اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ السَّفَرِ وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ هَذِهِ السَّفَرِ وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهِ.
O Allah, I ask You for the goodness of this journey and the goodness of what it contains, and I seek refuge in You from the evil of this journey and the evil of what it contains.
Allahumma inni as'aluka khaira hadhihi as-safari wa khaira ma fihi wa a'udhu bika min sharri hadhihi as-safari wa sharri ma fihi.
When to Read
This dua is recited when embarking on a journey. As a traveler, you find yourself in a new environment, away from your usual routines and social circles. This new land presents unique opportunities, both for fulfilling your worldly needs and, importantly, for performing acts of worship and good deeds. By reciting this prayer, you're not just asking for safety and ease in your travels, but also invoking Allah's help to encounter and embrace the positive aspects and potentials of the new place you've arrived in, and to be protected from its potential harms.
How to Read
Recite this dua sincerely when you begin your journey, preferably when you have mounted your transport. Keep your intention clear: you are seeking Allah's blessings for the journey itself and for the opportunities it may bring. This involves not only seeking protection from the potential dangers and difficulties but also actively seeking the good that the new land and its experiences offer. Be mindful of your surroundings and open your heart to fulfilling Allah's commands wherever you are.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua is comprehensive, asking Allah for the best of the journey and its contents, and seeking His protection from its evils. In a new land, the 'good' can manifest in numerous ways. It could be encountering righteous people who remind you of Allah, finding opportunities to pray in congregation, discovering ways to help others, or simply maintaining your own spiritual connection despite the distractions of travel. By asking for 'khair' (goodness) of the new land, you are essentially asking Allah to enable you to find and capitalize on these spiritual and moral advantages, making your journey beneficial in both worlds.
Source & Authentication
When the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would return from a journey and ascend a high place, he would say the takbir three times and then say: 'La ilaha ill-Allah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa huwa 'ala kulli shai'in qadir. Ayibuna ila Rabbina ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun. Sadaq-Allah wa'dahu, wa nasara 'abdahu, wa hazam al-ahzaba wahdah.' (There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and to Him belongs praise, and He is Able over all things. We are returning repentant, worshipping, to our Lord, praising Him. Allah fulfilled His promise, aided His servant, and defeated the confederates alone.) Then he would say: 'Allahumma inni as'aluka khaira hadhihi ar-rih, wa khaira ma fiha, wa khaira ma ursilat bih. Wa a'udhu bika min sharri hadhihi ar-rih, wa sharri ma fiha, wa sharri ma ursilat bih.' (O Allah, I ask You for the goodness of this wind, and the goodness of what it contains, and the goodness of what it was sent with. And I seek refuge in You from the evil of this wind, and the evil of what it contains, and the evil of what it was sent with.) This version is from Sahih Muslim 1342a, describing the dua for returning from a journey, but the principle of seeking good and refuge from evil in the context of travel applies. A related dua for *starting* a journey is often found, and the essence is similar: seeking Allah's blessings and protection for the travel itself and its environment.