Most of us say the travel dua in a rush, while the car is already moving or the plane is taxiing, half-remembering the words. Yet this one supplication, taught by the Prophet ﷺ, turns a journey you were going to make anyway into an act of worship: it asks Allah to be your companion on the road and the guardian of the family you leave behind. In this guide I’ve put together everything you need for your next trip: the full dua for travelling with Arabic, transliteration and meaning, the shorter duas for leaving home and coming back, and the sunnah habits that go with them. Each one is linked to its source so you can check it yourself.
Quick answer: When you set off, say Allahu akbar three times, then “Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun” followed by the rest of the travel dua below. This is narrated in Sahih Muslim 1342.
The Dua for Travelling (Dua al-Safar)
The complete travel dua was narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). He said that whenever the Prophet ﷺ mounted his camel to set out on a journey, he said “Allahu akbar” three times and then recited the following.
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
Transliteration: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadha al-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.
Meaning: Allah is the Greatest (three times). Glory be to the One who has placed this at our service, for we could never have done it ourselves, and to our Lord we will surely return. O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for righteousness and piety, 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 on the journey and the One who looks after the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travel, from any distressing sight, and from an unhappy return to my wealth and family.
Source: Sahih Muslim 1342; the opening line is from Quran 43:13–14
What the words are really asking for
When I slowed down and read this dua line by line, I found it covers every worry a traveller has, in order:
- “Glory be to the One who placed this at our service”: an acknowledgement that the car, train or aircraft works only because Allah made it possible. The verse was originally about riding animals and ships, and scholars apply it to every means of transport.
- “To our Lord we will surely return”: every journey is a small reminder of the final journey. It keeps travel humble.
- “Righteousness and piety… deeds that please You”: you are asking that the trip itself be good, not only that you arrive safely. That matters on a holiday as much as on a business trip.
- “You are the Companion… and the One who looks after the family”: the line that settles the heart of anyone leaving children or elderly parents at home.
- “Hardships of travel, distressing sights, an unhappy return”: delays, accidents, bad news and coming home to find something wrong. These are the three fears of every traveller, handed to Allah before they happen.
When to Recite It: Car, Train, Plane or Ferry
The Prophet ﷺ said this dua once he was settled on his mount and about to set off. The equivalent today is:
- Car: once you are seated and about to drive off, not while reversing out of a tight space in a rush.
- Train or coach: when you have found your seat and the doors close.
- Plane: once you are seated. Many people say it as the aircraft begins to taxi.
- Ferry: when you are on board and the vessel prepares to leave.
You only need to say the full dua once at the start of the journey. For a long trip with several legs, many scholars mention it is good to repeat the short opening (Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha…) each time you board a new vehicle.
Dua When Leaving Home
The journey starts at your front door. The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever says this when leaving the house is told, “You are guided, defended and protected,” and the devil moves away from him.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
Meaning: In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah.
This short dua is worth saying every time you leave the house, not only for long trips. If you are building a daily habit, pair it with your morning duas.
Dua for Someone Who Is Travelling
When a family member or friend is leaving, there is a beautiful sunnah farewell. The Prophet ﷺ would take the traveller’s hand and say:
أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ، وَأَمَانَتَكَ، وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ
Transliteration: Astawdi’ullaha dinaka, wa amanataka, wa khawatima ‘amalik.
Meaning: I entrust to Allah your religion, your trust, and the last of your deeds.
A man once told the Prophet ﷺ he was about to travel and asked for advice. He replied, “Zawwadakallahu at-taqwa”, “May Allah provide you with piety as your provision” (Tirmidhi 3444). It is a lovely short line to put in a message to someone heading to the airport.
The traveller, in turn, can say to those staying behind: “Astawdi’ukumullahal-ladhi la tadi’u wada’i’uh”, “I entrust you to Allah, whose trusts are never lost” (Sunan Ibn Majah 2825).
Dua When Returning From a Journey
In the same hadith of Ibn Umar, the Prophet ﷺ would say the travel dua again on his return, adding:
آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Transliteration: Ayibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun.
Meaning: We return, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.
Source: Sahih Muslim 1342
I like this one because it turns “we’re home” into gratitude. The trip ends the way it began, with Allah’s name.
Sunnah Habits on the Road
The duas are the heart of travel etiquette, but the Prophet ﷺ taught a few small habits that go with them:
- Say “Allahu akbar” when going up and “Subhan Allah” when coming down. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said the Companions did this on journeys (Sahih al-Bukhari 2993). Today that can mean a plane climbing after take-off and descending to land, or a road over hills.
- Travel with company where you can. The Prophet ﷺ discouraged travelling alone at night when it can be avoided (Sahih al-Bukhari 2998).
- Make dua during the journey. A traveller’s dua is one of the three that are answered (more on this below), so a long flight or drive is a good time for personal requests.
- Return to your family promptly. The Prophet ﷺ described travel as “a piece of torment” and told people to hurry home once their need was met (Sahih al-Bukhari 1804).
Praying While Travelling: A Brief Note
Travel also brings the concession of shortening prayers (qasr): the four-rak’ah prayers of Dhuhr, Asr and Isha become two (Quran 4:101). Many scholars also allow combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha. Most scholars link the concession to a journey of roughly 80 km (about 48 miles) or more, but the details of distance and length of stay differ between the schools of fiqh. If you travel often between the UK and Europe or back home, it is worth asking a scholar you trust how your school applies it.
Is the Dua of a Traveller Answered?
Yes. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Three supplications are answered without doubt: the supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveller, and the supplication of a parent for their child” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 1905, graded hasan).
That changes how I see delays. A cancelled flight or a slow motorway is still time in a state where dua is accepted. Keep a short list of what you want to ask for on your phone, and use it when you are stuck in a departure lounge.
Related Guides
- Dua for protection from the evil eye and harm
- Dua before and after eating
- Dua before sleeping
- How to perform wudu, including wiping over socks when travelling
Frequently Asked Questions
What dua do you say before travelling?
Say Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah when you leave home, then the full travel dua (starting Allahu akbar x3, Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha…) once you are seated in your car, train or plane.
What is the dua when boarding a plane?
There is no separate hadith just for aeroplanes. Scholars apply the general travel dua from Sahih Muslim 1342 to every means of transport, so say it once you are seated. Saying “Allahu akbar” as the plane climbs and “Subhan Allah” as it descends follows the sunnah of the Companions.
Do I have to say the whole dua in Arabic?
It is best to learn the Arabic, but if you have not memorised it yet you can read it from your phone, or make dua in your own language with the same meaning while you learn. Allah understands every language.
Is there a dua for returning home from travel?
Yes: Ayibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun, “We return, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord” (Sahih Muslim 1342).
Is the dua of a traveller accepted?
The Prophet ﷺ named the traveller’s dua among the three supplications that are answered (Tirmidhi 1905), so make the most of your journey time.
What dua can I say for someone who is travelling?
Say Astawdi’ullaha dinaka wa amanataka wa khawatima ‘amalik (Tirmidhi 3443), and you can add Zawwadakallahu at-taqwa, “May Allah provide you with piety” (Tirmidhi 3444).
Final Thoughts
A journey can be forty minutes on the motorway or twelve hours to visit family abroad. Either way, the Sunnah gives you a complete set of words for it: one as you leave the house, one as you set off, a farewell for those you leave behind, and a line of gratitude when you come home. Save this page, learn one dua per trip, and within a few journeys you will know them all by heart.
If you want to build these into a daily routine, start with the morning duas in Islam, and see how each day of the week can carry its own reminders in our guide to blessings for every day of the week.
