Adhkar and EtiquettesTravel Adhkar and Etiquettes
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.
Travel is one of the states in which a person’s weakness and need for Allah’s protection and facilitation become clear. It involves movement, hardship, and distance from family and homeland. For this reason, the Sunnah teaches great adhkar and beneficial etiquettes that protect a Muslim’s religion, heart, and time, and remind him that the entire journey is in Allah’s hand.
{لِتَسْتَوُوا عَلَى ظُهُورِهِ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا اسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ . وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ}So that you may settle yourselves upon their backs, then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say: Glory be to the One who has subjected this to us, and we could not have subdued it. And indeed, to our Lord we will return. [Az-Zukhruf 43:13-14]
{وَتَحْمِلُ أَثْقَالَكُمْ إِلَى بَلَدٍ لَمْ تَكُونُوا بَالِغِيهِ إِلَّا بِشِقِّ الأَنْفُسِ إِنَّ رَبَّكُمْ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ}They carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful. [An-Nahl 16:7]
Beginning the Journey1. Begin Travel with Taqwa and a Righteous Intention
The first thing a traveler should care for is correcting his intention, making sure his travel is for something permissible or an act of obedience, and fearing Allah in his road, companions, and time. A Muslim does not leave awareness of Allah when he leaves his town.
{وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الأَلْبَابِ}Take provision, but indeed the best provision is taqwa. So fear Me, O people of understanding. [Al-Baqarah 2:197]
Although this verse was revealed regarding Hajj, its meaning is general: the greatest provision a servant carries is taqwa. Scholars also mention repentance, returning rights, clarifying debts, leaving sufficient support for dependents, choosing righteous company, and learning the rulings needed for travel.
Riding Dua2. The Complete Travel Dua When Riding
When a Muslim mounts his means of travel and settles upon it while leaving for a journey, he says three times:
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.
Then he says:
Subhana alladhi 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 Anta as-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.
Narrated by Muslim from Ibn Umar رضي الله عنهما.
Meanings3. Meanings of Some Words in the Travel Dua
- “We could not have subdued it”: we would not have been able to manage or control it had Allah not subjected it to us.
- “Fold its distance for us”: make the distance feel shorter and ease the hardship of the road.
- “You are the Companion in travel”: we ask Allah to accompany us with His protection and guidance.
- “The Guardian over the family”: protect our families while we are away.
- “The hardship of travel”: its fatigue and difficulty.
- “A gloomy sight”: what saddens or distresses a person.
- “An evil return”: returning to something disliked regarding family or wealth.
Dua4. Making Plenty of Dua During Travel
A traveler should make much dua, because the supplication of the traveler is among the supplications hoped to be answered.
Three supplications are answered, without doubt: the supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveler, and the supplication of a parent against his child.
Narrated by Abu Dawud, At-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah; graded hasan by a number of scholars.
So a Muslim should use his travel to make dua for himself, his family, his parents, and the Muslims, asking Allah for guidance, steadfastness, lawful provision, and safety in religion and worldly affairs.
Stopping Place5. The Dhikr When Stopping During Travel
When a Muslim stops at a place or rests somewhere during travel, it is from the Sunnah to say:
A'udhu bi kalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever stops at a place and then says: I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He created, nothing will harm him until he leaves that place.”
Narrated by Muslim.
On the Road6. Saying Takbir When Ascending and Tasbih When Descending
From the Sunnah during travel is that a Muslim says takbir when going up to a higher place, and says tasbih when descending into a valley or lower place.
When we ascended, we would say takbir, and when we descended, we would say tasbih.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari from Jabir رضي الله عنه.
Companionship7. Traveling with Righteous Company When Possible
One etiquette of travel is to seek righteous company when possible. A good companion helps with prayer, dhikr, and good character, reminds his companion when he forgets, and assists him when he needs help.
If people knew what I know about being alone, no rider would travel alone at night.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
One rider is a shaytan, two riders are two shaytans, and three are a traveling group.
Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi; graded hasan by a number of scholars.
This does not mean every solo trip is forbidden when needed, but it shows that the more complete and safer way is to travel with righteous company.
Order8. Appointing One Person When Traveling as a Group
If a group travels together, it is from the Sunnah that they appoint one of them so their affairs are organized, disagreements decrease, and they know whom to refer to during the journey.
If three go out on a journey, let them appoint one of them as leader.
Narrated by Abu Dawud.
Farewell9. Saying Farewell to the Traveler with Dua
It is from the Sunnah to make dua for someone who intends to travel, entrusting his religion, trust, and final deeds to Allah.
Astawdi'ullaha dinaka, wa amanataka, wa khawatima amalika.
Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi; authenticated by a number of scholars.
Prayer10. Preserving Prayer During Travel
One of the greatest etiquettes of travel is preserving prayer and not making travel a reason to neglect it or delay it beyond its time without an excuse. Allah has made matters easier for the traveler by legislating shortening four-rak'ah prayers and allowing combining when needed, according to the details explained by scholars.
{حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلَاةِ الوُسْطَى وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ}Maintain the prayers and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah devoutly. [Al-Baqarah 2:238]
{إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى المُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا}Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at fixed times. [An-Nisa 4:103]
Character11. Good Character and Serving Travel Companions
Travel reveals people’s character because it includes fatigue, delays, and differing preferences. A Muslim should be gentle, speak well, remain patient, avoid arguments, help his companions, and not burden or harm them.
The most complete of the believers in faith are those best in character.
Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi; authenticated by a number of scholars.
Return Dua12. The Dua When Returning from Travel
When a Muslim returns from travel, he says the travel dua itself and adds:
Ayibun, ta'ibun, abidun, li Rabbina hamidun.
Narrated by Muslim.
In another narration, when the Prophet ﷺ returned from an expedition, Hajj, or Umrah, he would say takbir three times upon every elevated part of the land, then say:
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamd, wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir. Ayibun, ta'ibun, abidun, sajidun, li Rabbina hamidun. Sadaqallahu wa'dah, wa nasara abdah, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdah.
Agreed upon.
Returning Home13. Not Surprising One’s Family at Night After a Long Absence
One good etiquette when returning from travel is that a man should not surprise his family at night after a long absence if they do not know he is coming. Rather, he should inform them in a suitable way so they can prepare for his arrival.
If one of you has been absent for a long time, he should not come to his family at night.
Agreed upon.
This does not apply when his family knows he is arriving or he communicates with them through modern means.
Masjid14. Beginning with the Masjid Upon Arrival When Possible
It is established that when the Prophet ﷺ returned from travel, he would begin with the masjid and pray two rak'ahs there.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not return from a journey except during the daytime in the forenoon. When he arrived, he would begin with the masjid, pray two rak'ahs in it, then sit there.
Agreed upon from Ka'b ibn Malik رضي الله عنه.
QuestionWhen is the travel dua said?
It is said when mounting and settling upon the means of travel while leaving for a journey, whether by car, airplane, train, or ship.
QuestionIs the travel dua said for short trips inside the city?
The travel dua is said for what is customarily considered travel, not for every short outing within one’s town. The dhikr for leaving the home is said generally when leaving the house.
QuestionWhat do I say when returning from travel?
You say the travel dua and add: “Ayibun, ta'ibun, abidun, li Rabbina hamidun.” It is also legislated to say what is established in the hadith of returning: “La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah...” until the end of the previously mentioned dua.
QuestionDoes the travel dua guarantee protection from every harm?
Dhikr and dua are among the causes of protection, but all affairs are in Allah’s hand, and Allah may test His servant with wisdom. A Muslim says the dua relying upon Allah and taking the means, while having good thoughts of his Lord.
QuestionIs the traveler’s dua answered?
The traveler’s dua is among the supplications hoped to be answered. He should make much dua for the good of this world and the Hereafter, and he should keep his food lawful and avoid haram, because consuming haram is among the causes that prevent dua from being answered.
QuestionIs it better to travel alone or with company?
It is better and more complete for a Muslim to travel with righteous company when possible, especially in a journey where he may need help and companionship.
QuestionWhat should we do if we are a group traveling together?
If the travelers are three or more, it is from the Sunnah to appoint one of them so their affairs are organized and disagreements are reduced, while the appointed person must observe justice, gentleness, and consultation.
QuestionIs it permissible to shorten and combine prayers during travel?
Shortening is established in travel for four-rak'ah prayers, so the traveler prays Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha as two rak'ahs. Combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha is legislated when needed, according to the details explained by scholars. A traveler should learn these rulings before traveling.
ConclusionConclusion
Travel adhkar and etiquettes train the Muslim in reliance upon Allah, gratitude, preserving rights, good companionship, and honoring prayer. Travel is not merely moving from one place to another; it is a place of worship and a test of character. Whoever preserves the remembrance of Allah, fears his Lord, treats his companions and family well, and returns grateful and repentant, his journey is closer to blessing and safety by Allah’s permission.
