What does the Quran say about traveling?
The Quran encourages travel as a way to reflect, learn and earn a living, and it makes worship easier for travelers. It tells people to "travel through the land" and look at creation and history, lets travelers shorten prayers and postpone fasting, and gives a dua for setting off.
Travel to reflect and learn
Several verses invite people to go out and look. Seeing mountains, oceans, ruins and other cultures is meant to lead the heart back to its Creator:
Other verses ask people to travel and see what happened to earlier nations who rejected their prophets (for example Quran 3:137 and 30:9), and say that real sight is in the heart, not only the eyes (Quran 22:46). Allah also made the earth "tame" for us to walk through it and eat from His provision (Quran 67:15).
Travel to earn a living
The Quran mentions "others traveling throughout the land seeking the bounty of Allah" (Quran 73:20), and reminds the Quraysh of their winter and summer trade journeys (Quran 106:2). Business trips and work travel are a normal, respected part of life.
Easier worship on the road
Because travel is tiring, the Quran gives travelers concessions:
- Shortening prayer: "there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer" when you travel (Quran 4:101). See What is qasr prayer?
- Fasting: a traveler in Ramadan may skip the fast and make it up later.
- Purity: tayammum (dry ablution) is allowed when a traveler can't find water (Quran 5:6).
For details, see Can I skip fasting while traveling?
Journeys in the stories
Many Quranic stories are journeys: Ibrahim leaving his people, Musa travelling to meet Khidr (Surah al-Kahf), Dhul-Qarnayn going east and west, the Night Journey (Quran 17:1), and Hajj, which people reach "from every distant pass" (Quran 22:27). The Quran also reminds pilgrims to take provisions, adding that the best provision is taqwa, mindfulness of Allah (Quran 2:197).
When you set off, say the words from Quran 43:13 that the Prophet ﷺ used on his mount (Sahih Muslim 1342). See What dua do I say when I travel?
- The Quran encourages travel to reflect on creation and history.
- Travelling for work is described as seeking Allah's bounty.
- Travelers may shorten prayers and postpone fasting.
- The best provision for any journey is taqwa.
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