سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، 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 never have accomplished it by ourselves. And indeed, to our Lord we will 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 shorten its distance 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 (an evil sight), and from the evil of return in property and family.
Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinun. Wa inna ila Rabbina la munqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha watwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fis-safari wal-Khaleefatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safari wa ka'abatil-mandhari wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.
When to Read
This comprehensive dua is recited when embarking on a journey. It's particularly poignant when traveling alone, as it directly invokes Allah as the Companion and Protector. You would say this upon starting your journey, perhaps as you mount your transport or step out of your home.
How to Read
It's best to recite this with sincerity and conviction, reflecting on the meaning of each phrase. When you first start your journey, say the first part ('Subhanalladhi... la munqalibun'). Then, as you continue, or upon setting off, recite the remainder of the dua. If traveling by vehicle, it's a beautiful practice to say the first part upon setting off and then the latter part once the vehicle is moving.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encompasses seeking Allah's blessings for the journey (righteousness and good deeds) and His protection from its difficulties. It acknowledges Allah's power over all things and affirms our return to Him. Crucially, for someone traveling alone, it provides immense comfort by asking Allah to be your 'Companion on the journey and Successor in the family,' alleviating feelings of isolation and seeking His safeguarding for both yourself and your dependents. The protection sought includes 'hardships of the journey, sorrow of seeing (an evil sight), and the evil of return in property and family,' covering physical, emotional, and material well-being.
Source & Authentication
When the Prophet (ﷺ) returned from a journey, and saw elevations (hills and high places) in the land, he would recite Takbir three times, and then say: 'La ilaha ill-Allah, wahdahu la shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shay'in qadeer. Aiboona ta'iboona 'abidoona li-Rabbina hamidoon. Sadaq-Allahu wa'dahu, wa nasara 'abdahu, wa hazamal-ahzaba wahdah.' (There is no god but Allah Alone, with no partner, His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things. We are returning penitent, repentant, worshipping, and to our Lord be praise. Allah fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and defeated the confederates Alone.) And when he set out on a journey, he would say: 'Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha watwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fis-safari wal-Khaleefatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safari wa ka'abatil-mandhari wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.' (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 shorten its distance 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 (an evil sight), and from the evil of return in property and family.)