Travel: the departure supplication and 3 hadiths explained
The travel supplication in Arabic and English, words for ascending and descending, and returning to your family.
The travel supplication, often searched for as dua safar, asks Allah for ease, piety and protection for the traveller and their family. Ibn ‘Umar transmits its words on departure and specifies what the Prophet ﷺ added on returning.
Two other accounts complement this supplication: Jabir describes the words spoken when ascending and descending; Abu Hurayrah reports the attention to be given to returning to one’s family once the journey’s purpose is fulfilled. These texts concern both remembrance of Allah and the realities of travel: distance, fatigue and loved ones left behind.
Article contents
The supplication when setting out on a journey
The context of the narration
Ibn ‘Umar teaches that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ settled on his camel to set out on a journey, he proclaimed Allah’s greatness three times, then said this supplication. On returning, he repeated it with the additional words quoted in the explanation below.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 الأَهْلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ
“Glory be to the One who has subjected this to us, when we were unable to master it. And to our Lord we will return. O Allah, we ask You in this journey for righteousness, piety and deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance for us. O Allah, You are the Companion in travel and the One entrusted with the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travel, distressing sights and an ill return in wealth and family.”
Understanding this hadith
The three preceding proclamations are Allahu akbar: Allah is the Greatest. The supplication then begins by acknowledging that Allah has made this journey possible and recalling the return to Him.
The supplication asks for goodness, piety and deeds pleasing to Allah during the journey. It therefore asks for more than reaching the destination.
Loved ones are explicitly present in the supplication. We ask Allah to watch over the family even while moving away from them. Preparing what will help those staying home and agreeing on how to keep in touch are practical ways to care for them.
On returning, the Prophet ﷺ added: آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ — “We return, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord.” The same account thus combines departure with a return accompanied by repentance and praise.
Also read: asking for good in this life and the hereafter.
Remembering Allah when ascending and descending
The context of the narration
Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah describes what the companions said when ascending or descending. He speaks in the plural: this is his account of their practice.“When we ascended, we proclaimed Allah’s greatness; when we descended, we glorified Him.”
Read the Arabic text
كُنَّا إِذَا صَعِدْنَا كَبَّرْنَا، وَإِذَا نَزَلْنَا سَبَّحْنَا
Understanding this hadith
Proclaiming Allah’s greatness corresponds to Allahu akbar; glorifying Him corresponds to subhan Allah. Both expressions are short, and the two situations are clearly distinguished in the account.
Jabir associates takbir with ascending and tasbih with descending, without specifying a number of repetitions.
During travel, you can recognise these words and their meaning without multiplying the resources you consult. Learning the expressions before departure avoids searching for a text when your attention is needed for the journey. The driver naturally keeps their eyes on the road; a passenger can read the guide when they wish to learn.
Returning to your family when the purpose is fulfilled
The context of the narration
Abu Hurayrah transmits a saying of the Prophet ﷺ naming the difficulties of travel, then recommending returning once the traveller has fulfilled the purpose of the journey.“Travel is a portion of suffering: it deprives one of you of food, drink and sleep. Once he has fulfilled his purpose, let him hasten to return to his family.”
Read the Arabic text
السَّفَرُ قِطْعَةٌ مِنَ الْعَذَابِ، يَمْنَعُ أَحَدَكُمْ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ وَنَوْمَهُ، فَإِذَا قَضَى نَهْمَتَهُ فَلْيُعَجِّلْ إِلَى أَهْلِهِ
Understanding this hadith
The hadith names ordinary difficulties: eating, drinking and sleeping become less easy. Travel fatigue is therefore not passed over in silence. Even a desired trip can disrupt these needs.
The advice concerns a traveller who has completed the purpose of the trip. Once that work or visit is finished, they are encouraged to return to their family rather than needlessly prolonging their absence.
Hastening to return to your family does not mean driving dangerously or depriving yourself of necessary rest. In today’s arrangements, giving notice of arrival, allowing breaks and choosing a reasonable route help prepare that return.
In practice
- You are preparing to departRead the supplication before the journey and remember the meaning of its requests.Find the full text
- You would like to learn the words for the journeyConnect Allahu akbar with ascending and subhan Allah with descending.Reread Jabir’s account
- Your trip is finishedLet your family know you are returning and arrange a journey with the rest you need.Read the advice on returning
Sources
- Sahih Muslim · 1342The supplication when setting out on a journey
- Sahih al-Bukhari · 2993Remembering Allah when ascending and descending
- Sahih al-Bukhari · 1804Returning to your family when the purpose is fulfilled