Islam is surely a practical religion. Due to this, the Prophet’s (PBUH) sunnah was recorded and utilized by Muslims in every day and age. His life serves as an example for us and, significantly, contains guidelines for even the smallest of acts that we do. The Prophet (PBUH) also provided us with many supplications and duas that we can utilize today in our everyday lives. Duas for traveling are indeed amongst these supplications.
The reason for us to recite these duas is basically to ask for Allah’s protection. In the time of the Prophet (PBUH), travel was certainly dangerous from the perspective of robberies, etc. Nowadays, journeys still contain dangers in the form of accidents and the ilk. We must, therefore, recite duas and thereby seek Allah’s protection as he is al-Hafeedh, The Protector and Preserver.
Traveling dua for someone else who is leaving on a journey
Astaudi’ullaha dinaka, wa amanataka, wa khawatima’ amalaka
English meaning of the dua: I leave your religion in the care of Allah, as well as your safety, and the last of your deeds.
The dua means to emphatically entrust Allah with the faith, trust and final acts of the departing traveler.
Zaudak Allahu taqwa, wa ghafara laka zanbika, wa yassar laka al-khaira haisu kunta
English meaning of the dua: May Allah endow you with taqwa, forgive your sins and facilitate all good for you, wherever you be.
This dua calls on Allah to bestow piety and forgiveness upon the person leaving on a journey and enable him to perform good deeds wherever he is.
Allahumma atwee lahul bu’ da wahawwin ‘alayhis-safara
English meaning of the dua: O Allah shorten the distance for him and ease his journey.
Here, we request Allah to lessen the distance the traveler will have to cover and grant him ease in his journey.
Traveling dua when departing from home
Bismillahi tawakkaltu’ alallahi wala hawla wala quwwata illa billah
English meaning of the dua: In the name of Allaah, I place my trust in Allaah, and there is no might nor power except with Allaah.
It means to start with Allah’s Name, have faith in Him, and there is no changing of situations except by Allah’s Power.
Supplication for the traveler
AllahuAkbar, AllahuAkbar, AllahuAkbar, Subhan allazee sakhkhara lana haza wamaa kunna lahu muqrineen, wa’innaa’ilaa Rabbinaa lamun qaliboon. Allahumma’ inna nas’aluka fisafarina hazal-birra wattaqwa, waminal ‘amali maa tardha, Allahumma hawwin’alayna safarana haza watwi’ annaa bu’ dahu, Allahumma’ Antassaahibu fissafari, wal khaleefatu fil’ ahli, Allaahumma’ innee ‘a’oothubika minwa’thaa’issafari, wa ka’aabanl manzari, wasoo’il munqalabi fil maali walahli
What this dua means
English meaning of the dua: Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord, we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You. Oh Allah, lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy for us. O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the One in Whose care we leave our family. Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from this journey’s hardships, and from the wicked sights in store and from finding our family and property in misfortune upon returning.
This dua is to be recited when one is setting out on a journey. After the three Takbirs, we glorify Allah who has blessed us with the means of travel, without which we would be unable. To Allah is our ultimate destiny, and we request Allah for uprightness and piety while we travel, and deeds which earn His pleasure. We ask Allah to facilitate our travel and let us complete our journey swiftly. Allah is the Companion during one’s travel, and the Successor who protects the family during the traveler’s journey. We seek his refuge from hardships during travel, from having a change of heart and getting into a difficult situation. We seek refuge with Allah from a bad result concerning our belongings and loved ones.
A portion of the above Travel dua is from the Quran and may serve as a shortened version of it if someone doesn’t know the full supplication. Subhan allazee sakhkhara lana haza wamaa kunna lahu muqrineen, wa’innaa’ilaa Rabbinaa lamun qaliboon. (Quran 43:13-14)
Dua when returning home
Aai boona taai boona ‘aabi doona li rabbi na haami doon
English meaning of the dua: We are returning, we repent to Allah, we worship Allah, we glorify only Allah.
It means returning, turning to Allah in repentance, worshipping and glorifying Him.
In conclusion
Travelling can often be fatal. Thousands of people die in traffic accidents daily in cars, motorbikes, etc. Flying via air can also be hazardous, as we see in cases of plane crashes owing to various reasons. Hence, we must always seek Allah’s protection. He alone, is the One Who can protect us in dire situations; consequently, we must utilize the supplications and invocations defined in the Prophetic sunnah.
We must also try to keep travel to a minimum unless necessary. According to Sahih Al-Bukhari, the Prophet (PBUH) said that travel is a form of torture, which disrupts people’s sleep, eating and drinking. Therefore, when one completes his task, he be quick to return to his family.
