The Prophet ﷺ said that three supplications are answered without doubt, and among them is the dua of the traveler (at-Tirmidhi). Travel strips away routine and comfort — and in return, it opens a direct line. Here are the duas to carry with you, from your front door to your return.
1. Leaving home
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.
“In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah.” (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi) — whoever says it is told: you are guided, sufficed and protected.
2. Boarding the car, plane or any ride: the dua of travel
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
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. Subhana-lladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila rabbina la-munqalibun. Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadha-l-birra wa-t-taqwa, wa mina-l-‘amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha, wa-twi ‘anna bu’dah. Allahumma anta-s-sahibu fi-s-safar, wa-l-khalifatu fi-l-ahl.
“Allah is the Greatest (×3). Glory be to the One who subjected this to us, for we could never have done it ourselves — and to our Lord we shall surely return. O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for righteousness and taqwa, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and fold up its distance. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of the family left behind.” (Sahih Muslim)
Hearing the engine start and murmuring subhana-lladhi sakhkhara lana hadha turns even the school run into remembrance.
3. When the journey is hard or you fear something
حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Hasbuna Allahu wa ni’ma-l-wakil. — “Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:173)
4. Arriving at a new place
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
A’udhu bi-kalimati-llahi-t-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.
“I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.” (Sahih Muslim) — whoever says it on arrival, nothing will harm her until she departs from that place.
5. Returning home
The Prophet ﷺ would return saying the travel takbirs and add: “Ayibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li-rabbina hamidun” — “We return, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.” (Muslim). It was also his practice ﷺ to go first to the mosque and pray two rak’ahs upon returning from a journey.
Make dua — and tie your camel
Trust in Allah travels best alongside preparation: prayers planned around your itinerary (here is how to shorten and combine prayers as a traveler), and a prayer kit that never leaves your bag. Our Travel Prayer Sets fold into a handbag-sized pouch precisely so that the answered dua of the traveler can be followed, minutes later, by her prayer.