Dua for Travel

Travel is a portion of torment, as the Prophet ﷺ said, and so it was given its own supplications: one on mounting, one on stopping at a new place, and one on returning. The traveller's supplication is answered — so use it, for yourself and for those you love.

The best-known of them — 'Glory to Him who has subjected this to us' — is not said a day before departure. It is said on settling into the vehicle: once you are seated in the car, the plane or the train, before it moves.

They are ordered here as the journey itself unfolds: on mounting, on stopping along the way, and on coming home.

On mounting

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَىٰ. اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَٰذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. Subhana alladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha watwi 'anna bu'dah. Allahumma anta as-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safar, wa ka'abatil-manzar, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.

Allah is the Greatest (three times). Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, though we were not capable of it, and to our Lord we shall surely return. O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for righteousness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and fold up its distance. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of the family left behind. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a sight that brings sorrow, and from an evil return to property and family.

Plain text (no diacritics)

الله أكبر، الله أكبر، الله أكبر، سبحان الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين، وإنا إلى ربنا لمنقلبون. 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

On stopping at a place

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

A'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.

I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.

Plain text (no diacritics)

أعوذ بكلمات الله التامات من شر ما خلق

On returning

آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ

Ayibuna ta'ibuna 'abiduna li-Rabbina hamidun.

We return, repentant, worshipping and praising our Lord.

Plain text (no diacritics)

آيبون تائبون عابدون لربنا حامدون

When is the travel dua said?

On settling into your transport — after you are seated and before it moves — not hours earlier as you leave the house.
Say it aloud enough for those with you to hear, so they may say it with you.
If you stop somewhere on the way — a rest house, a hotel, a home — say the dua for alighting at a place: whoever says it is not harmed until he departs.

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Common questions

What is the authentic dua for travel?

Narrated by Muslim from Ibn 'Umar: say 'Allahu Akbar' three times, then 'Subhana alladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun…'.

When exactly do I say it?

On settling onto your mount — seated in the vehicle, before it moves — not as you leave the house.

Is a traveller's dua answered?

Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Three supplications are answered without doubt: that of the oppressed, that of the traveller, and that of a parent for his child.'