The Prophet ﷺ said: "Three supplications are answered without doubt: the dua of the traveller…" (Abu Dawud no. 1536, authenticated by Al-Albani). Travel holds a special spiritual status in Islam. It opens doors that are often closed in the routine of daily life. Before leaving home, during the journey, upon arrival, and on the return — each stage has its own invocations. This guide presents all these duas with their Arabic texts, transliterations, and sources.
Key Points
- The traveller's dua is answered: the Prophet ﷺ guaranteed its acceptance (Abu Dawud no. 1536)
- Three key moments: before departure (leaving home, boarding a vehicle), during the journey, and upon return
- The vehicle dua is directly from the Quran (43:13-14): a spiritual essential for every journey
- Say Takbir when ascending, Tasbih when descending: a simple rule for the entire trip
- The new city dua protects from harm in any location (Muslim no. 2708)
- Upon arriving home, two raka'at of prayer express gratitude for a safe return (Bukhari)
- The Muslim Expert app includes GPS Qibla and prayer time calculations to help you worship on the go
- Consult a scholar for fiqh questions specific to travel (qasr, jam', musafir distance)
Before Departure: Duas for Leaving
Dua for Leaving the Home
Before crossing your threshold, recite this invocation. It places your departure under Allah's protection and turns away the Shaytan:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Bismillah, tawakkaltu 'ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah
"In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah. There is no power or might except with Allah." — Tirmidhi no. 3426, Abu Dawud no. 5095 (hasan sahih)
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever recites this dua upon leaving the home will receive the response: "You have been guided, protected and preserved" — and the Shaytan will turn away from him.
Dua for Boarding a Vehicle
This invocation is taken directly from the Quran. It should accompany every boarding — whether a plane, car, boat, or any other means of transport:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ
Subhana alladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun.
"Glory to Him who has made this subservient to us, for we could not have done it by ourselves. And indeed, to our Lord we shall return." — Quran 43:13-14
After this Quranic dua, the Prophet ﷺ added Alhamdulillah three times, Allahu Akbar three times, then the travel dua:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِي هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى
Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda
"O Allah, we ask You in this journey for piety and God-consciousness, and for deeds that please You." — Muslim no. 1342
Entrusting Your Family to Allah Before Leaving
Parting from loved ones is always difficult. This dua of trust (tawakkul) brings peace of heart:
أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لَا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ
Astawdi'ukumu Allah alladhi la tadi'u wada'i'uh
"I entrust you to Allah, in whose keeping nothing is ever lost." — Ibn Majah no. 2825 (hasan)
During the Journey: Invocations and Good Conduct
Takbir When Ascending, Tasbih When Descending
The Prophet ﷺ followed a simple and beautiful rule: he said Allahu Akbar (الله أكبر — "Allah is the Greatest") at every ascent — a hill, a staircase, a plane taking off. And he said Subhana Allah (سبحان الله — "Glory be to Allah") at every descent.
"When we ascended, we would say Allahu Akbar. When we descended, we would say Subhana Allah." — Bukhari no. 2994
This constant remembrance of Allah transforms every moment of the journey into an act of worship.
Dua for Protection Along the Road
This comprehensive invocation protects the traveller throughout the journey:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِي هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى. اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ
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 anta as-sahibu fis-safar wal-khalifatu fil-ahl.
"O Allah, we ask You in this journey for piety and fear of You, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of the family." — Muslim no. 1342
Prayer During Travel: Qasr and Jam'
The traveller (musafir — مسافر) is granted concessions by Allah for prayer. The Quran itself mentions the allowance during travel (Quran 4:101). Qasr (قصر) means shortening 4-rak'ah prayers to 2. Jam' (جمع) means combining two prayers together. These are divine mercies. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah loves that His concessions be taken." (Ahmad, Ibn Hibban — authenticated). The details of application vary among scholars: consult a trusted scholar for your specific situation.
Dua Upon Arriving in a New City or Place
As soon as you set foot in an unfamiliar place — a city, a hotel, a campsite — recite:
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
A'udhu bi-kalimatillahi at-tammati min sharri ma khalaqa
"I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created." — Muslim no. 2708
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever recites this dua will not be harmed in that place until they depart. It is a complete protection, applicable anywhere in the world.
After the Journey: Invocations for the Return
Dua of Return
When heading home, the Prophet ﷺ used to say:
آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Ayibuna ta'ibuna 'abiduna li-Rabbina hamidun
"We are returning, repenting, worshipping our Lord, praising Him." — Bukhari no. 1797, Muslim no. 1342
This dua is a declaration of spiritual as much as physical return. It expresses repentance for any shortcomings during the journey and gratitude for arriving safely.
Dua When Entering Your Home
As you cross the threshold on your return, say Bismillah and greet your family. Then recite:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ الْمَوْلِجِ وَخَيْرَ الْمَخْرَجِ
Allahumma inni as'aluka khayral-mawlaji wa khayral-makhraji
"O Allah, I ask You for the blessing of the entry and the blessing of the exit." — Abu Dawud no. 5096
The Return Prayer: Two Rak'at of Gratitude
Upon returning from a journey, the Prophet ﷺ would go straight to the mosque and pray two rak'at. He said: "Let no one return home from a journey without first praying two rak'at at the mosque." (Bukhari no. 1188). These two rak'at express gratitude to Allah for the safe return. If you cannot go to the mosque, pray them at home.
Practical Tips for the Muslim Traveller
Finding the Qibla While Travelling
The Qibla (القبلة — direction of Mecca) can be difficult to determine in a foreign hotel or in the middle of nowhere. The Muslim Expert app includes a precise GPS Qibla compass. It works even in countries where landmarks are absent. Simply open the app and align yourself.
Knowing Prayer Times While Travelling
Prayer times vary considerably depending on the country, the season, and the latitude. In summer at high northern latitudes, times can be dramatically different. The Muslim Expert app automatically calculates prayer times based on your GPS location. You won't miss a single salat, even in the most unusual time zones.
Keeping Your Duas With You
Memorising travel duas is the best preparation. You can also write them in a notebook or save them on your phone. The dua collection built into Muslim Expert groups the most important invocations by situation: departure, arrival, protection, return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you shorten prayers when travelling?
Yes. Qasr (shortening 4-rak'ah prayers to 2) is permitted and even encouraged for the traveller. The Quran mentions it explicitly (Quran 4:101). The Prophet ﷺ practised it consistently. Scholars agree on its principle but differ on the precise conditions for its application. Consult a trusted scholar for the details of your situation.
How many kilometres are needed to be a musafir (traveller)?
Scholars have differing views on the minimum distance. Reported opinions range from approximately 80 km to 88 km, but some contemporary scholars use other criteria. There is no single universal consensus on this point. The safest approach is to consult a trusted scholar according to your legal school or your particular situation.
Must duas be read in Arabic?
The duas transmitted by the Prophet ﷺ carry a special value when recited in Arabic, as he taught them. Memorising the Arabic texts is recommended. However, dua is a conversation with Allah, and Allah understands all languages. You may supplicate Allah in your mother tongue for personal needs, alongside the Prophetic duas.
Can you make duas in your own language?
Yes, absolutely. The Prophetic duas take priority and their memorisation is encouraged. But nothing prevents you from adding personal supplications in your own language. Allah is As-Sami' (السميع — the All-Hearing). He hears and understands every language. Many scholars affirm that sincerity of heart matters more than the language used for personal invocations.