted and encouraged.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Allah calls the Quran healing for what is in the breasts (10:57). Any part of it can calm a troubled heart, and no authentic hadith names one surah for anxiety. Choose what speaks to you, read it with its meaning, and return to it often.
- Surah al-Duha: revealed to comfort the Prophet ﷺ when the revelation paused, with the words Your Lord has not taken leave of you.
- Surah al-Sharh: with hardship will be ease, said twice.
- Surah Yusuf: a prophet's long grief, his patience, and its happy end.
- 13:28: hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah.
- 65:2-3: whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him.
- 2:286: Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.
Two duas from the Sunnah are especially for distress. The dua of Yunus in the belly of the whale, La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin, of which the Prophet ﷺ said that no Muslim calls with it for anything without Allah answering him. And the dua he said at times of distress, beginning La ilaha illallahul-azimul-halim. Both are on dua for anxiety.
If anxiety or low mood lasts for weeks, affects your sleep, work or relationships, or brings thoughts of harming yourself, see a doctor as well. If you are in crisis, contact your local emergency number or a crisis line in your country now. Quran and treatment go together: see seeing a therapist.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Yunus 10:57
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ قَدْ جَآءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَآءٌۭ لِّمَا فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ وَهُدًۭى وَرَحْمَةٌۭ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٥٧﴾
O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers.
The Quran heals the troubled heart.
Quran, Surah Ash-Sharh 94:5-6
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ﴿٥﴾ إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا ﴿٦﴾
For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Allah promises ease with every hardship.
Quran, Surah Ad-Dhuhaa 93:3-5
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَلْءَاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ﴿٤﴾ وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰٓ ﴿٥﴾
Your Lord has not taken leave of you, [O Muhammad], nor has He detested [you]. And the Hereafter is better for you than the first [life]. And your Lord is going to give you, and you will be satisfied.
Revealed to comfort the Prophet in a time of distress.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3505
Grading to be checked... دعوة ذي النون إذ دعا وهو في بطن الحوت ...
"The supplication of Dhul-Nun (Yunus) when he called out in the belly of the whale..."
No Muslim makes this dua for anything without Allah answering.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6346
Sahih... لا إله إلا الله العظيم الحليم لا إله إلا الله رب العرش العظيم ...
"There is no god but Allah, the Mighty, the Forbearing. There is no god but Allah, Lord of the Mighty Throne."
What he said at times of distress.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Ihya Ulum al-Din (al-Ghazali), Kitab Adab Tilawat al-Quran. On reciting with reflection, which is what brings comfort to the heart.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.