Dua for Travel

Are you traveling? Recite the dua for traveling (Urdu: Safar ki dua) recommended by the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). Given below is the complete text of the dua in Arabic with English translation and transliteration.

Travel is an integral part of human life, and Muslims travel for various reasons, including religious obligations such as offering salat in a mosque or performing Hajj or Umrah. Muslims may also travel for everyday necessities, such as business commitments, educational pursuits, employment needs, or leisure activities like tourism.While modern travel (Urdu: Safar) is not fraught with the dangers of travel in the old times, it is still perilous. More people lose their lives in travel accidents than in wars or terrorist attacks. Knowing the risks and uncertainties accompanying travel, Islam calls on believers to invoke Allah's protection and blessings via prayers (duas) before travel.

Significance of the Travel Dua

Whether you're traveling within or outside your country, start your journey with the dua for traveling. Remembering Allah protects us from harm during our travel and ensures that we reach our destination safely. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) underscored the importance of performing dua before travel so that the traveler would have Allah's (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) protection during travel.

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) himself instructed duas for travelers, which have been passed down in Hadith literature. With the inclusion of du'as in our travel habits, we not only ask Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) for protection but also subject our travels to the habits modeled by the Prophet, thus enriching our travels with faithfulness and awareness.

Meaning and Explanation of the Travel Dua

The travel dua reminds us that we are to rely on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) when traveling, and we know that only Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) gives us ease and safety.

When we recite this dua, we trust Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), who will keep us, our belongings, and our families safe on the journey. We recognize that we trust Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), ultimately putting ourselves in Allah's care and protection. While we try to prepare for our travels, ultimately, protection is from Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). This supplication also asks Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى)for ease in the journey, as we ask Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) to make the trip easy without difficulty. We know that travel will have its challenges, and this supplication asks for Allah's help to easily overcome any obstacles that may arise during the journey, so that we may have a comfortable and hiccup-free trip. 

This supplication is also recited to express the dependency on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), and to give us a good and safe return home, as well as a mind reliant on Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), which will be the key to a fulfilling and spiritual return home. We also have the opportunity to be mindful of how we act during the travel, and we hope to return both physically and spiritually safe. 

When and How to Recite the Travel Dua

It is a well-practiced tradition in Islam to recite the dua when traveling to seek Allah's protection and spiritual comfort. The best time to recite this supplication is correct before you travel—whether walking out of your house, getting into a vehicle, or departing on foot. This is a time to put your faith in Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and request a hassle-free and safe trip. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was particular about these prayers, mentioning how they should be used for seeking guidance from God and protection during journeys.

The Dua for travel is a prayer that can be said for every kind of journey, whether to the market just a short distance away, on a daily journey to work or school, or for a trip of long distances. The spirit of the dua is in sincerity and intention. It is to be read aloud or internally, at one's convenience and in one's surroundings. It should come from the heart while connecting with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى), requesting His protection and mercy for the upcoming journey.

Other Sunnah Practices When Traveling

Apart from reciting the Safar ki Dua in English or Arabic, there are several Sunnah acts that Muslims are urged to follow when traveling. These acts were taught by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and are meant to guarantee spiritual safety and well-being while traveling.

One of these practices is bidding goodbye to loved ones and family members with prayers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would take the hand of the traveler and say: "I place your religion, your trustworthiness, and the last of your deeds in the trust of Allah." This prayer commits the traveler to Allah's protection, highlighting the significance of spiritual safety and physical health.

Another act highly recommended is reciting two rakats before embarking on a journey. Although there isn't much unity of opinion over this practice, certain scholars look at it positively and believe it acts as a method of invocation for Allah's protection and guidance before departure.

During travel, travelers are accorded the privilege of shortening their prayers, which is called Qasr Salah. This entails condensing the four-unit (rakat) obligatory prayers—Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha—into two units. This is an established Sunnah, which was always practised by the Prophet (peace be upon him) on his journeys, and is meant to alleviate the burden of worship when in transit.

By incorporating these Sunnah practices, i.e., saying prayers upon departing, offering two rakats before going, and shortening prayer upon travelling, Muslims harmonise their travel with prophetic examples, ensuring physical safety and spiritual enrichment.

Other Travel Duas from the Hadith or Quran

Aside from travel dua, Islam has several other duas taken from the Quran and Hadiths, which are available to guide and care for travelers at various moments of the traveling process. Those duas are spiritual weapons to secure ease, safety, and firm affection with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) when one travels.

Dua Recited Upon Entering a Town or Village: 

أللًّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الأَرَاضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَما أَقْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الرِّيَاحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْنَ، أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا، وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا

O Allah, Lord of the Seven heavens and all they overshadow, Lord of the Seven worlds and all they uphold, Lord of the devils and all they lead astray, Lord of the winds and all they scatter. I ask you for the goodness of this town and for the goodness of its people, and for the goodness it contains. I seek refuge in You from its evil, from the evil of its people, and from the evil it contains. Al-Hakim, Ibn As-Sunni (Hadith no. 524).

Dua Recited When Returning from Travel: 

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْـبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْـبَرُ. لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، آيِبُونَ تاَئِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ، صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ

(Allah the Great, Allah the Great, Allah the Great.) None has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things. We return repentant to our Lord, worshiping our Lord, and praising our Lord. He fulfilled His Promise, He aided His slave, and He alone defeated the Confederates.

Dua Recited When Entering the Market

لَا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلهُ الْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

None has the right to be worshiped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He brings life and He causes death, but He is living and does not die. In His Hand is all good, and He is Able to do all things.

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