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Key points
- The safar ki dua is the du’a the Prophet ﷺ read when he set out on a journey, reported in Sahih Muslim 1342.
- Read it when you sit in the vehicle at the start of the journey: the car to the airport, the plane, or the bus between Makkah and Madinah.
- The du’a of a traveller is one of the du’as that are answered, so use the journey to pray for yourself and your family.
- On the way back, add “Ayibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li Rabbina hamidun”.
Leaving home
Say this as you step out of the door. The Prophet ﷺ said the one who says it is guided, protected and kept safe.
Leaving the house
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
In the name of Allah. I put my trust in Allah. There is no power and no strength except with Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud 5095
Saying goodbye
Family and friends often come to the airport. These are the words of the Prophet ﷺ for saying farewell, for both sides.
Illustrative imageThose staying behind say to the traveller
أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ
Astawdi‘ullaha dinaka wa amanataka wa khawatima ‘amalik.
I leave your faith, what you are trusted with, and the end of your deeds in the care of Allah.
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3443
The traveller says to the family
أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ
Astawdi‘ukumullahal-ladhi la tadi‘u wada’i‘uh.
I leave you in the care of Allah, whose trusts are never lost.
Sunan Ibn Majah 2825
The safar ki dua
Read this once you are seated in the vehicle and it starts to move. If the full du’a is hard to remember, start with the Qur’an verses in the first part (43:13–14) and read the rest from a card.
Starting the journey
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 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 وَالْأَهْلِ
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. Subhanal-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 ‘alayna 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.
Allah is the Greatest (three times). Glory be to the One who has made this travel easy for us, which we could not have done ourselves, and to our Lord we will surely return. 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 shorten its distance. O Allah, You are our companion on the journey and the guardian of our family. O Allah, I seek Your protection from the hardship of travel, from sad sights, and from finding harm in our wealth or family when we return.
Sahih Muslim 1342
Reaching the hotel
When you stop at a place, such as your hotel in Makkah or Madinah, the Prophet ﷺ taught this du’a and said nothing would harm you until you leave that place.
Stopping at a place
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
A‘udhu bi kalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.
I seek protection in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.
Sahih Muslim 2708
Coming back home
On the journey home, read the safar ki dua again and add these words at the end, as the Prophet ﷺ did.
The return journey
آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Ayibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li Rabbina hamidun.
We are returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.
Sahih Muslim 1342
Using the journey well
- The du’a of a traveller is answered (Abu Dawud 1536). Keep a short list of what you want to ask for, and for whom
- On the plane, make the niyyah of ihram and start the talbiyah when the crew announces the miqat
- Pray on time while travelling. A traveller may shorten the four-rak’ah prayers to two; ask a scholar about joining prayers if you need to
- Before you leave, settle your debts, ask forgiveness from family and friends, and leave your contact details with someone at home
Questions
It is the du’a the Prophet ﷺ read when setting out on a journey, reported in Sahih Muslim 1342. It begins with Allahu akbar three times and the verses “Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha…” (Qur’an 43:13–14).
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Official guidance
- Sahih Muslim 1342: the Prophet’s ﷺ du’a when setting out on a journey
- Qur’an 43:13–14: the du’a for a ride
- Sunan Abi Dawud 5095: du’a when leaving home
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 3443: saying farewell to a traveller
- Sunan Ibn Majah 2825: the traveller’s farewell to those staying behind
- Sahih Muslim 2708: du’a when stopping at a place
- Sunan Abi Dawud 1536: three du’as that are answered, including the traveller’s
This guide is general travel information. For religious rulings, please ask a qualified scholar.
