Dua for a Traveller: The Prophet's Supplication for Safe Travel

When travelling, Muslims have three key duas to recite: when leaving home, when mounting transport, and when someone is departing. Here they are in full.

Dua When Mounting a Vehicle (or Beginning Travel)

Arabic:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

Transliteration:

Subḥānal-ladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn, wa innā ilā Rabbinā lamunqalibūn

Translation:

"Glory be to the One Who has subjected this to us, and we were not capable of it [ourselves]. And indeed, we will return to our Lord."

Source: Surah Az-Zukhruf, 43:13-14; Narrated by Muslim, 1342

This dua is recited when you board a plane, get in a car, mount a horse — any form of transport. It is directly from the Quran, followed by the Prophet's practice.

Dua for Leaving Home to Travel

Arabic:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Transliteration:

Bismillāhi tawakkaltu ʿalallāh, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh

Translation:

"In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might or power except with Allah."

Source: Narrated by Abu Dawud, 5095; Tirmidhi, 3426 — graded as sahih

The Prophet ﷺ said that when a person says this upon leaving their home, it is said to them: "You are guided, defended, and protected." And Satan withdraws from them. (Narrated by Abu Dawud, 5095)

Looking for more duas for every occasion? Browse our complete Dua Collection — organized by situation with Arabic text, transliteration, and translation.

Dua to Say to a Departing Traveller

This is what you say to someone else who is travelling — a beloved farewell supplication:

Arabic:

أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ

Transliteration:

Astawdiʿullāha dīnaka wa amānataka wa khawātīma ʿamalik

Translation:

"I entrust to Allah your religion, your trust, and the seal of your deeds."

Source: Narrated by Abu Dawud, 2600; Tirmidhi, 3443 — graded as sahih

Say this to family or friends before they depart. The Prophet ﷺ used this when bidding farewell to travellers.

Dua for Returning from Travel

Arabic:

آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ

Transliteration:

Āyibūna tā'ibūna ʿābidūna li-Rabbinā ḥāmidūn

Translation:

"We return, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord."

Source: Narrated by Bukhari, 3085; Muslim, 1342

When you return from any trip — short or long — recite this. The Prophet ﷺ would also say Allahu Akbar (three times) upon seeing the city and then add this dua.

When and How to Recite

• Leaving home: Say the dua for leaving home at the door before stepping out
• In the vehicle: Once seated and about to depart, recite the vehicle dua
• Sending someone off: Say the farewell dua to them, and they respond with a separate farewell dua to you
• Arriving home: Recite the return dua and pray two rak'ahs of voluntary prayer (this is sunnah — the Prophet ﷺ prayed upon returning from travel)

No specific number of repetitions is required — recite each dua once with full focus on meaning.

Virtues and Rewards

The Prophet ﷺ said: "A traveller's dua is not rejected." (Narrated by Tirmidhi, 3598 — graded as hasan)

The traveller is in a state where duas are especially accepted. This is why it is important to make personal supplications during travel beyond just the standard prescribed duas. Ask Allah for whatever is in your heart — for yourself, your family, the Muslims.

The dua when mounting transport contains a profound reminder: wa innā ilā Rabbinā lamunqalibūn — "We will return to our Lord." Every journey is a reminder of the final journey. This gives the Muslim a sense of gratitude and consciousness of Allah throughout their travels.

Related Duas

• Dua for Leaving Home — the full dua recited every time you leave the house, not just for travel
• Dua for Sleeping — when staying away from home, protect yourself before sleep with the bedtime duas
• Dua for Entering Home — the supplication recited when you arrive safely back home