— By Ayinla Rofee’ah Yeketi (Ummu Miqdaad)
There are days when the heart just feels heavy. The kind of days where your chest feels tight, your mind runs in circles, and even though you smile, only Allah knows the storm inside. As women, as mothers, as daughters, as wives, and as believers, we carry so much. Sometimes it feels like too much. But, my dear sister, Allah never leaves us without a rope to hold onto. And the most beautiful rope He has given us is duʿā.
Duʿā is not just a request list. It’s not only about asking for things. It’s an intimate conversation with the One who knows you better than you know yourself. It is spilling your heart out to the One who created it. Often, we hesitate. “How can I ask Allah again? I’ve already asked Him for this so many times.” Or we think, “My problems are too small compared to what others are going through.”
But here’s the truth: Allah loves it when you ask Him, even for the tiniest thing. The Prophet ﷺ told us that we should ask Allah even if it’s just for the strap of our sandal. Nothing is too small for Him.
Nothing is too big for Him. Unlike people, Allah never gets tired of hearing your voice. In fact, the more you ask, the more He loves you. So why hold back?
When your heart feels heavy, instead of letting those worries eat you from the inside, pour them out to Allah. Tell Him everything. Tell Him your secrets, your fears, your regrets, your hopes. Don’t hold back. Cry if you need to. Raise your hands in the stillness of the night, when the world is asleep, and just talk to Him. Say, “Ya Allah, I don’t know how to handle this. Ya Allah, I feel weak. Strengthen me. Ya Allah, open a door for me where I see none.” What happens next is miraculous. The worry doesn’t always disappear right away. But the heart feels lighter. That heaviness starts to soften. Because you’ve handed it over to the One who controls everything.
Do you remember Prophet Yūnus (ʿalayhi as-salām)? Alone in the belly of a whale, in complete darkness, with no way out, he called out:
“Lā ilāha illā anta, subḥānaka, innī kuntu minaz-ẓālimīn.” (There is no god but You, Glory be to You, I was truly among the wrongdoers.)
That duʿā broke open his prison. Allah saved him. And our Prophet ﷺ told us that any believer who calls upon Allah with these words, in distress, will be answered too.
Your situation may not be the belly of a whale, but maybe it’s the walls of your own thoughts closing in. Maybe it’s responsibilities, heartbreak, financial stress, or the struggle of raising children. Whatever it is, this duʿā can be your lifeline. Sometimes Allah doesn’t give us exactly what we ask for, but He always gives us something better, either in this world or saved for us in the Hereafter. And when you stand before Him on that Day and see mountains of rewards for the duʿās you thought went unanswered, you’ll thank Him for every single “delay.”
So next time your heart feels heavy, don’t scroll endlessly on your phone searching for comfort. Don’t bottle it all up until you feel like breaking. Instead, turn your worries into whispers of duʿā. Even if it’s just a few words. Even if it’s through tears. Allah is closer to you than your jugular vein. He hears every word you don’t even say out loud. And He loves it when you turn to Him.
So breathe, my dear sister. Let your tears fall. Let your heart open. And remember: a heart that leans on Allah can never truly be broken. Find a quiet corner, raise your hands, and just speak to your Lord. You don’t need fancy Arabic. You don’t need long duʿās. You just need sincerity. Start with, “Ya Allah, my heart is heavy…” and let it flow.
Until we meet in the next reminder, if Allah wills, keep your heart soft, your duʿā sincere, and your eyes on Jannah.