Dua for Travelling (Safar)
“Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha” is an authentic dua from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in Sahih Muslim 1342. Read it below in Arabic with transliteration and an English translation, and learn when to say it.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا، وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ
Transliteration: Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. 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 antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is-safar, wa ka'abatil-manzar, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.
Translation: Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Glory be to the One who has placed this at our service, for we could never have done so ourselves, and to our Lord we will surely 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 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 travel, from distressing sights, and from an unhappy return to my property and family.
Source: Sahih Muslim 1342
When to recite
When you have mounted your means of transport (car, plane, train, etc.) and set off on a journey.
About this dua
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar: when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ had mounted his camel to set out on a journey, he would say “Allahu akbar” three times and then this dua. Its opening words are taken from Quran 43:13–14. On the way back he would repeat the dua and add “Ayibuna, ta’ibuna, ‘abiduna, li Rabbina hamidun”.
Other wording and related dhikr
When returning from the journey, add:
آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li Rabbina hamidun.
We are returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.
Source: Sahih Muslim 1342
Source and authenticity
- Reference: Sahih Muslim 1342
- Grading: Recorded in the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and/or Muslim, the most authentic books of hadith.
- Read the source: Sahih Muslim 1342
The English translation is our own, kept close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow the standard numbering used on sunnah.com.
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