Dua for Travelling: The Travel Dua in Arabic and English
The complete travel dua from Sahih Muslim in Arabic, transliteration and English, what to add when you return home, and the dua for arriving at a place, with sources.
Travel duaسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِSubhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin ‘alaina safarana hadha watwi ‘anna bu‘dah. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min wa‘tha’is-safar, wa ka’abatil-manzar, wa su’il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.Glory be to Him who has brought this ride under our control, and it was not within our power; and surely we are to return to our Lord. O Allah, we ask You on this journey for goodness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and make its distance short. O Allah, You are our companion on the journey and the guardian of our family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from distressing sights, and from an unhappy return to our wealth and family.Sahih Muslim 1342, narrated by Ibn ‘Umar: the Prophet ﷺ said Allahu akbar three times when mounting for a journey, then this dua. Its opening words are from the Quran, Az-Zukhruf 43:13–14 (English meaning based on Kanz-ul-Iman).
When you return home
The Prophet ﷺ said the same words on returning, and added:
On returnآيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَAyibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li-rabbina hamidun.We return, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord.Sahih Muslim 1342
When you arrive at a place
Arrivingأَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَA‘udhu bi-kalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.Sahih Muslim 2708: whoever says it when stopping at a place will not be harmed until he leaves it.
Frequently asked questions
When do I say the travel dua?
When you set off on your ride: say Allahu akbar three times, then the dua (Sahih Muslim 1342).
Is there a shorter version?
The opening words, “Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha… lamunqalibun”, are from the Quran (Az-Zukhruf 43:13–14).
What do I say when I come home?
The same dua, adding “Ayibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li-rabbina hamidun”, as in the same hadith (Sahih Muslim 1342).
Is there a dua when arriving somewhere?
Yes: “A‘udhu bi-kalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq” (Sahih Muslim 2708).
Sources
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 1342 and 2708.
Quran: Arabic from the Tanzil Quran text; English meaning based on Kanz-ul-Iman by Imam Ahmad Raza Khan, checked against the Kanz-ul-Iman text on dawateislami.net (Az-Zukhruf 43:13–14, the opening words of the travel dua).
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