سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ اللَّهُمَّ أَنتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ
Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we could not have accomplished it by ourselves. And indeed, to our Lord we will surely return. O Allah, we ask You in this journey of ours for righteousness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us, and make its distance short for us. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Successor in the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of the journey, and from the sorrow of seeing [unpleasant things], and from the evil of my return to my family and my property.
Subhanalladhee sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrineen, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqaliboon. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fee safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal 'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha, watwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma Antas-saahibu fis-safari, wal-khaleefatu fil-ahli. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'thaa'is-safari, wa ka'abatil-mandhari, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli.
When to Read
This comprehensive dua is recited when embarking on a journey, especially to unfamiliar lands or places where one might feel vulnerable. It's particularly relevant when traveling to new environments where the 'evil eye' (al-'ayn) or envy might be a concern due to the unknown. Reciting it before or at the very start of your travel provides a holistic spiritual shield.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and focus before commencing your journey. Raise your hands as you typically would for supplication when saying the latter part of the dua, seeking refuge. Understand the meaning of each phrase as you recite it, internalizing the request for Allah's protection and ease. Ensure you are in a state of ritual purity if possible, though it is not strictly a condition for this supplication.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encapsulates multiple layers of protection and requests for a traveler. It acknowledges Allah's power in making things subservient to us (like transportation), expresses our ultimate return to Him, and asks for His guidance in righteousness and good deeds. Crucially, it seeks refuge from the difficult aspects of travel, the distress of seeing unsettling sights, and the potential harm to one's family and wealth upon return. By reciting this, a traveler invokes Allah's companionship and guardianship, which is the ultimate defense against all forms of harm, including the subtle but potent effects of the evil eye and envy.
Source & Authentication
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us the following dua to recite when traveling: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ اللَّهُمَّ أَنتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ (Translation: Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we could not have accomplished it by ourselves. And indeed, to our Lord we will surely return. O Allah, we ask You in this journey of ours for righteousness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us, and make its distance short for us. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Successor in the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of the journey, and from the sorrow of seeing [unpleasant things], and from the evil of my return to my family and my property.) — Sahih Muslim 1342