Du'as for Traveling & Safe Journeys (Plus How to Use Them)

Du’as For Traveling

Du’a for leaving home Arabic: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ Transliteration: Bismillahi tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah. Translation: In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah, there is no power or strength except with Allah. How to use it: Recite this du’a as you’re about to leave the house to ask Allah for strength and protection on your travels. Comes from: Hadith, al-Tirmidhi

Du’a for before a trip Arabic: بِسْمِ اللهِ، مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا، إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ Transliteration: Bismillahi, majreha wa mursaha. Inna Rabbi laghafoorur rahim. Translation: In the name of Allah, whether it moves or is at rest. For my Lord is, be sure, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful! How to use it: Include this du’a in your prayers before a trip, as it refers to boarding the Ark and traveling forth in the name of Allah. Comes from: Qur’an, Surah al-Hud 11:41

Du’a for safe travels Arabic: اللهم إنا نسألك في سفرنا هذا البر والتقوى، ومن العمل ما ترضى، اللهم هون علينا سفرنا هذا واطو عنا بعده، اللهم أنت الصاحب في السفر والخليفة في الأهل، اللهم إني أعوذ بك من وعثاء السفر وكآبة المنظر وسوء المنقلب في المال والأهل Transliteration: Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wa al-taqwa, wa min al-amali ma tarda, Allahumma hawwin alayna safarana hadha wa twi anna bu’dahu, Allahumma anta al-sahib fi al-safar wa al-khalifah fi al-ahli, Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min wa’tha’ al-safar wa ka’abat al-manzar wa suu’ al-munqalabi fi al-mal wa al-ahli. Translation: O Allah, we ask You for righteousness, piety, and good deeds during our journey. O Allah, make easy for us our journey and shorten its distance. O Allah, You are the companion on the journey and the guardian of the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the difficulties of travel, unpleasant sights, and changes in fortune in wealth and family. How to use it: Speak this prayer to ask Allah for protection from challenges, bad outcomes, discomfort, or negative experiences as you travel. Comes from: Hadith, at-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud

Du’a for getting into a vehicle Arabic: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ Transliteration: Subhana-alladhi sakh-khara la-na hadha wa ma kunna la-hu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbi-na la munqalibun. Translation: Glory unto Him Who created this transportation for us, though we were unable to create it on our own. And unto our Lord, we shall return. How to use it: Recite this du’a as you get into the vehicle you’ll be traveling in (whether it’s an airplane, car, train, boat, or otherwise) to give Allah thanks and prayers. Comes from: Qur’an, Surah az-Zukhruf 43:13-14

Du’a for your destination Arabic: 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 Transliteration: Allahumma rabbas samawatis sab’i wa ma azlalna, wa rabbal aradinas 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. Translation: 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. How to use it: Use this du’a when you’re close to entering a new town or your ultimate destination, ideally when you can see it, to ask for Allah’s blessing and protection from any evil within. Comes from: Hadith, Mustadrak al-Hakim and an-Nasai

Du’a for arriving somewhere Arabic: رَبِّ أَدْخِلْنِي مُدْخَلَ صِدْقٍ وَأَخْرِجْنِي مُخْرَجَ صِدْقٍ وَاجْعَلْ لِي مِنْ لَدُنْكَ سُلْطَانًا نَصِيرًا Transliteration: Rabbi adkhilnee mudkhala sidqinw wa akhrijnee mukhraja sidqinw waj’al lee milladunka sultaanan naseeraa. Translation: My Lord, cause me to enter a sound entrance and to exit a sound exit and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority. How to use it: Recite this du’a as you enter a new town or city (or right before you get there) to ask Allah for a smooth arrival and return when it’s time to leave. Comes from: Qur’an, Surah al-Isra 17:80

Du’a for returning from a trip Arabic: آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ Transliteration: Aiboona, ta’iboona, ‘abidoona, lirabbina hamidoon. Translation: Returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord. How to use it: Speak this du’a when you return from a trip or when you’re about to leave to offer Allah supplication for your travels. Comes from: Hadith, al-Bukhari

Du’a for getting home Arabic: بِسْـمِ اللّهِ وَلَجْنـَا، وَبِسْـمِ اللّهِ خَـرَجْنـَا، وَعَلَـى رَبِّنـَا تَوَكّلْـنَا Transliteration: Bismillahi wa lajna, wa bismillahi kharajna, wa ‘ala rabbina tawakkalna. Translation: In the name of Allah we enter, in the name of Allah we leave, and upon our Lord, we rely. How to use it: Use this du’a as you enter your house while getting back from travels to ask for Allah’s blessing. Comes from: Hadith, Abu Dawud

Du’a for Umrah travels Arabic: بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللهِ، اللَّهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ Transliteration: Bismillahi wa as-Salatu wa as-Salamu ‘ala Rasulillah. Allahumma iftah li abwaba rahmatik. Translation: In the name of Allah, and prayers and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, open the doors of Your mercy for me. How to use it: Recite this du’a during Umrah—the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest of Muslim cities. This particular prayer should be spoken upon entering the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram).

Importance & Benefits of Du’a for Traveling

The prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of travel. According to the Hadith, he told believers that travel is a valuable way to seek knowledge and expand their horizons. The Islamic prophet also preached the vital role that du’a can play during travel (especially Umrah) and advised his companions to recite du’a for divine protection and blessings too. The benefits of du’a for travel include: Peace of mind. Travel can sometimes be nerve-wracking, so it can feel calming to recite du’a and ask for Allah’s protection. The prospect of ease and protection. Reciting du’a can provide reassurance that you’re going to have a safe, smooth, and protected journey (by placing yourself under Allah’s guidance).

The Holy Qur’an also discusses traveling and its significance. There are several mentions of physical travel in the Qur’an, with the word “sayyir” meaning to move or to travel. Allah even uses the word “sayyir” in different expressions, such as, “Do Travel,” “Tell them to Travel,” and “Do they then not travel through the Earth, so that their minds gain wisdom and their ears thus learn to hear?” (Surah al-Hajj, 22:46). Because the Qur’an and prophet Muhammad encourage travel as a source of growth, enlightenment, and wisdom, it’s no wonder that du’as can also be a significant part of travel!

Who should use du’a for traveling?

Any Muslim can use du’a for traveling on journeys of different lengths. It might seem like du’a are solely for long-distance travel, but that’s not the case; you can use them whether you’re leaving the country, taking a quick road trip, or even just commuting to work. As long as you’re part of the Islamic faith, it’s perfectly acceptable to recite du’a for traveling on any type of outing. In addition to reciting du’a, you could keep a written (or typed) copy with you in your wallet or bag. If you’re traveling with friends or family, you can invite them to recite du’as for traveling with you. It may also be beneficial to make du’as a routine part of traveling; that can help you memorize them (and get a sense of comfort when you travel, or if you start feeling anxious on a trip).