Duas for Travelling in Islam: The Complete Guide to Travel Duas

Travel is an essential part of Muslims’ daily activities, from taking a short trip to work to taking long trips for work, as well as spiritual trips for Hajj and Umrah. Muslims are given a travel protection dua (prayer) by Allah (may He be exalted and glorified). This travel protection dua asks for safety and ease for the traveller on land, in the air, or at sea. This pillar provides you with a travel protection dua, its Arabic text, its translation, and the etiquette for making the travel protection dua before, during, and after a trip.

Whether you are here for a dua before travelling, a dua for safe travel, or exploring the context of dua travel in Islam, you are in the right place. Under related articles on our website, we have extensive coverage for related topics such as travel by air, by land, or making dua for someone else travelling.

What Is a Travel Dua in Islam?

A travel Dua is a supplication every Muslim recites or shares at the beginning of every journey. The practice is based on the traditions or Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saaawdaka Allaah az-zawwajala). The Prophet Muhammad (saaawdaka Allaah az-zawwajala) instructed his followers to use certain phrases when they departed from home. There are several supplications that complement the beginning of travel dua. Before saying any of the supplications as a whole, it is Sunnah to say:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Bismillah — "In the name of Allah."

There are many benefits scholars have agreed upon in reciting the supplication or dua of the traveller.

• It reminds the traveller that Allah is the true source of protection.
• It quells the uneasiness and apprehension that may come with a long or unpredictable journey.
• It is a reward for the traveller, as it follows the way of the Prophet (saaawdaka Allaah az-zawwajala).
• It is one of the supplications that is described as accepted, and we will explain it below.

The Full Arabic Text of the Travel Dua

The best recorded travel dua in Arabic, found in Sahih Muslim, is recited when you get on your mode of transportation (be it a camel, a car, a ship, or a plane). The text is:

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

Travel Dua Transliteration for Easy Recitation

The English travel dua transliteration is used the most when traveling because it enables all travelers to recite the same words the Prophet ﷺ said before every journey.

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ

Subhanal-lathi sakhkhara lana hatha wa ma kunna lahu muqrineen, wa inna ila rabbina lamunqaliboon. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hatha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hatha watwi 'anna bu'dah. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a'oothu bika min wa'tha'is-safar, wa ka'abatil-manzar, wa soo'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.

This travel dua english transliteration is widely shared because it allows travellers of every background to recite the same words the Prophet ﷺ recited before every trip.

Dua for Travel in English: The Full Translation

Knowledge of meaning increases the sincerity of the supplication. Here is the Arabic once again, followed by the dua for travel in English:

وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ

"Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us, though we could never have had it by our own efforts. And to our Lord we shall surely return. O Allah, we ask You for righteousness and piety on this journey of ours, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and fold up its distance for us. O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the Guardian of our family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travel, from a distressing sight, and from an evil return to wealth or family."

The dua for travel meaning represents the traveler’s total reliance on Allah for a comfortable journey and a safe home to return to.

Dua Before Travelling: When and How to Recite It

The best time to read the dua before travelling is when you begin your journey, i.e., when you get in the car, on the plane, on the ship, or any other means of transportation; that is, leaving your home. The scholars said that the traveler should recite the takbir three times before saying the dua, as it is the practice of the Prophet ﷺ that when he mounted his animal, he said the takbir:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar — "Allah is the Greatest," said three times.

A brief dua before the routine is as follows:

1. Say Bismillah while leaving the house.
2. Say Allahu Akbar three times when you sit in your vehicle or seat.
3. Recite the travel dua above.
4. Add whatever personal supplications are needed for the travelling dua.

Dua for Travelling On a Plane

People look up a specific dua for travelling by plane because of the nervousness people get caused by the phenomena of modern-day air travel, which differs from other means of travel due to a combination of factors such as infinite distance, turbulence, long travel times, and being isolated from the ground. The same order of words used for any other means of transportation is used here:

اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ

Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hatha watwi 'anna bu'dah — "O Allah, make this journey easy for us and fold up its distance for us."

Dua when travelling by plane is the same supplication used for any other means of transportation because the relevant hadith uses general language to describe “what Allah has subjected for us", which includes transportation by air. You are encouraged to recite the dua when travelling by plane and rely on Allah’s protection of the time and hours that you will spend on the plane.

Dua for Travelling by Car

The same dua recitation order is used when travelling by other means of transportation, notably when travelling by car, right after starting the engine.

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ

Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl — "O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the Guardian of our family."

Since car travel is the most frequent form of travel for most people, making this a daily habit — even for short trips — is a simple way to keep the Sunnah alive. The dua for traveling by car does not need to be long; even reciting the first line, "Subhanal-lathi sakhkhara lana hatha," is sufficient if time is short, though the fuller version is always better when possible.

Dua of the Resident for the Traveller

There is a wonderful supplication that is recited by the person who is staying behind, which completes the perfection of the protection of the dua of the traveller. The supplication when a resident is saying a dua to a traveller is:

أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ، وَأَمَانَتَكَ، وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ

Transliteration: Astawdi'ullaha deenaka, wa amanataka, wa khawatima 'amalik.

Translation: "I entrust to Allah your religion, your trust, and the last of your deeds."

This is a beautiful supplication for the traveller which is commonly recited by the traveller's family, friends, and colleagues at the traveller's departure.

Dua for a Traveller Returning Home

A traveller can also make dua for those he has left behind. The traveller's reply is:

أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ

Astawdi'ukumullaha allathi la tadee'u wada'i'uh — "I leave you in the care of Allah, Whose trusts are never lost."

This exchange between the traveller and the resident is one of the most touching customs in the tradition of dua travel in islam.

Is the Dua of a Traveller Accepted?

One of the most repeated questions is concerning the acceptance of dua for travellers, hadith-wise. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لَا شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ: دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ

"Three supplications are answered without doubt: the dua of the oppressed, the dua of the traveller, and the dua of a parent for their child."

This hadith was recorded by two of the celebrated hadith collectors, Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi. As a result of this hadith and confirmation by the Islamically trusted sites that this hadith is genuine, many Muslims pray harder than usual and sincerely while travelling, for their families and the Muslims in the wider context, beyond themselves. Therefore, we can consider travel time, in particular, as a beneficial time for any dua, even if it is not the travel dua. Dua for Safe Travel for a Loved One.

Dua for Safe Travel for a Loved One

We can combine the above requested dua for residents with an Arabic dua that comes from the heart, such as:

اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْهُ وَاحْرُسْهُ وَرُدَّهُ إِلَيْنَا سَالِمًا

Allahumma-hfathhu wahrus-hu wa-ruddahu ilayna saliman — "O Allah, protect him, guard him, and return him to us safely." (Replace "hu" with "ha" when praying for a female traveller.)

This dua for a safe trip for a loved one does not necessarily need to be memorised in Arabic, as any heartfelt supplication is accepted.

Making Dua While Travelling

In addition to the specific opening supplication, travelling is a highly encouraged time for additional dua. A simple, short line that can be repeated is:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي

Rabbi ighfir li warhamni — "My Lord, forgive me and have mercy on me."

There are many ways to answer the call to travel and supplicate during its time. You can:

• Ask for forgiveness for your past transgressions.
• Make dua for your family and loved ones.
• Ask for guidance in the decisions that you need to make.
• Recite the Quran or say dhikr to pass the time.

Dua for Travelling in the Quran

Although the wording is from a hadith, the travel dua is actually based upon a verse in the Quran. The verse that we start the dua with is Surah Az-Zukhruf, verse 13.

وَالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الْفُلْكِ وَالْأَنْعَامِ مَا تَرْكَبُونَ لِتَسْتَوُوا عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

"Glory is to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we could never have accomplished it by ourselves. And to our Lord we shall surely return."

This is why the dua for travelling in the Quran is highly referenced. It is basically a recitation of the aforementioned verses and connects the traveller's journey and their ultimate journey back to Allah.

Dua for Travelling to Umrah

Umrah traveller dua consists of the travel dua and the talbiyah once they enter ihram.

لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ

Labbayka Allahumma labbayk, labbayka la shareeka laka labbayk, innal-hamda wan-ni'mata laka wal-mulk, la shareeka lak — "Here I am, O Allah, here I am. Here I am. You have no partner; here I am. Indeed all praise, blessing, and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner."

For many pilgrims, it is to recite the travel supplication, either in the car or at the airport, and once they reach the miqat, they begin the talbiyah. This gives the travel dua an important spiritual significance prior to Umrah, unlike regular journey duas.

Short Dua for Travelling

This shorter version of the dua for travelling is suitable for those of you who are short on time or are still memorising the full version. The shortest authentic version is:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ

Bismillahi tawakkaltu 'alallah—"In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah."

This line can be said quickly as you leave the house, saving the fuller version of the travel dua for when you are seated.

Final Thoughts

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ

The dua for travelling is a prayer of tremendous spiritual importance and adds weight to travel. A regular car ride, flight, or long road trip becomes worship and a connection to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and thousands of travellers who have uttered these words before leaving for their journeys. Whether you are at the airport, looking for a dua for travelling on the plane, leaving to start your journey in the car and thus in need of the dua for travelling by car, or even looking for a short dua for travelling to memorise, this supplication will provide ease and protection and bless your travels.