In a general sense, travel refers to the act of leaving one place and moving to another. This may be for tourism, migration, or for the purpose of earning a living.
When a traveler is on a journey, his prayers are answered. Travel is a difficult stage because the traveler is in a state of humility, leaving the comforts of his home.
Hazrat Imam Shafi’i (RA) says that there are five benefits in traveling: relief from sorrows, obtaining sustenance, quenching the thirst for knowledge, learning the manners of life, and the company of great people.
Below is a comprehensive article on the importance of travel, its Islamic and worldly aspects, and Sunnah duas:
Dua for Traveling
Muslims recite this beautiful prayer, known as the Dua for Traveling (Dua al-Safar), when they embark on a journey. The text comes directly from the Quran (Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:13–14).
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) rode a horse, he would say Allahu Akbar three times and then recite the following dua.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ.
Transliteration: Subhan-alladhi sakh-khara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrineen. Wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqaliboon. Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tardha. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha watwi ‘anna bu‘dah. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fis-safari wal-Khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min wa‘tha’is-safari wa ka’abatil-manzhari wa su’il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.
Translation: “Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us, though we could never have subdued it by ourselves. And surely, unto our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You. O Allah, lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy (short) for us. O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the Guardian of our households. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travel, from witnessing a terrible sight, and from finding our family or property in a bad state upon our return.”
The Importance of This Dua
There are two important aspects to this dua. First, we thank Allah for providing us with the means of travel (ship, car, train, etc.), which we would not have been able to do without His power.
The second aspect is a reminder of the “journey to the hereafter,” meaning that just as we are moving from one place to another in this world, one day we will have to leave this world and return to our original owner.
This dua is a comprehensive protective shield. In it, the traveler calls Allah his companion and also makes Allah the guardian of the family he leaves behind. When Allah becomes someone’s companion and guardian, there is no fear.
Dua when Leaving Home
According to Hadith (prophetic tradition), when a person recites this while leaving their home, it is said to them (by angels):
“You have been guided, you have been sufficed (taken care of), and you have been protected.”
It is a powerful shield against the anxieties and unpredictability of the outside world.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillāhi, tawakkaltu ‘alallāhi, wa lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
Translation:”In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah; there is no might nor power except with Allah.”
Dua- Hills and Valleys
It is the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) to remember Allah Almighty while ascending and descending on a height during a journey. Here are the supplications and their method for both occasions:
When you are ascending a height, mountain, or stairs during a journey, you should say Takbir.
اَللهُ اَکْبَرُ
Allah is the greatest.
When a person goes to a height, he can feel his greatness, so by saying “Allahu Akbar”, a person acknowledges that true greatness belongs only to Allah.
When you are descending from a height or heading towards a slope, you should say Tasbeeh.
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ
Allah is pure.
Going down is a kind of lowliness, and Allah Almighty is free from all kinds of lowliness and defects, so it is said “Subhaan Allah”.
Most people look for very long supplications for elevation and descent, but these short words are proven in the Sunnah.
Dua for Returning from Travel
This beautiful phrase is a well-known supplication (dua) often recited by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) when returning from a journey or entering his home city.
آئِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Transliteration: A’ibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li-rabbina hamidun.
Translation: “We are returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.”
Travel Etiquette
- Dua for traveling: First recite three times Tabah Allahu Akbar, then recite this dua: سُبْحانَ الَّذِیْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا ہَذَا وَمَا کُنَّا لَہُ مُقْرِنِیْنَ وَإِنَّا إِلَی رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُون} اللّٰہُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُکَ فِيْ سَفَرِنَا ھٰذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوی، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَی، اللّٰہُمَّ ہَوِّنْ عَلَیْنَا سَفَرَنَا ھٰذَا، وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَہُ، اللّٰھُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِیْفَۃُ فِي الأَھْلِ، اللّٰھُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِکَ مِنْ وَعَثَائِ السَّفَرِ وَکَآبَۃِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوئِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَھْلِ۔ (Ahmed, Muslim)
- It is advisable that a person does not travel alone, but rather that some people accompany him and that one of them be appointed as the leader.
- When ascending a high place during a journey, recite “Allahu Akbar” and when descending, recite “Subhan Allah”.(Bukhari)
- The dua of a traveler is accepted, so one should supplicate more during the journey. (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi)
- Once the work related to the journey is completed, one should return home as soon as possible. (Bukhari, Muslim)
- It is Sunnah to offer shortened prayers (qasar) while traveling. (Bukhari, Muslim etc.)
- It is Sunnah to pray two rak’ahs in a mosque near home when returning from a journey. (Bukhari, Muslim)
Conclusion
When we pray for a journey, we thank Allah through this prayer that He has placed the vehicle (whether it is a ship, a car or a train) under our control for our convenience, otherwise man would not have had the power to subdue it with his own strength. The real protection and power lies only with Allah.
This prayer teaches us that just as we are traveling from one place to another in the world, one day we will all have to return to our Lord. This life is also actually a temporary journey.
May Allah Almighty make our journeys easy for all of us and keep us under His protection. (Amen)