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 عَنَّا 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 Him Who has subjected this (transport) to us, and we could never have accomplished it by ourselves. And surely, to our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You for goodness and piety in our journey, 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 One who looks after the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of the journey, the sorrow of seeing evil, and the evil turn in wealth and family.
Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinīn, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibūn. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal 'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha, wātwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safari wal-khalifatu fil-ahli. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safari wa ka'abatil-manzari wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli.
When to Read
This comprehensive dua is ideally recited just as you are about to embark on a journey, whether it's a short trip or a long expedition. It's recited when you board your mode of transport (car, plane, train, boat, etc.) and begin to move.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a humble heart. Focus on each phrase, understanding its meaning and connecting with the request you are making to Allah. When you say 'Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha...', you are acknowledging Allah's power in making travel possible. The rest of the dua is a direct supplication for success, ease, and protection. Ensure you are in a state of readiness for travel, having fulfilled your responsibilities before leaving.
Virtues & Benefits
This supplication is incredibly encompassing. It acknowledges Allah's power, asks for success in obedience (tawfiq, birr, and taqwa), requests ease and the shortening of the journey's burden, appoints Allah as our Guardian in our absence, and seeks refuge from the difficulties and negative outcomes of travel. By reciting this, a traveler actively seeks Allah's pleasure and protection, turning their journey into an act of worship and a means of drawing closer to their Lord, which is the ultimate success (tawfiq).
Source & Authentication
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mounted his camel for the journey, he would say the takbir three times, and then say: 'Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinīn, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibūn. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal 'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha, wātwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safari wal-khalifatu fil-ahli. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safari wa ka'abatil-manzari wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli.' And when he returned, he would say these words and say: 'Ayibūna ta'ibūna 'ābidūna li-Rabbina hāmidūn.' (We return repentant, worshipping, and praising our Lord).