Whether you are travelling by car, plane, train, or setting out on Hajj or Umrah — Islam provides a complete set of supplications for every stage of the journey. The Prophet ﷺ never left home without remembering Allah, and these duas cover boarding your vehicle, arriving in a new city, and returning safely to your family.
1. The main dua for travelling (dua as-safar)
Ibn Umar (RA) reported that whenever the Prophet ﷺ set out on a journey he would say 'Allahu akbar' three times, then recite this supplication. The opening words are taken directly from Surah az-Zukhruf (43:13–14).
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَىٰ. اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا، وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ. اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ
Subhanal-ladhi sakhara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina la-munqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha, watwi 'anna bu'dah. Allahumma anta as-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl.
Glory is to the One who has subjected this to us, and we could not have done it ourselves; and indeed, to our Lord we will return. O Allah, we ask You on 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. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian over the family.
(Sahih Muslim 1342 — narrated by Ibn Umar (RA))
2. Dua when boarding a vehicle or plane
Before entering a car, boarding a plane, or mounting any means of transport, the Sunnah is to say Bismillah first and then recite:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Bismillah, wal-hamdu lillah, subhanal-ladhi sakhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina la-munqalibun, alhamdu lillah, alhamdu lillah, alhamdu lillah, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.
In the name of Allah, and all praise is for Allah. Glory is to the One who has subjected this to us, and we could not have done it ourselves; and indeed, to our Lord we will return. All praise is for Allah (×3). Allah is the Greatest (×3).
(Sunan Abi Dawud 2602 — narrated by Ibn Umar (RA))
3. Dua when entering a new city or town
When arriving at a new destination — whether a city on a business trip or a sacred site like Makkah or Madinah — the Prophet ﷺ would seek refuge in Allah from any harm in that place:
اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَقْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الشَّيَاطِينِ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الرِّيَاحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْنَ، أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا
Allahumma Rabb as-samawati as-sab'i wa ma azlalna, wa Rabb al-aradina as-sab'i wa ma aqalna, wa Rabb ash-shayatini wa ma adlalna, wa Rabb ar-riyahi wa ma dharayna, as'aluka khayra hadhihi al-qaryati wa khayra ahliha wa khayra ma fiha, wa a'udhu bika min sharriha wa sharri ahliha wa sharri ma fiha.
O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and all they shade, Lord of the seven earths and all they carry, Lord of the devils and those they lead astray, Lord of the winds and all they scatter — I ask You for the good of this town, its people, and whatever is in it; and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil of its people, and the evil of whatever is in it.
(Mustadrak al-Hakim — narrated by Suhayb (RA); also similar wordings in Ibn Hibbaan)
4. Dua when returning home from a journey
When the Prophet ﷺ returned from a journey, he would add extra words to the main travel dua, expressing gratitude and repentance for returning safely to his family:
آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun.
Returning, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord.
(Sahih Muslim 1342 — narrated by Ibn Umar (RA))
This short phrase is added after the main travel dua when coming back home. It beautifully marks the completion of the journey with four acts of the heart: return (to home and to Allah), repentance (for any shortcomings on the road), worship, and gratitude.
5. Dua when stopping to rest on a journey
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
A'udhu bi-kalimatillahi at-tammati min sharri ma khalaq.
I seek refuge in Allah's perfect words from the evil of what He has created.
(Sahih Muslim 2708 — narrated by Khawlah bint Hakim (RA))
The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever recites this dua when stopping to rest at any place will not be harmed in that spot until they move on. This applies equally to a motorway service station, an airport lounge, or a hotel room on Umrah.
The travel duas for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims
These same duas are the foundation of a pilgrim's supplication on the journey to Makkah or Madinah. When pilgrims set out from the UK for Hajj or Umrah, they often recite the main journey dua on the way to the airport, and the boarding dua upon entering the aircraft. The talbiyah — 'Labbayk Allahumma labbayk…' — is then recited continuously from the point of entering ihram (usually when crossing the miqat boundary).
What the main travel dua asks for
- Acknowledgement that the means of travel is a gift from Allah — not earned or invented by us.
- Righteousness (birr) and piety (taqwa) throughout the journey.
- Deeds that please Allah while away from home.
- Ease and a shortening of the journey's perceived distance.
- Allah's companionship on the road — so the believer never feels alone.
- Protection of family and home in one's absence.
Frequently asked questions about the dua for travelling
What is the dua for travelling in Islam?
The main dua for travelling is: 'Subhanal-ladhi sakhara lana hadha…' narrated by Ibn Umar (RA) in Sahih Muslim 1342. It is recited after saying 'Allahu akbar' three times when departing on a journey.
When exactly should I read the travel dua?
Recite it when you first set out — when you sit in the car, board the plane, or begin your walk. Say 'Allahu akbar' three times, then the full dua. When stopping to rest, add the resting dua. On returning home, add the return dua after the main supplication.
Is there a specific dua for flying on a plane?
There is no hadith mentioning aeroplanes specifically, but Islamic scholars agree that the boarding dua (Bismillah, wal-hamdu lillah, subhanal-ladhi sakhara lana hadha…) applies to any vehicle — cars, buses, ships and aircraft included. The words 'the One who has subjected this to us' are perfectly applicable to modern travel.
What is the dua for a safe journey?
The travel dua of Ibn Umar (Sahih Muslim 1342) is the primary dua for safety on a journey. It includes the line 'O Allah, make this journey easy for us' and 'O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey' — both of which are prayers for protection and ease.
What is the dua for travelling by car?
The boarding dua from Sunan Abi Dawud 2602 — 'Bismillah, wal-hamdu lillah, subhanal-ladhi sakhara lana hadha…' — should be recited when getting into a car before starting the engine. Follow it with the main journey dua before pulling away.
Do I have to be in wudu to recite travel duas?
No. Supplications (duas) can be recited in any state of ritual purity, unlike the Qur'an which is preferable to recite in wudu. However, being in a state of wudu is always recommended as it draws one closer to Allah.
Hadith references
Main travel dua: Sahih Muslim 1342, narrated by Ibn Umar (RA). Boarding dua: Sunan Abi Dawud 2602, narrated by Ibn Umar (RA). Resting dua: Sahih Muslim 2708, narrated by Khawlah bint Hakim (RA). Return words: Sahih Muslim 1342, same chain. These are among the most authenticated travel supplications in the entire Sunnah.