What dua do I say when I travel?
Yes, there's a special travel dua: say "Allahu Akbar" three times, then "Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun." It means "Hallowed is He Who subdued for us this (ride) and we were not ourselves powerful enough to use it as a ride, and we are going to return to our Lord." The Prophet ﷺ said it when setting out, and it works for a car, train or plane just as well as a camel.
The dua when setting out
Ibn Umar reported that whenever the Prophet ﷺ mounted his camel to set out on a journey, he said "Allahu Akbar" three times, then the words above, then continued: "O Allah, we seek virtue and piety from Thee in this journey of ours and the act which pleaseth Thee. O Allah, lighten this journey of ours, and make its distance easy for us. O Allah, Thou art (our) companion during the journey, and guardian of (our) family" (Sahih Muslim 1342).
The first part comes straight from the Quran (Quran 43:13-14), so it's easy to learn. The rest is longer; read it from a dua app or "Fortress of the Muslim" (Hisn al-Muslim) until you know it. Many people say it once they're seated and buckled in, or as the plane starts to taxi.
On the way
- Going up and down: Jabir said: "Whenever we went up a place we would say, 'Allahu Akbar', and whenever we went down a place we would say, 'Subhan Allah'" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2993). Try it on takeoff and landing, or on hills and stairs.
- Make lots of dua: the Prophet ﷺ said three supplications are answered without doubt, including "that of a traveller" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1536). A long flight or drive is a great time for your personal list.
- Keep up your prayers: travelers can shorten and, in many cases, combine prayers. See Can I pray on a plane?
When you come back
On returning, the Prophet ﷺ repeated the same dua and added: "We are returning, repentant, worshipping our Lord, and praising Him" (Sahih Muslim 1342). In Arabic that's "Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li Rabbina hamidun." It's a lovely way to end a trip, whether it was a vacation or a family visit.
Everyday trips count too
Scholars differ on whether the full travel dua is only for real journeys or for any ride. Many people say at least the Quranic part whenever they get into a car or onto a train, since its message of gratitude for the ride fits any journey. For daily trips, the dua for leaving home is the main one. See What dua do I say when leaving the house?
- Say "Allahu Akbar" three times, then the travel dua.
- "Allahu Akbar" going up, "Subhan Allah" going down.
- A traveler's dua is answered, so ask a lot.
- On return, add "Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li Rabbina hamidun."
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