Travel duas, with Arabic and sources

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ للَّهِ ﴿سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ﴾، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي؛ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

Bismillāh, wal-ḥamdu lillāh. Subḥānal-ladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn, wa innā ilā Rabbinā lamunqalibūn. Al-ḥamdu lillāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh. Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Subḥānaka innī ẓalamtu nafsī faghfir lī, fa innahu lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant.

In the name of Allah, and praise be to Allah. Glory be to the One who has placed this at our service, for we could not have done so ourselves, and to our Lord we will surely return. Praise be to Allah (three times). Allah is the Greatest (three times). Glory be to You; I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for none forgives sins but You. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com), adapted to follow the Arabic)

'Ali described the Prophet's ﷺ practice: "Bismillah" when he put his foot in the stirrup, "Alhamdulillah" once seated, then the verse (Quran 43:13-14), then "Alhamdulillah" three times and "Allahu akbar" three times, then the closing words (Sunan Abi Dawud 2602). Hisn al-Muslim's wording has "Allahumma" before the last line; it is not in Abu Dawud's text, so it is left out here.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، ﴿سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ * وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ﴾ اللَّهُمَّ إِنّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا البِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَليفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Subḥānal-ladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn, wa innā ilā Rabbinā lamunqalibūn. Allāhumma innā nas'aluka fī safarinā hādhal-birra wat-taqwā, wa minal-`amali mā tarḍā. Allāhumma hawwin `alaynā safaranā hādhā waṭwi `annā bu`dah. Allāhumma antaṣ-ṣāḥibu fis-safar, wal-khalīfatu fil-ahl. Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika min wa`thā'is-safar, wa ka'ābatil-manẓar, wa sū'il-munqalabi fil-māli wal-ahl.

Allah is the Greatest (three times). Glory be to the One who has placed this at our service, for we could not 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 hardship of travel, from distressing sights, and from an unhappy return to my property and family. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com), adapted to follow the Arabic)

Ibn 'Umar said that when the Prophet ﷺ mounted his camel to set out on a journey, he said "Allahu akbar" three times and then this. On his return he said the same and added: "Āyibūna, tā'ibūna, `ābidūna, li-Rabbinā ḥāmidūn" (Returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord). Sahih Muslim 1342.

كُنَّا إِذَا صَعَدْنَا كَبَّرْنَا، وَإِذَا نَزَلْنَا سَبَّحْنَا

Kunnā idhā ṣa`idnā kabbarnā, wa idhā nazalnā sabbaḥnā.

Jabir said: When we went up, we said "Allahu akbar", and when we went down, we said "Subhanallah". (Sahih al-Bukhari translation (sunnah.com), adapted)

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ

A`ūdhu bikalimātillāhit-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq.

I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com))

The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever stops at a place and says this, nothing will harm him until he moves on from that place. (Sahih Muslim 2708 · in Sahih Muslim)

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَقْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الشَّياطِينِ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ، وَرَبَّ الرِّيَاحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْنَ، أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ، وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا، وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا، وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا، وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا

Allāhumma Rabbas-samāwātis-sab`i wa mā aẓlalna, wa Rabbal-araḍīnas-sab`i wa mā aqlalna, wa Rabbash-shayāṭīni wa mā aḍlalna, wa Rabbar-riyāḥi wa mā dharayna, as'aluka khayra hādhihil-qaryati wa khayra ahlihā wa khayra mā fīhā, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharrihā wa sharri ahlihā wa sharri mā fīhā.

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 all they lead astray, Lord of the winds and all they scatter, I ask You for the good of this town, the good of its people and the good in it, and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil of its people and the evil in it. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com), adapted to follow the Arabic)

Al-Hakim graded its chain sahih, al-Albani graded it hasan through supporting narrations, and Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut hasan; al-Dhahabi said it has a hidden defect.

سَمَّعَ سَامِعٌ بِحَمْدِ اللَّهِ، وَحُسْنِ بَلاَئِهِ عَلَيْنَا، رَبَّنَا صاحِبْنَا، وَأَفْضِلْ عَلَيْنَا، عَائِذاً بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ

Sami`a sāmi`un biḥamdillāhi wa ḥusni balā'ihi `alaynā. Rabbanā ṣāḥibnā wa afḍil `alaynā, `ā'idhan billāhi minan-nār.

One who hears has heard us praising Allah for His good favour to us. Our Lord, be with us and grant us Your grace. I seek refuge in Allah from the Fire. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com), adapted to follow the Arabic)

Said by the Prophet ﷺ in the early morning when travelling (Sahih Muslim 2718).

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Bismillāh.

In the name of Allah. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com))

The Prophet ﷺ said not to say "May the devil perish" when your mount stumbles, but to say "Bismillah" (Sunan Abi Dawud 4982).

أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي لاَ تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ

Astawdi`ukumullāhal-ladhī lā taḍī`u wadā'i`uh.

I leave you in the care of Allah, whose trusts are never lost. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com), adapted to follow the Arabic)

Shu'ayb al-Arna'ut graded the Musnad narration sahih through supporting narrations. In Sunan Ibn Majah 2825 the Prophet ﷺ says the singular form, "Astawdi`ukallāh...", to Abu Hurayrah as he set off.

أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ، وَأَمَانَتَكَ، وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ

Astawdi`ullāha dīnak, wa amānatak, wa khawātīma `amalik.

I leave your religion, your trust and the last of your deeds in the care of Allah. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com), adapted to follow the Arabic)

زَوَّدَكَ اللَّهُ التَّقْوَى، وَغَفَرَ ذَنْبَكَ، وَيَسَّرَ لَكَ الخَيْرَ حَيْثُ ما كُنْتَ

Zawwadakallāhut-taqwā, wa ghafara dhanbak, wa yassara lakal-khayra ḥaythumā kunt.

May Allah give you piety as your provision, forgive your sins, and make good easy for you wherever you are. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com))

A man about to travel asked the Prophet ﷺ for provision, and he said this in three parts as the man asked for more (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3444, which al-Tirmidhi called hasan gharib).

اللَّهُمَّ اطْوِ لَهُ الأَرْضَ وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْهِ السَّفَرَ

Allāhummaṭwi lahul-arḍa wa hawwin `alayhis-safar.

O Allah, shorten the distance for him and make the journey easy for him. (Jami' at-Tirmidhi translation (sunnah.com), adapted)

Said for a man setting out on a journey. It is not in Hisn al-Muslim; the wording here is al-Tirmidhi's.

لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ سَاجِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ، صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ

Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamd, wa huwa `alā kulli shay'in qadīr. Āyibūna tā'ibūna `ābidūna sājidūna li-Rabbinā ḥāmidūn. Ṣadaqallāhu wa`dah, wa naṣara `abdah, wa hazamal-aḥzāba waḥdah.

None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things. Returning, repenting, worshipping, prostrating, and praising our Lord. Allah fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and alone defeated the confederates. (Hisn al-Muslim translation (sunnah.com), adapted to follow Sahih al-Bukhari)

On returning from a journey, the Prophet ﷺ said "Allahu akbar" three times at every high point and then this (Sahih al-Bukhari 1797). The wording here follows Sahih al-Bukhari, which includes "sajidun" (prostrating); Hisn al-Muslim's wording leaves it out.