Dhikr & Du'a · Through the day

The remembrances of the road

Say the riding du'a as you settle into your seat, whatever carries you, and the travel du'a as you set out. There are words for entering a town, for the rise and fall of the road, and for the moment you stop to rest. When you part from someone, leave them in Allah's keeping, and say the words of return when you are on your way home.

You do not need all of them for a short trip. The riding du'a and the prayer for the journey are the heart of it. Recite the Arabic, lean on the transliteration while you learn, and let the meaning travel with you.

1. 1

   The du'a for mounting your transport

   Listen

   بِسْـمِ اللهِ وَالْحَمْـدُ لله، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ * وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ الحَمْـدُ لله، الحَمْـدُ لله، الحَمْـدُ لله، اللهُ أكْـبَر، اللهُ أكْـبَر، اللهُ أكْـبَر، سُـبْحانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ إِنّي ظَلَـمْتُ نَفْسي فَاغْـفِرْ لي، فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِـرُ الذُّنوبَ إِلاّ أَنْـت

   Bismillāh, walḥamdulillāh. Subḥāna ‘lladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn. Wa innā ilā Rabbinā lamunqalibūn. Alḥamdulillāh, alḥamdulillāh, alḥamdulillāh, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Subḥānaka ‘llāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī, faghfir lī, fa innahu lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant.

   With the Name of Allah. Praise is to Allah. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord, we are returning. Praise is to Allah. Praise is to Allah. Praise is to Allah. Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Glory is to You. O Allah, I have wronged my own soul. Forgive me, for surely none forgives sins but You.

   sahihAbu Dawud 3/34, At-Tirmidhi 5/501

   Said as you settle into whatever carries you. It recites the verse of Surah az-Zukhruf, 'Glory to Him who subjected this to us, and we could not have subdued it ourselves,' then praises Allah, declares His greatness, and asks His forgiveness.

2. 2

   The full du'a for travel

   Listen

   "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"، وإذا رَجَعَ قَالَهُنَّ وَزَادَ فِيهِنَّ: "آيِبُونَ، تائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ"

   Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Subḥāna ‘l-ladhi sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn. Wa innā ilā Rabbinā lamunqalibūn. Allāhumma innā nas'aluka fī safarinā hādha ‘l-birra wat-taqwā, Wa mina ‘l-`amali mā tarḍā, Allāhumma hawwin `alaynā safaranā hādhā waṭwi `annā bu`dah, Allāhumma antas-sāḥibu fis-safar, wa ‘l-khalīfatu fil-ahl, Allāhumma innī a`ūdhu bika min wa`thā'is-safar, wa ka'ābati ‘l-manẓar, wa sū'il-munqalabi fil-māli wa ‘l-ahl. (Upon returning recite the same again adding):

   Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Allah is the Most Great. Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us though we could never have had it by our efforts. Surely, unto our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You on this our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to You. O Allah, lighten this journey for us and make its distance easy for us. O Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the One in Whose care we leave our family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from this journey's hardships, and from the wicked sights in store and from finding our family and property in misfortune upon returning. (Upon returning recite the same again adding:) We return repentant to our Lord, worshipping our Lord, and praising our Lord.

   sahihMuslim 2/978

   The fuller supplication of setting out: after the az-Zukhruf verse, you ask Allah for goodness, piety and pleasing deeds on the journey, for the distance to be made easy, for His company on the road and His care over your family, and for refuge from the journey's hardships. On returning you say it again, adding the words of the homecomer.

3. 3

   Entering a town or village

   Listen

   أللّـهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّـمواتِ السّـبْعِ وَما أَظْلَلَـن، وَرَبَّ الأَراضيـنَ السّـبْعِ وَما أقْلَلْـن، وَرَبَّ الشَّيـاطينِ وَما أَضْلَلْـن، وَرَبَّ الرِّياحِ وَما ذَرَيْـن، أَسْـأَلُـكَ خَيْـرَ هذهِ الْقَـرْيَةِ وَخَيْـرَ أَهْلِـها، وَخَيْـرَ ما فيها، وَأَعـوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَـرِّها وَشَـرِّ أَهْلِـها، وَشَـرِّ ما فيها

   Allāhumma Rabbas-samāwātis-sab`i wa mā aẓlaln, Wa Rabba ‘l-arāḍīnas-sab`i wa mā aqlaln, wa Rabbash-shayāṭīni wa mā aḍlaln, wa Rabbar-riyāḥi wa mā dharayn. As'aluka khayra hādhihi ‘l-qaryah, wa khayra ahlihā, wa khayra māfīhā, wa a`ūdhu bika min sharrihā, wa sharri ahlihā, wa sharri mā fīhā.

   O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and all they overshadow, Lord of the seven worlds and all they uphold, Lord of the devils and all they lead astray, Lord of the winds and all they scatter. I ask You for the goodness of this town, and for the goodness of its people, and for the goodness it contains. I seek refuge in You from its evil, from the evil of its people, and from the evil it contains.

   sahihAl-Hakim
4. 4

   When your transport stumbles

   Listen

   بِسْـمِ اللهِ

   Bismillāh.

   With the Name of Allah.

   sahihAbu Dawud 4/296

   If your mount, or whatever carries you, stumbles or falters, the word is simply Bismillah, the Name of Allah, rather than cursing the moment.

5. 5

   The traveller's du'a for those left behind

   Listen

   أَسْتَـوْدِعُكُـمُ اللَّهَ الَّذي لا تَضـيعُ وَدائِعُـه

   Astawdi`ukumu ‘llāha ‘l-ladhi lā taḍī`u wadā'i`uh.

   I place you in the trust of Allah, whose trust is never misplaced.

   sahihAhmad 2/403, Ibn Majah 2/943

   As you depart, you place those who stay in Allah's keeping: His trust, the Prophet ﷺ taught, is never lost or misplaced.

6. 6

   Bidding farewell to a traveller

   Listen

   أَسْتَـوْدِعُ اللَّهَ ديـنَكَ وَأَمانَتَـكَ، وَخَـواتيـمَ عَمَـلِك

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

   I leave your religion in the care of Allah, as well as your safety, and the last of your deeds.

   sahihAhmad 2/7, At-Tirmidhi 5/499

   What those staying behind say to the one setting out, entrusting to Allah's care the three things that matter most: their religion, their safety, and the final deeds of their life.

7. 7

   A blessing for the one departing

   Listen

   زَوَّدَكَ اللَّهُ التقْوى، وَغَفَـرَذَنْـبَكَ، وَيَسَّـرَ لَكَ الخَـيْرَ حَيْـثُما كُنْـت

   Zawwadaka ‘llāhut-taqwā, wa ghafara dhanbak, wa yassara laka ‘l-khayra ḥaythu mā kunt.

   May Allah give you piety as your provision, forgive your sins, and make goodness easy for you wherever you are.

   sahihAt-Tirmidhi, 3/155
8. 8

   Going up and coming down

   Listen

   قَالَ جَابِرٌ رضي الله عنه:

   When we climbed we declared Allah's greatness (Allahu Akbar), and when we descended we glorified Him (Subhan Allah).

   sahihSahih al-Bukhari (Fath al-Bari 6/135)

   Jabir reported that as they climbed they would say Allahu Akbar, and as they descended they would say Subhanallah, marking the rise and fall of the road with remembrance.

9. 9

   A du'a on the journey at dawn

   Listen

   سَمِـعَ سـامِعٌ بِحَمْـدِ اللهِ وَحُسْـنِ بَلائِـهِ عَلَيْـنا. رَبَّنـا صـاحِبْـنا وَأَفْـضِل عَلَيْـنا عائِذاً باللهِ مِنَ النّـار

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

   He Who listens has heard that we praise Allah for the good things He gives us. Our Lord, be with us and bestow Your favor upon us. I seek the protection of Allah from the Fire.

   sahihMuslim 4/2086, the meaning of sami`a sāmi`un (who listens has heard) is that 'a witness has witnessed our praise of Allah due to His blessings and favor upon us
10. 10

    When you stop to rest

    Listen

    أَعـوذُ بِكَلِـماتِ اللّهِ التّـامّاتِ مِنْ شَـرِّ ما خَلَـق

    A`ūdhu bikalimāti ‘llāhit-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq.

    I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.

    sahihMuslim 4/2080

    On alighting at any place along the way, seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created. The Prophet ﷺ taught that whoever says it, nothing will harm him until he leaves that stop.

11. 11

    Returning home from a journey

    3xListen

    يُكَبِّرُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَرَفٍ ثَلاَثَ تَكْبِيرَاتٍ ثُمَّ يَقُولُ: لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنا حَامِدُونَ، صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ، وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ، وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزابَ وَحْدَهُ

    From every elevated point say Allāhu Akbar (three times), and then recite:

    From every elevated point say Allāhu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great) three times and then recite: 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. We return repentant to our Lord, worshipping our Lord, and praising our Lord. He fulfilled His Promise, He aided His slave, and He alone defeated the Confederates.

    sahihMuslim 2/980

    The homecoming du'a: Allahu Akbar three times from every high point, then declaring Allah's oneness and adding the words of the returning believer, repentant, worshipping and praising, affirming that Allah kept His promise and aided His servant.

Prophetic adhkar transcribed verbatim from Hisn al-Muslim (Sa'eed al-Qahtani) via sunnah.com; al-Bukhari and Muslim taken as sahih, jayyid/reliable as hasan. Recitation audio: the official Hisn al-Muslim audio (hisnmuslim.com) for the adhkar. Selection follows Hisn al-Muslim, with thanks to lifewithallah.com; framing is Buruja's own. FOR SCHOLAR REVIEW: confirm every Arabic text, reference, repetition count and grading before publication.