Traveling has been a fundamental part of human life for centuries. History books show that people frequently moved from one place to another, primarily in search of food and fresh water.
Traveling was, and still is, also done for trade and exploration. However, the scale of travel for these purposes has decreased due to infrastructure development and the rise of online trading.
That said, traveling hasn’t stopped. People still travel to explore new places, for business trips, and to immigrate to new countries for better opportunities.
In this article, we will discuss the significance of a traveling dua in today’s world and how it can make your journey successful and secure.
What is the best Dua for Travelling?
Travelers recite multiple duas when leaving home. Some recite ‘Ayat-al-Kursi’, and others use ‘Dua-e-Yunus‘.
These duas for a traveler can be good for a safe journey, but they are not the best. Here is the best dua for traveling and travelers in the Holy Quran.
سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ
English transliteration: Subhana-alladhi sakh-khara la-na hadha wa ma kunna la-hu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbi-na la munqalibun. — Surah Az-Zukruf Verse 13-14
English translation: Glory be to the One Who has subjected these for us, for we could have never done so ˹on our own˺. And surely to our Lord we will ˹all˺ return.
Explanation: This Verse is mentioned in Surah Az-Zukruf in which the Quran speaks about Allah’s blessings and how he has created pathways for us to travel. How he sends rain down to earth which gives life to lifeless land. He is the one who created ships and animals so you can ride them. So you should sit back on them are remember Allah while traveling.
Travelling Dua to enter a new city
When you enter a new city, you should recite the following dua for the best results.
رَّبِّ اَدْخِلْنِيْ مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَّاَخْرِجْنِيْ مُخْــرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَّاجْعَلْ لِّيْ مِنْ لَّدُنْكَ سُلْطٰنًا نَّصِيْرًا
English transliteration: Rabbi Adkhilnee Mudkhala S’idqiw Wa Akhrijnee Mukhraja S’diqiw Waj-a’l Lee Mil Ladunkaa Sult’aanan Nas’eeraa —Surah Al-Isra Verse 80
English translation: And say, “My Lord! Grant me an honorable entrance and an honorable exit1 and give me a supporting authority from Yourself.”
Explanation: In this surah, Allah reminds the believers to hold the book of Allah and its message. Pray at night and at the rise of the sun. And rise at ˹the last˺ part of the night, offering additional prayers, so your Lord may raise you to a station of praise.
Dua for Travelling in the Hadiths
There are different duas for travelling and duas for safar in Hadiths. Here are a few of them.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) recited this dua when leaving for the journey.
للَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ وَسُوءِ الْمَنْظَرِ فِي الأَهْلِ وَالْمَالِ اللَّهُمَّ اطْوِ لَنَا الأَرْضَ وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا السَّفَرَ ”
English transliteration: Allahumma anta as-sahibu fis-safari wal-khaleefatu fil-ahli, Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min wa’thaa’is-safari wa kaabatil-munqalabi wa suu’il-manzari fil-ahli wal-maal. Allahumma itwi lana al-ardha wa hawwin ‘alayna as-safar. —Sunan Abi Dawud 2598
English translation: O Allah, Thou art the Companion in the journey, and the One Who looks after the family; O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the difficulty of travelling, finding harm when I return, and unhappiness in what I see coming to my family and property. O Allah, make the length of his journey short for us, and the journey easy for us.
Reciting Allahu Akbhar
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) praised Allah by saying ‘Allahu Akbhar’ three times before leaving for a journey. He has also advised it to a man who asked him for counseling and duas for travel.
Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported that whenever Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) mounted his camel while setting out on a journey, he glorified Allah (uttered Allah-o-Akbar) thrice, and then said: Hallowed is He Who subdued for us this (ride) and we were not ourselves powerful enough to use It as a ride, and we are going to return to our Lord. —Sahih Muslim 1342
“سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ “
English transliteration: Subhana allathee sakhkhara lana hatha wama kunna lahu muqrineen wa inna ila rabbina lamunqaliboon.
English translation: Hallowed is He Who subdued for us this (ride) and we were not ourselves powerful enough to use It as a ride, and we are going to return to our Lord
As we mentioned above, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) advised others to do the same. Here are the Hadiths for your reference.
Narrate by Abu Hurairah (RA) A man said: “O Messenger of Allah (PBUH), I intend to set out on a journey, so counsel me.” He (PBUH) said, “Fear Allah, and ascending towards the raised ground, you should recite: “Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest).” When the man turned away, he (PBUH) said, “O Allah! Shorten the distance for him and make the journey easy for him.” — Riyad as-Salihin 978
Travel Dua after leaving home
In Islam, there is a dua for almost everything. For example, we have dua for eating food, dua for breaking fast, and dua for exams.
We also have a dua for leaving home, which is prescribed by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in this Hadith.
Narrated by Anas ibn Malik (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) said: When a man goes out of his house and says: “In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah; there is no might and no power but in Allah,” the following will be said to him at that time: “You are guided, defended and protected.” The devils will go far from him and another devil will say: How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?
إِذَا خَرَجَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ فَقَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ
English transliteration: Idha kharaja ar-rajulu min baytihi faqala: Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
English translation: In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah; there is no might and no power but in Allah
How to start the journey| Safar ki Dua
A Muslim should start anything with the name of Allah, ‘Bismillah’, and when he is delighted with the result, he should say ‘Alhamdulillah.’
Something identical is prescribed by Hazrat Ali (RA) in this Hadith.
Ali ibn Rabi’ah said: I was present with Ali while a beast was brought to him to ride. When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: “In the name of Allah.” Then when he sat on its back, he said: “Praise be to Allah.” He then said: “Glory be to Him Who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength, and to our Lord do we return.” He then said: “Praise be to Allah (thrice); Allah is Most Great (thrice): glory be to Thee, I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for only Thou forgivest sins.” He then laughed. He was asked: At what did you laugh? He replied: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do as I have done, and laugh after that. I asked: Messenger of Allah , at what are you laughing? He replied: Your Lord, Most High, is pleased with His servant when he says: “Forgive me my sins.” He know that no one forgives sins except Him.
Here is the breakdown of Safar ki duas in order from this Hadith:
- Get onto your ride saying, Bismillah
- After settling on it, say Alhamdulillah
- Then say, Subhana allathee sakhkhara lana hatha wama kunna lahu muqrineen, wa inna ila rabbina lamunqaliboon.
- After reciting the dua, say Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar (three times)
- Then recite “Subhanaka Inni Qad Zalamtu Nafsi Faghfirli Fa-Innahu La Yaghfirudh-Dhunuba Illa Ant” at the end.
Best Dua to End Travel
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has prescribed a dua to end the journey. Here is the Hadith.
مَنْ نَزَلَ مَنْزِلاً ثُمَّ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ . لَمْ يَضُرُّهُ شَىْءٌ حَتَّى يَرْتَحِلَ مِنْ مَنْزِلِهِ ذَلِكَ
Khaula bint Hakim Sulamiyya reported: I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When anyone lands at a place, and then says:” I seek refuge in the Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of what He has created,” nothing would harm him until he marches from that stopping place.
English transliteration of dua: Man nazala manzilan thumma qala: A’udhu bikalimatillahi-tammati min sharri ma khalaq. Lam yadurruhu shay’un hatta yartahila min manzilihi dhalika.
Wrap Up
So far we have discussed the best dua for travelling safely and securely. We hope you will find this guide useful and will be blessed by Allah after reading these Safar ki Dua.
We will keep adding more duas and examples to this blog. Here are a few questions regarding Safar ki dua and travel do’s and don’ts.
FAQs
What is the powerful dua for traveling or Safar ki dua (in Urdu)?
As per our analysis, the best dua for travelling is “Subhana-alladhi sakh-khara la-na hadha wa ma kunna la-hu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbi-na la munqalibun.”
You can augment this dua by adding Bismillah at the start and Alhamduillha when reaching your destination.
Safar ki Dua in English?
Here is the Safar ki Dua in English for those who can’t read Arabic.
Subhana-alladhi sakh-khara la-na hadha wa ma kunna la-hu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbi-na la munqalibun.
You can use this dua while you are traveling in a car, plane, ship or train.
Dua for traveling by plane?
The same dua which is mentioned above can be used while travelling in a plane. However, if you have aerophobia, recite BIsmillah when you take your first step on the plane. Recite the dua for traveling while you are in your seat.
Say Alhamdulillah and Allahu Akbar three times while you are in the air.
What is the best day to travel?
You can start your journey on any good day. However, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) started his journey on Thursday.
Narrated Ka’b ibn Malik: It was rarely that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) set out on a journey on any day but on a Thursday. —Sunan Abi Dawud 2605
Salat during travel
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) prescribed and practiced two rakat salat when traveling. The Maghrib Salat should be three rakats.
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas and Ibn ‘Umar said: “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) prescribed two Rak’ah of prayer when traveling; they are complete and are not shortened. And Witr when traveling is Sunnah.” —Sunan Ibn Majah 1194
You can also join two prayers together. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) used to pray Zohar and Asar together. Magrib and Isha’s prayer was joined whenever he was in a hurry. Witr should be prayed during travel.
Narrated Salim’s father: The Prophet (PBUH) used to offer the Maghrib and `Isha’ prayers together whenever he was in a hurry on a journey. —Sahih al-Bukhari 1106
Traveling alone at night
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) didn’t like traveling alone, especially at night.
Narrated Ibn’ `Umar: from the Prophet (PBUH) the following Hadith (No. 242). Narrated Ibn `Umar: The Prophet (PBUH) said, “If the people knew what I know about traveling alone, then nobody would travel alone at night.”—Sahih al-Bukhari 2998
What dua for travel was practiced by the Holy Prophet?
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) recited this dua whenever he wanted to travel.
إِذَا أَرَادَ سَفَرًا قَالَ بِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَصُولُ وَبِكَ أَجُولُ وَبِكَ أَسِيرُ
English transliteration: Idha arada safaran qala: Bika Allahumma asoolu wabika ajoolu wabika aseeru.
English translation: By Your help, O Allah, I move about, and by Your help, I travel, and by Your help, I walk.”
Hadith: It was narrated that ‘Ali (RA) said: When the Prophet (PBUH) wanted to travel, he would say: `By Your help, O Allah, I move about, and by Your help, I travel, and by Your help, I walk.” —Musnad Ahmad 691
Should I pray the Friday prayer while traveling?
If you are traveling for more than 19 days, then the Friday prayer is obligatory. However, if you have spent less than 19 days in a city after traveling, then you can skip the Friday prayer.
Malik said, “If the imam stops off on a journey in a town where jumua is obligatory and he gives a khutba and takes the jumua prayer for them, then the people of the town and any other people present do the jumua prayer with him.”
Malik said, “If the imam gathers people for prayer while he is travelling in a town where the jumua prayer is not obligatory, then there is no jumua for him, nor for the people of the town, nor for anyone else who joins them for the prayer in congregation, and the people of the town and anyone else who is not travelling should complete the prayer.”
Malik added, “A traveller does not have to do jumua ” —Muwatta Malik Book 5, Hadith 15
Dua for safe travel for a loved one?
The traveling person should recite the Dua for traveling, which we have mentioned above. The person whose loved one is traveling should recite Ayat-al-Kursi to him/her.
