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10 Duas and Prayers to Read For Travelling

Praise be to Allah. It’s time for a school term break again and some of us have already planned a short getaway to relax. With border restrictions now eased after 2 years of adjusting to the Pandemic, it's time to explore the beauty of this world and its people.

Islam views travelling as a good deed if one travels with the right intention. In fact, the travelling and exploration of the past Muslims was also a key factor that allowed Islam to be embraced in all parts of the world today. Travelling also strengthens our belief in our Creator as Allah mentions in the Quran:

قُلْ سِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ بَدَأَ ٱلْخَلْقَ ۚ ثُمَّ ٱللَّهُ يُنشِئُ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Say (O Muhammad): ‘Travel throughout the land and see how He originated the creation, then Allah will bring it into being one more time. Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything.’

(Surah Al-Ankabut, 29:20)

For these reasons, travelling can also be an act of devotion to our Creator. Furthermore, other than continuing to observe our religious obligations such as prayers while travelling, as Muslims, we are also asked to portray exemplary etiquette (adab) when visiting other countries.

In this article, I list 10 prayers and Dua which we may be observed at different phases of our travel, based on the recommendations of our beloved Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and our past scholars, insyaAllah

Prayer before setting off

Two Raka’at of Sunnah Prayer

It is recommended to pray 2 raka’at of sunnah prayer, with the intention of travelling, before leaving the house.

Our Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. mentioned:

إذا خرجتَ من منزِلِك فصلِّ ركعتينِ تمنعانِكَ مخرجَ السُّوءِ و إذا دخلْتَ إلى منزِلِك فصلِّ ركعتينِ تمنعانِكَ مدْخلَ السُّوءِ

"When you leave your house, perform two raka’at and this will safeguard you against evil. When you enter your home, perform another two raka’at and this will safeguard you against evil."

(Musnad Al-Bazzar)

Imam An-Nawawi mentioned in his book Al-Majmu’ that, in performing this prayer, it is recommended to recite Surah Al-Kafirun after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in the first raka’at and to recite Surah Al-Ikhlas after the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah in the second raka’at, respectively.

Dua after leaving the house

Narrated by Anas bin Malik r.a, The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said:

من قالَ يَعني إذا خرجَ من بيتِهِ: بِسمِ اللَّهِ، توَكَّلتُ على اللَّهِ، لا حَولَ ولا قوَّةَ إلَّا باللَّهِ، يقالُ لَهُ: كُفيتَ، ووُقيتَ، وتنحَّى عنهُ الشَّيطانُ

Bismillah, tawakkaltu 'alAllah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah

"Whoever says (upon leaving his house): “In the Name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, there is no might or power except by Allah”,'it will be said to him: 'You have been sufficed and protected, and the devil will go far away from him".

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

Dua upon boarding a vehicle

It is recommended to make Dua upon boarding any vehicle as recommended by Our Prophet s.a.w. by saying:

سُبْحَانَ الذي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هذا، وَما كُنَّا له مُقْرِنِينَ، وإنَّا إلى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ

“Subhanal-ladzi sakh-khara lana hadza wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbina lamun-qalibun.” 

In the name of Allah and all praise is for Allah. How perfect He is, the One Who has placed this (transport) at our service and we ourselves would not have been capable of that, and to our Lord is our final destiny.

(Sahih Muslim)

Dua for Travel

After your 2 raka'at Sunnah Prayer before setting off or at any point of the travel on your way to the destination, you may recite the following Dua:

اللَّهُمَّ إنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ في سَفَرِنَا هذا البِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ العَمَلِ ما تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هذا، وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ في السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ في الأهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَعُوذُ بكَ مِن وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ المَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ المُنْقَلَبِ في المَالِ وَالأهْلِ

Allahumma inna nas-aluka fi safarina haza-l-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tardho. Allahumma hawwin 'alaina safarana haza, watwi 'anna bu'dahu, Allahumma antas-sohibu fis-safar wal-khalifatu fil-ahli. Allahumma inni a-'uzu bika min wa'atha-is-safar, wa kabbati-manzar, wa su-i-lmunqalabi fil-mal wal-ahli

O Allah, we ask You in our travel for righteousness, taqwa, and good deeds that You are pleased with. O Allah make our travel an ease, and shorten the distance for us. O Allah, You are our Companion in travel and the guardian of our family (in our absence). O Allah I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travel, a sight of grief, and from an unfortunate occurance in wealth and family.

(Sahih Muslim)

Dua upon arriving at your destination

Narrated by Suhaib r.a, the Prophet s.a.w. would say upon looking at the town he wishes to enter:

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 

“Allahumma rabbas samawatis sab’i wa ma azlalna, wa rabbal ardinas 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.”

“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.”

(Mustadrak Al-Hakim)

Dua upon entering at your place of stay

We may not know who has previously stayed or what incidents have happened in the hotel room before that might affect our stay. It is indeed helpful to protect ourselves from any harm by reciting the following Dua as mentioned in a Hadith which was narrated by Khawlah binte Hakim As-Sulaimiyyah r.a. The Prophet s.a.w. said:

مَنْ نَزَلَ مَنْزِلاً ثُمَّ قَالَ
"أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ‏"
لَمْ يَضُرُّهُ شَىْءٌ حَتَّى يَرْتَحِلَ مِنْ مَنْزِلِهِ ذَلِكَ

A'uzu bikalimatillahit-tammati min syarri ma khalaq

Whoever enters at a place, and then prays:
"I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what is created,"
nothing would harm him until he makes his leave from that place.

(Sahih Muslim)

Dua for witnessing a person who is experiencing an affliction or an illness

Sometimes in our travels, we may encounter different kinds of people - some who are afflicted with illnesses or a disability. While it is praiseworthy to sympathise, support and make Dua for them, it is also recommended to recite the following Dua so as to protect ourselves from being afflicted with such trials. 

The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said:

مَن رَأَى مُبتَلًى فَقَالَ الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِمَّا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ، وَفَضَّلَنِي عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ تَفْضِيلًا, لم يُصِبْهُ ذلك البلاءُ

“Alhamdulillahil ladzi ‘afani mimmab-talaka bih, wa faddalani ‘ala kathirin mimman khalaqa tafdila”

Whoever sees a person who is afflicted and says: “Praise be to Allah who had saved me from what He had afflicted you with, and for honouring me over many of his creations”, he (or she) will never be afflicted by it.

(Sunan Ibn Majah)

Dua when experiencing difficulties during travel

There are also times when we face trials during travelling. The best of remembrance (Zikr) is to ask for forgiveness (Istighfar) from Allah s.w.t. for our sins or shortcomings. 

Abdullah bin Abbas r.a. narrates that Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. stated: 

مَنْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ الِاسْتِغْفَارِ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لَهُ مِنْ كُلِّ هَمٍّ فَرَجًا وَمِنْ كُلِّ ضِيقٍ مَخْرَجًا وَرَزَقَهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ

Whoever increases his prayers for forgiveness (i.e. Astaghfirullah), Allah will grant him relief from every worry, a way out from every hardship, and provide for him in ways he does not expect.

(Musnad Ahmad) 

Dua upon returning home

Upon returning home, it is recommended to make the Dua For Travel as mentioned above while additionally making the following Dua afterwards: 

آيبونَ تائبونَ عابدونَ لربِّنا حامِدون

“Ayibun, ta’ibun, ‘abidun, liRabbina hamidun"

We return, in repentant, worshipping, and praising our Lord

(Sahih Muslim)

Prayer upon returning home

While it is recommended to pray 2 raka’at of prayer before leaving the house at the start of our travels, it is also recommended to pray 2 raka’at of sunnah prayer after finally returning back home. This is based on the same Hadith mentioned above:

إذا خرجتَ من منزِلِك فصلِّ ركعتينِ تمنعانِكَ مخرجَ السُّوءِ و إذا دخلْتَ إلى منزِلِك فصلِّ ركعتينِ تمنعانِكَ مدْخلَ السُّوءِ

"When you leave your house, perform two raka’at and this will safeguard you against evil. When you enter your home, perform another two raka’at and this will safeguard you against evil."

(Musnad Al-Bazzar)

It's important that we spend much of our time travelling by makeing sincere and heartfelt Dua. This is recommended by our Prophet s.a.w. as he mentions the merit of a traveller making Dua:

ثلاثُ دعواتٍ مستجاباتٌ لا شَكَّ فيهِنَّ؛ دَعوةُ المظلومِ، ودعوةُ المسافرِ، ودعوةُ الوالدِ على ولدِهِ

“Three supplications are answered without a doubt: The supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveller, and the supplication of the parent for his child."

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

I hope that these short Dua and recommended prayers can benefit us throughout our travels and serve as a reminder to show gratitude towards Allah for granting us the opportunity to travel and witness His wonders in creation. 

With this gratitude, we pray that Allah increases our wealth and provisions in abundance and grant us the opportunity to see and appreciate His wonders again in the future, insyaAllah. 

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ

“And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more....”

(Surah Ibrahim, 14:7)

May Allah accept all our efforts and worship in fulfilling our duties as His righteous servants, amin. 

And Allah knows best.