What helpful Islamic phrases can I teach my child to say when feeling stressed? 

Parenting Perspective 

Teaching Short, Powerful Phrases 

Helping your child deal with stress through faith-centred language can create a deep sense of calm and connection. Begin by teaching short, powerful phrases like La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (There is no power nor strength except with Allah) and Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakeel (Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs). Use simple explanations: say, ‘These words remind us that we are never alone.’ Encourage your child to say them before study, when they feel nervous, or even before sleeping. 

Making it a Gentle Family Habit 

Make it a gentle family habit. Say the phrases aloud together and share moments from your own day when these words helped you feel better. Reinforce their emotional value by linking them to stories, such as how the Prophets found peace through remembrance. Tell them how Prophet Musa (AS), trusted Allah Almighty deeply when facing fear, and how saying these phrases was part of that trust. With repetition and warmth, these words become safe anchors for your child in moments of pressure or tiredness. 

Spiritual Insight 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Tawbah (9), Verse 51: 

Say (O Prophet Muhammad ﷺ): “no (calamity or difficulty) shall ever befall upon us, except what has been decreed by Allah (Almighty); He is our Lord…” 

This Verse is a powerful reminder that stress and hardship are not random, they are part of Allah Almighty’s plan, wrapped in wisdom and protection. Teaching your child this truth gently, through simple words and affirmations, lays a spiritual foundation of trust and Sabr. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 3470, that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: 

“Whoever says, Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal wakeel, Allah will be sufficient for him. “

This Hadith highlights the strength of relying on Allah Almighty through remembrance, especially in moments of distress. 

When your child learns to say these phrases with understanding, they gain more than a coping mechanism, they gain a spiritual tool that strengthens their Imaan and emotional resilience. These words teach them to pause, reflect, and seek strength beyond themselves. Over time, they will begin to associate stress not with panic, but with an opportunity to turn inward and upward, finding support in faith and peace through Dhikr.