سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا البِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ العَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ لَنَا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ المَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ المُنْقَلَبِ فِي المَالِ وَالأَهْلِ.
Glory be to Allah Who has subjected this to us, and we were not able to do it by ourselves. And to our Lord, we are indeed returning. O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for goodness 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 during the journey and the One Who will look after the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of the journey, and from seeing a miserable sight, and from finding one's family and property in misfortune upon returning.
Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinina 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 lana bu'dahu. Allahumma Antas-sahibu fis-safari wal-khalifatu fil-ahli. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safari wa ka'abatil-mandhari wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli.
When to Read
This comprehensive dua is recommended to be recited when embarking on a journey, whether it's for Hajj, Umrah, visiting family, work, or any other purpose. Reciting it at the start of the journey, perhaps upon mounting your transport, helps set a conscious intention for seeking Allah's protection and guidance throughout your travels.
How to Read
It is best to recite this dua with sincerity and focus. Ideally, it should be read when you are actually starting your journey, perhaps after you have settled into your mode of transport. Take a moment to reflect on the meaning of each phrase: glorifying Allah for His blessings, asking for righteous deeds, beseeching ease, acknowledging Him as the Protector, and seeking refuge from difficulties. While the core of the dua is as narrated, you can also add personal supplications for safety and a successful trip.
Virtues & Benefits
This powerful supplication encompasses a holistic request for the traveler. It seeks Allah's blessing for a journey that is pleasing to Him, free from hardship ('wa'tha' as-safar'), and protected from any unpleasant sights or outcomes ('ka'abat al-mandhar', 'su' al-munqalabi fil-mal wal-ahl'). By acknowledging Allah as the Companion and Guardian of the family left behind, it alleviates anxiety and promotes peace of mind, allowing the traveler to focus on their purpose with a sense of security. This reliance on Allah is key to avoiding disappointment and frustration, as one's trust is placed in the One Who controls all affairs.
Source & Authentication
When the Prophet (ﷺ) set out on a journey, he would say: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا البِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ العَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ لَنَا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ المَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ المُنْقَلَبِ فِي المَالِ وَالأَهْلِ. And when he returned, he would say these words and: 'We are returning with repentance, we are worshipping, and to our Lord we are returning.' (Sahih Muslim 1342)