Travel

01 · When Travelling #1

اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِيْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِيْنَ ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِيْ سَفَرِنَا هٰذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَىٰ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هٰذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ ، وَالْخَلِيْفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ ، وَسُوْءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِيْ الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, subḥāna-l-ladhī sakkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn, wa innā ilā rabbinā la-munqalibūn, Allāhumma innā nas’aluka fī safarinā hādhā-l-birra wa-t-taqwā, wa mina-l-ʿamali mā tarḍā, Allāhumma hawwin ʿalaynā safaranā hādhā wa-ṭ-wi ʿannā buʿdah, Allāhumma Anta-ṣ-ṣāḥibu fi-s-safar, wa-l-khalīfatu fi-l-ahl, Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min waʿthāi-s-safar, wa ka-ābati-l-manẓar, wa sū’i-l-munqalabi fi-l-māli wa-l-ahl.

Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. How perfect is the One who has given us control over this; we could not have done it by ourselves. Truly it is to our Lord that we are returning. O Allah, we ask You for piety, taqwā (Allah-consciousness) and deeds which You will be pleased with on this journey of ours. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and let us cover its distance swiftly. O Allah, You are our Companion on the journey and the One in whose care we leave our family. O Allah, I seek Your protection from the difficulties of the journey, from distressing scenes, and from an ill-fated outcome with my wealth and family.

- When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would mount his camel for travel, he would say [the above]. (Muslim 1342)

02 · When Travelling #2

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ، اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِيْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِيْنَ ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ ، لَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوْبِيْ ، إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

Bismi-llāh, alḥamdu li-llāh, alḥamdu li-llāh, alḥamdu li-llāh. Allāhu akbar. Allāhu akbar. Allāhu akbar. Subḥāna-l-ladhī sakkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn, wa innā ilā rabbinā la-munqalibūn. Lā ilāha illā Anta subḥānaka innī ẓalamtu nafsī, fa-ghfir lī dhunūbī, innahu lā yaghfiru-dh-dhunūba illā Anta.

All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah. All praise be to Allah. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. How perfect is the One Who has given us control over this; we could not have done it by ourselves. Truly it is to our Lord that we are returning. There is no god worthy of worship except You. You are free from imperfection. I have wronged myself, so forgive my sins, because none but You can forgive sins.

- ʿAlī b. Rabīʿah (raḥimahullāh) narrates that I was riding with ʿAlī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu). When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ. Then when he sat on its back, he said: اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ three times and اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ three times. Then he said: [the above]. He then laughed. I asked: O leader of the believers, at what are you laughing? He replied: "I was riding with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he did what I just did and I said to him what you said to me." Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Your Lord, Most High, is pleased with His servant when he says: لَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوْبِيْ ، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ. Allah says: "My servant knows I forgive and punish." (Ṭabarānī in al-Duʿā 778)

03 · Upon Returning, Add the Following:

آئِبُوْنَ تَائِبُوْنَ عَابِدُوْنَ ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُوْنَ

Ā’ibūn, tā’ibun, ʿābidūn, li rabbinā ḥāmidūn.

We are returning, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord.

- When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would mount his camel for travel, he would say [ اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِيْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِيْنَ ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِيْ سَفَرِنَا هٰذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَىٰ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هٰذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ ، وَالْخَلِيْفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ ، وَسُوْءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِيْ الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ]; and when he would return, he would say these words and add [the above] to them. (Muslim 1342) Anas b. Mālik said: “...When they approached Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ said [the above]. He kept on repeating it until he entered Madinah.” (Bukhārī 3086)

04 · When Dismounting

أَعُوْذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

Aʿūdhu bi kalimāti-l-llāhi-t-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq.

I seek protection in Allah’s perfect words from the evil of whatever He has created.

05 · When Entering Upon One's Family

تَوْبًا تَوْبًا ، لِرَبِّنَا أَوْبًا ، لَا يُغَادِرُ عَلَيْنَا حَوْبًا

Tawban tawban, li-Rabbinā awban, lā yugādiru ḥawban.

Turning turning, to our Lord returning, not leaving behind any sin [unforgiven].

- Ibn ʿAbbās (radiy Allāhū ‘anhumā) narrates that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned from a journey and went to his family, he would say [the above]. (Ibn Hibbān 2716)

06 · Supplication of the Traveller for the Resident

أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللهَ الَّذِيْ لَا تَضِيْعُ وَدَائِعُهُ

Astawdiʿukumu-llāha-lladhī lā taḍīʿu wadā’iʿuh.

I leave you in the care of Allah, who does not allow anything entrusted to Him to be lost.

- Abū Hurayrah (radiy Allāhū ‘anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ bid me farewell and said [the above]." (Ibn Mājah 2825)

07 · Supplication of the Resident for the Traveller #1

أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللهَ دِيْنَكَ ، وَأَمَانَتَكَ ، وَخَوَاتِيْمَ عَمَلِكَ

Astawdiʿu-llāha dīnak, wa amānatak, wa khawātīma ʿamalik.

I leave your religion, your trust and your final deeds in the care of Allah.

- Sālim narrated that Ibn ʿUmar (radiy Allāhū ʿanhumā) would say to a man intending to travel, “Come close, I will bid you farewell as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to bid us farewell. Then he would say [the above].” (Tirmidhī 3443) The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Indeed when something is entrusted in the care of Allah, He protects it.” (Ibn Ḥibbān 2693)

08 · Supplication of the Resident for the Traveller #2

زَوَّدَكَ اللَّهُ التَّقْوَى ، وَغَفَرَ ذَنْبَكَ ، وَيَسَّرَ لَكَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ

Zawwadaka-llāhu-t-taqwā, wa ghafara dhambak, wa yassara laka-l-khayra ḥaythuma kunt.

May Allah grant you Taqwa as your provision, and may He forgive your sin, and may He make goodness easy for you wherever you are.

- Anas (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and said: ‘I intend to undertake a journey, so give me provision. He said: ‘May Allah grant you taqwā as your provision’ He said: ‘Give me more.’ He said: ‘And may He forgive your sin.’ He said: ‘Give me more, may my father and mother be sacrificed for you.’ He said: ‘And may He make goodness easy for you wherever you are.’” (Tirmidhī 3444)

09 · Supplication of the Resident for the Traveller #3

اللَّهُمَّ اطْوِ لَهُ الْأَرْضَ وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْهِ السَّفَرَ

Allāhumma-ṭ-wi lahu-l-arḍa wa hawwin ʿalayhi-s-safar.

O Allah, shorten the distance for him and make travel easy for him.

- Abū Hurayra (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported: A man said, “O Messenger of Allah ﷺ, I intend to travel, so instruct me.” The Prophet ﷺ said, “You must be mindful of Allah and exalt him every time you ascend a height.” The man left and the Prophet said [the above]. (Tirmidhī 3445)

10 · When Entering a Town or City

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمٰوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ ، وَرَبَّ الْأَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَقْلَلْنَ ، ورَبَّ الشَّيَاطِيْنِ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ ، ورَبَّ الرِّيَاحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْنَ ، أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيْهَا ، وأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيْهَا

Allāhumma Rabba-s-samāwāti-s-sabʿi wa mā aẓlaln, wa Rabba-l-arḍīna-s-sabʿi wa mā aqlaln, wa Rabba-sh-shayāṭīni wa-mā aḍlaln, wa Rabba-r-riyāḥi wa mā dharayn, as’aluka khayra hādhihi-l-qaryati wa khayra ahlihā wa khayra mā fīhā, wa aʿūdhu bika min sharrihā wa sharri ahlihā wa sharri mā fīhā.

O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and all that they shade, Lord of the seven earths and all that they carry, Lord of the devils and all that they lead astray, Lord of the winds and all that they scatter — I ask You for the good of this town, the good of its people, and whatever good is in it; and I seek Your protection from the evil of this town, the evil of its people, and whatever evil is in it.

- Ṣuhayb (raḍiy Allāhu ʿanhu) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never saw a vicinity he wished to enter except that he said [the above]. (Nasā’ī in al-Sunan al-Kubrā 10302, Ibn al-Sunnī 524)

11 · When Night Falls on a Journey

يَا أَرْضُ ، رَبِّي وَرَبُّكِ اللَّهُ ، أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّكِ وَشَرِّ مَا فِيكِ ، وَشَرِّ مَا خُلِقَ فِيكِ ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَدِبُّ عَلَيْكِ ، وَأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ أَسَدٍ وَأَسْوَدَ ، وَمِنَ الْحَيَّةِ وَالْعَقْرَبِ ، وَمِنْ سَاكِنِ الْبَلَدِ ، وَمِنْ وَالِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ

Yā arḍu, Rabbī wa Rabbuki-llah, aʿūdhu bi-llāhi min sharrik, wa sharri mā fīk, wa sharri mā khuliqa fīk, wa min sharri mā yaddibbu ʿalayk, wa aʿūdhu bi-llāhi min asadin wa aswad, wa mina-l-hayyati wa-l-ʿaqrab, wa min sākini-l-balad, wa min wālidiw wa mā walad.

O Earth, your Lord and my Lord is Allah. I seek refuge in Allah from the evil (of your nights) and those evils created in you and the evil of that which crawls on you. I seek protection in Allah from the lions, black things, snakes, scorpions, the inhabitants of the land, parents and offspring alike.

- ʿAbdullah b.ʿUmar (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhumā) reported: “When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was travelling, he would say [the above], when night was approaching.” (Abū Dāwūd 2603)

12 · When One is Unable to Keep Steady on a Conveyance

اللَّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْنِىْ وَاجْعَلْنِيْ هَادِيًا مَهْدِيًّا

Allāhumma thab-bithnī wa-jaʿalnī hādiyam mahdiyyā.

O Allah, make me steady and make me a guide who is guided.

- Jarīr b. ʿAbdullāh al-Bajalī (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrated: “From the time I embraced Islam, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not prevent me from seeing him, nor did he see me except that he would smile. I complained to the Prophet ﷺ that I could not keep steady on a horse. He hit me on the chest with his hand and said [the above]. (Bukhārī 3036)

13 · When Dawn Approaches

سَمَّعَ سَامِعٌ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ وَحُسْنِ بَلاَئِهِ عَلَيْنَا ، رَبَّنَا صَاحِبْنَا وَأَفْضِلْ عَلَيْنَا عَائِذًا بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ

Samma‘a sāmi‘un bi-hamdi-llāhi wa husni balā’ihi ‘alaynā, Rabbanā sāhibnā wa afdil ‘alaynā ‘ā’idhan bi-llāhi mina-n-nār.

A listener listened to our praising Allah (for) His goodly trial of us. Our Lord! accompany us, guard us and bestow upon us Your grace. I am a seeker of refuge in Allah from the Fire.

- Abū Hurayra (raḍiy Allāhu ‘anhu) reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out on a journey in the morning, he used to say [the above]. (Muslim 2718)