Dua for Travelling (Safar Ki Dua) - Arabic & Urdu

Safar ki dua is among the best-known supplications. This guide gives the travel dua with its meaning and source, the dua on return, and the practical rules of prayer while travelling.

When boarding a vehicle, say "Allahu Akbar" three times, then "Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun" (Quran 43:13-14), followed by the dua for righteousness on the journey, reported in Sahih Muslim.

"Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it. And indeed we, to our Lord, will return" (Quran 43:13-14). Ibn 'Umar reported that when the Prophet ﷺ mounted his camel to set off, he said "Allahu Akbar" three times and then this verse, and then the following dua (Sahih Muslim). The wording speaks of an animal, and many Muslims recite it when boarding a car, bus, train or plane, which scholars generally accept.

"Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alayna safarana hadha, watwi 'anna bu'dah. Allahumma anta as-sahibu fis-safar wal-khalifatu fil-ahl." ("O Allah, we ask You on this journey for righteousness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and fold up its distance for us. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Successor over the family.") Recorded in Sahih Muslim. See dua 58 and dua 54.

The Prophet ﷺ would say the same and add: "Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li Rabbina hamidun" ("We return, repent, worship and praise our Lord"), recorded in Sahih Muslim. See dua 55.

The Prophet ﷺ taught asking for the good of a place and seeking refuge from its evil. See dua 56. The narration is recorded by al-Hakim, so check its grading in a graded edition if you wish to be certain.

The Prophet ﷺ said that three duas are answered without doubt: the dua of the oppressed, the dua of the traveller and the dua of a parent against or for his child (Jami' at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Abi Dawud and Sunan Ibn Majah, graded hasan). Travel is therefore a good time to make dua for yourself, your family and the Muslims.

• Shortening (qasr). The four-rak'ah prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Isha) are prayed as two for a traveller. In the Hanafi view, shortening is obligatory for a traveller; other schools hold it permissible and recommended. Fajr and Maghrib are not shortened.
• The distance. The distance after which a traveller may shorten is generally about 77 km (48 miles) in the Hanafi school, and about 80 km in others. Ask your scholar for the exact figure for your situation.
• Combining. Schools differ on combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha during travel. The Hanafi school generally does not allow combining except in specific circumstances such as Arafah and Muzdalifah.
• Qibla. Use our qibla finder and our prayer times for your destination.

• Make your intention and seek advice before the journey.
• Ask forgiveness from people you may have wronged and settle debts.
• Travel with a companion where possible. The Prophet ﷺ discouraged travelling alone (Sahih al-Bukhari).
• Take care of your prayers, and plan for ablution.
• Hajj and Umrah travellers should read our Umrah guide.