Dua for Traveling — Full Arabic Text and Transliteration

The Prophet ﷺ taught his companions a specific supplication to recite when beginning any journey — a short but profound dua drawn directly from the Quran that every Muslim should have memorized.

The Dua for Traveling

Arabic:

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

Transliteration:

Subḥāna-lladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn, wa innā ilā Rabbinā la-munqalibūn

Translation:

"Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have accomplished it ourselves. And to our Lord we shall surely return."

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

This supplication is not a human composition — it is taken word for word from the Quran. When you recite it, you are reciting the speech of Allah as a dua. The closing words, wa innā ilā Rabbinā la-munqalibūn, are a reminder that the final destination of every journey is Allah Himself.

When and How to Recite

The Prophet's ﷺ complete practice when beginning a journey was:

1. Say Allahu Akbar three times
2. Recite the travel dua above
3. Then add: Allāhumma hawwin ʿalaynā safaranā hādhā wāṭwi ʿannā buʿdahu ("O Allah, make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance")

Recite this sequence when you board a plane, get into a car, or begin any mode of transport. No repetition is required — say it once with attention to the meaning.

If you are sending off a loved one, say to them:

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: Abu Dawud 2600, Tirmidhi 3443 — graded as sahih

Virtues and Rewards

The travel dua carries multiple layers of reward and protection:

The traveler's supplication is accepted. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Three supplications are answered without doubt: the dua of the oppressed, the dua of the traveler, and the dua of the parent for their child." (Tirmidhi 3598) While you are on the road — in an airport, on a highway, waiting at a station — your duas carry special weight. Use this time for all your heartfelt needs, not only the prescribed travel duas.

It is a Quranic remembrance. Because the travel dua is taken directly from Surah Az-Zukhruf, reciting it counts as both dhikr and Quran recitation, combining two acts of worship in one.

It instills tawakkul. The phrase "we could never have accomplished it ourselves" is an acknowledgment that the vehicle, the road, and the safe arrival are all from Allah — not from your own effort or the machine beneath you.

Dua for Returning from Traveling

When you return home, the Prophet ﷺ would say Allahu Akbar three times upon seeing his city, then recite:

Arabic:

آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ

Transliteration:

Āyibūna tāʾibūna ʿābidūna li-Rabbinā ḥāmidūn

Translation:

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

Source: Bukhari 1797, Muslim 1342

It is also sunnah to pray two voluntary rak'ahs of gratitude after arriving home safely. The journey that began with reliance on Allah ends with praise to Him.

Related Duas

• Dua for Travel — the stage-by-stage sequence of every travel supplication, from leaving home to arrival
• Dua for Travelling — the spiritual meaning of Islamic travel and why the traveler's dua is accepted
• Dua for a Traveller — the farewell supplication said to someone who is departing
• Dua for Protection — supplications for safety and refuge from harm
• Use the prayer times tool to keep your salah on schedule no matter where you are, and browse the full Dua Collection for supplications for every need.