Daily SupplicationsSupplications for Travel and Returning from It
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.
Travel is one of the situations in which human weakness and need for Allah’s protection and ease become clear. It involves movement, hardship, and being away from one’s family and homeland. For this reason, the Sunnah includes comprehensive adhkar said when traveling and when returning, combining the glorification of Allah, asking Him for righteousness and taqwa, and seeking protection on the road, for one’s family, and for one’s wealth.
Allah Most High says: “And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with hardship to yourselves.” [An-Nahl: 7]
قال الله تعالى: {وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَى بَلَدٍ لَمْ تَكُونُوا بَالِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ الأَنْفُسِ} [النحل: 7].
And He says: “That you may settle yourselves upon their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say: Glory be to the One who subjected this to us, and we could not have controlled it. And indeed, to our Lord we will surely return.” [Az-Zukhruf: 13-14]
وقال سبحانه: {لِتَسْتَوُوا عَلَى ظُهُورِهِ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ . وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ} [الزخرف: 13-14].
General MeaningWhy Should a Muslim Care About the Adhkar of Travel?
Because travel is a situation of movement, hardship, and distance from family. It clearly shows the servant’s need for Allah’s protection and ease. So the Muslim begins travel by glorifying Allah, asking Him for righteousness, taqwa, and protection, and returns praising, repenting, and thanking Allah.
Quick PracticeWhat Should a Muslim Do in Brief?
- When mounting and settling on the means of travel, say Allahu Akbar three times.
- Say the complete travel supplication.
- Say takbir when ascending and tasbih when descending.
- Make plenty of du'a, as the traveler’s supplication is hoped to be answered.
- When returning from travel, say the travel supplication and add the return phrase.
The Travel Supplication
Travel Dhikr 1Takbir After Settling on the Means of Travel
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ.
Repeat: three times when mounting and settling on the means of travel
The Muslim begins travel by magnifying Allah, acknowledging that Allah is greater than every hardship, fear, and road.
This is established as part of the travel supplication in the hadith of Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both; narrated by Muslim.
Travel Dhikr 2The Complete Travel Supplication
Glory be to the One who subjected this to us, and we could not have controlled it, and indeed to our Lord we will return. O Allah, we ask You in this journey of ours for righteousness and taqwa, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance for us. O Allah, You are the Companion in travel and the One entrusted over the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a distressing sight, and from an evil return in wealth and family.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا، وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا البِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ العَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى. اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا، وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ المَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ المُنْقَلَبِ فِي المَالِ وَالأَهْلِ.
Repeat: once at the beginning of travel after the takbir
This supplication gathers glorifying Allah, thanking Him for subjecting the means of travel, asking for righteousness and taqwa, seeking ease on the road, and asking Allah to protect one’s family and wealth.
Narrated by Muslim from Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both.
Brief MeaningsBrief Meanings in the Travel Supplication
- “We could not have controlled it”: we would not have been able to manage it without Allah subjecting it to us.
- “Shorten its distance for us”: make the road easy and feel near.
- “You are the Companion in travel”: protect us and grant us success on the road.
- “The One entrusted over the family”: protect our family while we are away.
- “Hardship of travel”: the difficulty and strain of travel.
- “Evil return”: returning to something disliked in family or wealth.
Adhkar During Travel and Upon Return
Return DhikrSupplication When Returning from Travel
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.
Glory be to the One who subjected this to us, and we could not have controlled it, and indeed to our Lord we will return. O Allah, we ask You in this journey of ours for righteousness and taqwa, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance for us. O Allah, You are the Companion in travel and the One entrusted over the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a distressing sight, and from an evil return in wealth and family.Upon return, he adds: Returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا، وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا البِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ العَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى. اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا، وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ المَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ المُنْقَلَبِ فِي المَالِ وَالأَهْلِ.ويزيد عند الرجوع: آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ.
Repeat: said upon returning from travel along with the travel supplication
When the Muslim returns from travel, he says the travel supplication itself and adds: “Returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.” These words combine return, repentance, worship, and praise.
Narrated by Muslim.
Road DhikrTakbir When Ascending and Tasbih When Descending
When ascending: Allah is the Greatest.
When descending: Glory be to Allah.
عند الصعود: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ.
وعند النزول: سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ.
Repeat: when ascending and descending during travel
The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, would say takbir when going up and tasbih when going down. This keeps the traveler remembering Allah throughout the states of the road.
Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “When we ascended, we said takbir, and when we descended, we said tasbih.” Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
Virtue of Du'aThe Supplication of the Traveler
The supplication of the traveler is among the supplications that are hoped to be answered, so the traveler should make plenty of du'a for the good of this world and the Hereafter.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Three supplications are answered, without doubt: the supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of a parent against his child.” Narrated by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah, and graded hasan by a number of scholars.
Quick SummaryA Brief Table of Travel Adhkar
| Situation | Dhikr | Repetition | Brief Evidence |
|---|
| At the beginning of travel | Allahu Akbar | Three times | Muslim |
| When mounting and settling | The complete travel supplication | Once | Muslim |
| Upon return | Ayibun, ta'ibun, 'abidun, li-rabbina hamidun | With the travel supplication | Muslim |
| When ascending and descending | Takbir when ascending, tasbih when descending | When it occurs | Al-Bukhari |
| During travel | Making plenty of du'a | As much as possible | Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah |
Important MannersImportant Manners During Travel
- Have a sincere intention and avoid traveling for sin.
- Repent and return people’s rights before travel if possible.
- Choose righteous company.
- Preserve prayer in its time.
- Learn the rulings of shortening and combining prayers for the traveler.
- Increase in remembrance and supplication.
- Have good character with companions and people.
- Do not leave one’s family without care.
FAQWhen Is the Travel Supplication Said?
It is said when mounting and settling on the means of travel, when the Muslim is leaving for a journey.
FAQIs the Travel Supplication Said for Short Trips Inside the City?
The travel supplication is said for what is customarily considered travel, not for every short outing within one’s town or city.
FAQWhat Do I Say When Returning from Travel?
Say the travel supplication and add: “Ayibun, ta'ibun, 'abidun, li-rabbina hamidun.”
FAQIs the Traveler’s Supplication Answered?
The supplication of the traveler is among the supplications hoped to be answered, so the traveler should make plenty of du'a for the good of this world and the Hereafter.
ClosingClosing Note
The adhkar of travel and returning from it remind the Muslim that the whole road is in Allah’s hand, that the vehicle is a blessing, and that family and wealth are protected only by Allah. So the Muslim should preserve the travel supplication, make plenty of remembrance and du'a, and make his journey one of obedience, gratitude, and reliance upon his Lord.
