Du'as for Traveling & Safe Journeys (And Why They're Important)

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Ask for Allah's grace while you travel by plane, bus, car, or train
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If you’re preparing for a trip and feeling a little stressed or nervous about it, there are plenty of du’as for traveling to learn and recite! Du’as are supplications, or prayers, used to ask Allah for guidance, blessings, mercy, or protection—and du’as for traveling may bring some peace of mind as you embark on a new journey. In this article, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of du’as for traveling from the Qur’an and Hadith, plus tips on how and when to use them.

What is a du'a for a traveler?

Travel du’as (or supplications) are special prayers to ask for Allah’s blessing as you travel. Depending on the du’a, they can be used at various points throughout a trip, including before you leave, as you enter a vehicle, as you arrive at your destination, and on your return home.

Section 1 of 3:

Du’as For Traveling

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  1. Recite this du’a (from the Hadith, al-Tirmidhi) as you’re about to leave the house to ask Allah for strength and protection on your travels. It may help strengthen your trust in Allah and mentally prepare you for the journey ahead. [1]
    • Arabic : بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
    • Transliteration : Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
    • Translation : In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah, there is no power or strength except with Allah.
  2. Include this du’a in your prayers before a trip. It refers to boarding the Ark in the Qur’an, Surah al-Hud 11:41, and traveling forth in the name of Allah. It’s another example of a “Safar ki dua,” an Arabic term referring to the specific du’a recited during travel (which means all the du’a in this article are du’a for safar). [2]
    • Arabic: بِسْمِ اللهِ، مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا، إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
    • Transliteration : Bismillahi, majreha wa mursaha. Inna Rabbi laghafoorur rahim.
    • Translation : In the name of Allah, whether it moves or is at rest. For my Lord is, be sure, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!
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  3. Speak this prayer to ask Allah for protection from challenges, bad outcomes, discomfort, or negative experiences as you travel. It comes from the Hadith, at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud—and it was reported that the Messenger of Allah would use this du’a when mounting his camel for travel. [3]
    • Arabic : اللهم إنا نسألك في سفرنا هذا البر والتقوى، ومن العمل ما ترضى، اللهم هون علينا سفرنا هذا واطو عنا بعده، اللهم أنت الصاحب في السفر والخليفة في الأهل، اللهم إني أعوذ بك من وعثاء السفر وكآبة المنظر وسوء المنقلب في المال والأهل
    • Transliteration : Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wa al-taqwa, wa min al-amali ma tarda, Allahumma hawwin alayna safarana hadha wa twi anna bu’dahu, Allahumma anta al-sahib fi al-safar wa al-khalifah fi al-ahli, Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min wa’tha’ al-safar wa ka’abat al-manzar wa suu’ al-munqalabi fi al-mal wa al-ahli.
    • Translation : O Allah, we ask You for righteousness, piety, and good deeds during our journey. O Allah, make easy for us our journey and shorten its distance. O Allah, You are the companion on the journey and the guardian of the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the difficulties of travel, unpleasant sights, and changes in fortune in wealth and family.
  4. Recite this du’a from the Qur’an, Surah az-Zukhruf 43:13-14, as you get into the vehicle you’ll be traveling in (whether it’s an airplane, car, train, boat, or otherwise). It’s used to give thanks and prayers to Allah, particularly for helping humanity create such vehicles in the first place. [4]
    • Arabic : سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
    • Transliteration : Subhana-alladhi sakh-khara la-na hadha wa ma kunna la-hu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbi-na la munqalibun.
    • Translation : Glory unto Him Who created this transportation for us, though we were unable to create it on our own. And unto our Lord, we shall return.
  5. Use this du’a when you’re close to entering a new town or your ultimate destination, ideally when you can see it, to ask for Allah’s blessing and protection from any evil within. It’s from the Hadith, Mustadrak al-Hakim and an-Nasai. [5]
    • Arabic : اللّـهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّـمَوَاتِ السّـبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الأَرَاضِيـنَ السّـبْعِ وَما أقْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الشَّيَـاطِينِ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الرِّياحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْـنَ، أَسْـأَلُـكَ خَيْـرَ هذهِ الْقَـرْيَةِ وَخَيْـرَ أَهْلِـهَا، وَخَيْـرَ مَا فِيْهَا، وَأَعُـوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَـرِّها وَشَـرِّ أَهْلِـها، وَشَـرِّ مَا فِيْهَا
    • Transliteration : Allahumma rabbas samawatis sab’i wa ma azlalna, wa rabbal aradinas sab’i wa ma aqlalna, wa rabbash-shayatini wa ma adlalna, wa rabbar riyahi wa ma zaraina, as’aluka khaira hadzihil qaryah wa khaira ahliha, wa khaira ma fiha, wa a’udzubika min sharriha wa sharri ahliha, wa sharri ma fiha.
    • Translation : O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and all that they envelope, Lord of the seven earths and all that they carry, Lord of the devils and all whom they misguide, Lord of the winds and all whom they whisk away. I ask You for the goodness of this village, the goodness of its inhabitants and for all the goodness found within it and I take refuge with You from the evil of this village, the evil of its inhabitants and from all the evil found within it.
  6. This du’a from the Qur’an, Surah al-Isra 17:80, can be recited as you enter a new town or city (or right before you get there) to ask Allah for a smooth arrival and return when it’s time to leave. [6]
    • Arabic : رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَلْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ سُلْطَانًا نَصِيرًا
    • Transliteration : Rabbi adkhilnee mudkhala sidqinw wa akhrijnee mukhraja sidqinw waj’al lee milladunka sultaanan naseeraa.
    • Translation : My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority.
  7. Speak this du’a from the Hadith, al-Bukhari, when you return from a trip. Alternatively, you can use it right before your return trip to offer Allah supplication for your travels.
    • Arabic : آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
    • Transliteration : Aiboona, ta’iboona, ‘abidoona, lirabbina hamidoon.
    • Translation : Returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.
  8. Use this du’a from the Hadith, Abu Dawud, as you enter your house while getting back from travels to ask for Allah’s blessing.
    • Arabic: بِسْـمِ اللّهِ وَلَجْنـَا، وَبِسْـمِ اللّهِ خَـرَجْنـَا، وَعَلَـى رَبِّنـَا تَوَكّلْـنَا
    • Transliteration: Bismillahi wa lajna, wa bismillahi kharajna, wa ‘ala rabbina tawakkalna.
    • Translation: In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and upon our Lord, we rely.
  9. Recite this du’a during Umrah—the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest of Muslim cities. This particular prayer should be spoken upon entering the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram). While there isn’t necessarily a “most powerful” du’a, this is certainly a powerful prayer to use in your pilgrimage.
    • Arabic : بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ
    • Transliteration : Bismillahi wa as-Salatu wa as-Salamu ‘ala Rasulillah. Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik.
    • Translation : In the name of Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open the doors of Your mercy for me.
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Section 2 of 3:

Significance & Benefits of Du’a for Traveling

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  1. According to the Hadith, he told believers that travel is a valuable way to seek knowledge and expand their horizons. The Islamic prophet also preached the vital role that du’a can play during travel (especially Umrah) and advised his companions to recite du’a for divine protection and blessings too. The benefits of du’a for travel include: [7]
    • Peace of mind . Travel can sometimes be nerve-wracking, so it can feel calming to recite du’a and ask for Allah’s protection.
    • The prospect of ease and protection . Reciting du’a can provide reassurance that you’re going to have a safe, smooth, and protected journey (by placing yourself under Allah’s guidance).
  2. There are several mentions of physical travel in the Qur’an, with the word “sayyir” meaning to move or to travel. Allah uses the word “sayyir” many times: “Do Travel,” “Tell them to Travel,” and “Do they then not travel through the Earth, so that their minds gain wisdom and their ears thus learn to hear?” (Surah al-Hajj, 22:46). The benefits of travel in Islam include: [8]
    • Cultural understanding. When you travel, you gain a greater understanding of cultures outside of your own; this, in turn, instills tolerance and appreciation for diversity.
    • Enlightenment . There can be a spiritual component to travel for Muslims, as seeing the world can also instill greater faith and appreciation for Allah’s creation.
    • Growth . Traveling encourages you to explore, adapt to new places and circumstances, and become more resilient and adventurous.
    • Knowledge . When you travel the world, you learn more about it! Every time you go somewhere new, you have a chance to learn about a different community, place, or aspect of the natural world.
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Section 3 of 3:

Who should recite du’a for traveling?

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  1. It might seem like du’a are solely for long-distance travel, but that’s not the case; you can use them whether you’re leaving the country, taking a quick road trip, or even just commuting to work. As long as you’re part of the Islamic faith, it’s perfectly acceptable to recite du’a for traveling on any type of outing. [9]
    • In addition to reciting du’a, you could keep a written (or typed) copy with you in your wallet or bag.
    • If you’re traveling with friends or family, you can invite them to recite du’as for traveling with you.
    • It may also be beneficial to make du’as a routine part of traveling; that can help you memorize them (and get a sense of comfort when you travel, or if you start feeling anxious on a trip).

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      References

      1. ↑ https://myislam.org/la-hawla-wala-quwwata-illa-billah/
      2. ↑ https://quran.com/en/hud/41
      3. ↑ https://hadithanswers.com/dua-when-beginning-a-journey/
      4. ↑ https://quran.com/en/az-zukhruf/13-14
      5. ↑ https://halalleads.info/duas-and-prayers-for-travelling/
      6. ↑ https://quran.com/en/al-isra/80
      7. ↑ https://academyofislam.com/quranic-reflection-no-611-ayat-2246-benefits-of-traveling/
      8. ↑ https://quran.com/en/al-hajj/46-56
      9. ↑ https://academyofislam.com/quranic-reflection-no-611-ayat-2246-benefits-of-traveling/

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