Du’a is the weapon of a believer. Whether you’re battling through the hardships of life or simply going about your daily routine, du’a and dhikr are the keys to success in all aspects of life. Travelling is an exciting and eye opening adventure, so it’s important we guard this carefully through duas, asking Allah for well being, success and safety. 

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As well as our personal supplications to Allah, there are also prophetic du’as recited in specific situations such as travel, which are recommended in the Sunnah of our Prophet ﷺ. Here are some prophetic du’as to recite for a smooth and easy experience while travelling. 

1. The du’a for leaving the house

When leaving the home we’re exposing ourselves to the dangers and evils of the outside world, which is why there are various recommended duas to recite to protect ourselves from this:

اَللَّهُـمَّ إِنِّي أَعُـوذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِـلَّ أَوْ أُضَـلَّ، أَوْ أَزِلَّ أَوْ أُزَلَّ، أَوْ أَظْلِـمَ أَوْ أَُظْلَـمَ، أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُـجْهَلَ عَلَـيَّ

Allahumma innee aoothu bika an adilla aw odal, aw azilla aw ozall, aw athlima aw othlam, aw ajhala aw yujhala AAalay.

“O Allah, I take refuge with You lest I should stray or be led astray, or slip or be tripped, or oppress or be oppressed, or behave foolishly or be treated foolishly.’ slip: i.e. to commit a sin unintentionally.” (At-Tirmidhi 3:152)

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْـتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُـوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللَّهِ

Bismil-lah, tawakkaltu AAalal-lah, wala hawla wala quwwata illa billah.

“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah.”

The virtue of this dua is explained in the following hadith:

The Prophet ﷺ said, “When a man goes out of his house and says: “In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah; there is no might and no power but in Allah,” the following will be said to him at that time: “You are guided, defended and protected.” The devils will go far from him and another devil will say: How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?” (Sunan Abi Dawud #5095)

2. Du’as for Mounting an Animal or Boarding a Vehicle 

اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اَللهُ أَكْبَرُ ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِيْ سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِيْنَ ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِيْ سَفَرِنَا هٰذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَىٰ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هٰذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ ، وَالْخَلِيْفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ ، وَسُوْءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِيْ الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, subḥāna-l-ladhī sakkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn, wa innā ilā rabbinā la-munqalibūn, Allāhumma innā nas’aluka fī safarinā hādhā-l-birra wa-t-taqwā, wa mina-l-ʿamali mā tarḍā, Allāhumma hawwin ʿalaynā safaranā hādhā wa-ṭ-wi’ ʿannā buʿdah, allāhumma Anta-ṣ-ṣāḥibu fi-s-safar, wa-l-khalīfatu fi-l-ahl, allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min waʿthāi-s-safar, wa kaābati-l-manẓar, wa sū’i-l-munqalabi fi-l-māli wa-l-ahl.

“Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. How perfect is the One Who has given us control over this; we could not have done it by ourselves. Truly it is to our Lord that we are returning. O Allah, we ask You for piety, taqwā and deeds which You will be pleased with on this journey of ours. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and let us cover its distance swiftly. O Allah, You are our Companion on the journey and the One in Whose care we leave our family. O Allah, I seek Your protection from the difficulties of the journey, from distressing scenes, and from an ill-fated outcome with my wealth and family.”

Ibn Umar reported: When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would mount his camel for travel, he would exalt Allah three times and then say, “[the above dua] When the Prophet ﷺ returned, he would say these words and add to them, “We are those who return, those who repent, those who worship and who praise our Lord.” (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1342)

3. General Du’a for Travel 

سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي ، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

Subḥānaka innī ẓalamtu nafsī, fa-ghfir lī, fa-innahu lā yaghfiru-dh-dhunūba illā Anta.

“You are free from imperfection. I have wronged myself, so forgive me, because none but You can forgive sins.”

‘Alf (ra) narrates that he saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say [the above] and laugh after that. I asked: Messenger of Allah ﷺ, at what are you laughing? He ﷺ replied: “Your Lord, Most High, is pleased with His servant when he says: ‘Forgive my sins’, knowing that no one forgives sins except Him. (Abu Dawud 2602)

4. When Dismounting or Exiting a Vehicle 

أَعُوْذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

Aʿūdhu bi kalimāti-l-llāhi-t-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq.

“I seek protection in Allah’s perfect words from the evil of whatever He has created.”

Khawlah bint Ḥākim RA reported: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “Whoever dismounts at a place and then says [the above], nothing will harm him until he sets off again from that place.” (Muslim 2708)

5. When Entering a Town or City 

اَللّٰهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمٰوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ ، وَرَبَّ الْأَرْضِيْنَ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَقْلَلْنَ ، ورَبَّ الشَّيَاطِيْنِ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ ، ورَبَّ الرِّيَاحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْنَ ، أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هٰذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيْهَا ، وأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيْهَا

Allāhumma Rabba-s-samāwāti-s-sabʿi wa mā aẓlaln, wa Rabba-l-arḍīna-s-sabʿi wa mā aqlaln, wa Rabba-sh-shayāṭīni wa-mā aḍlaln, wa Rabba-r-riyaḥi wa mā dharayn, as’aluka khayra hadhihi-l-qaryati wa khayra ahlihā wa khayra mā fīhā, wa aʿūdhu bika min sharrihā wa sharri ahlihā wa sharri mā fīhā.

“O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and all that they shade, Lord of the seven earths and all that they carry, Lord of the devils and all that they lead astray, Lord of the winds and all that they scatter, I ask You for the good of this town, the good of its people, and whatever good is in it; and I seek Your protection from the evil of this town, the evil of its people, and whatever evil is in it.”

Ṣuhayb (ra) narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never saw a vicinity he wanted to enter except that he said [the above]. (Nasā’ī in al-Sunan al-Kubrā 5/256, Ibn al-Sunnī 524)

These du’as all remind us to seek the forgiveness and protection of Allah and to put our trust and faith in Him. Whether your journey is short and easy, or longer and more difficult, always remember to seek the aid and protection of Allah the Almighty who can make your journey safe, beneficial and comfortable.