A journey begins the moment you mount, and this chapter teaches the believer to begin it with God on the tongue. The supplications gathered here turn an ordinary act, climbing onto a camel or a beast, into a moment of remembrance, asking for righteousness on the way, ease over the distance, and protection for the family left behind.
At the heart of these duas is a single confession lifted straight from the Qur'an, that we could never have tamed this animal by our own power, it was God who made it serve us. The key word is sakhkhara, He subjected or subdued it for us. Notice too how the prayer looks past the journey itself to the final return, to our Lord we are returning.
Hadith 972
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
وعن ابن عمر، رضي الله عنهما، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا استوى علي بعيره خارجاً إلى سفر، كبر ثلاثاً، ثم قال: "سبحان الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين، وإنا إلي ربنا لمنقلبون. اللهم إنا نسألك في سفرنا هذا البر والتقوى، ومن العمل ما ترضي. اللهم هون علينا سفرنا هذا واطو عنا بعده. اللهم أنت الصاحب في السفر والخليفة في الأهل. اللهم إني أعوذ بك من وعثاء السفر وكآبة المنظر وسوء المنقلب في الأهل والمال والولد" وإذا رجع قالهن وزاد فيهن: "آيبون تائبون عابدون لربنا حامدون" ((رواه مسلم)). معنى مقرنين : مطيقين. والوعثاء بفتح الواو وإسكان العين المهملة وبالثاء المثلثة وبالمد، وهي: الشدة. و الكآبة بالمد، وهي: تغير النفس من حزن ونحوه. والمنقلب : المرجع.
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) mounted his camel for setting out on a journey, he would recite: "Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)," thrice. Then he (ﷺ) would supplicate: "Subhanal-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadh al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin 'alaina safarana hadha, watwi 'anna bu'dahu. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fissafari, wal-Khalifatu fil- ahli. Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'ta'is-safari, wa kaabatil- manzari, wa su'il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahli wal-waladi (Far removed from imperfection is the One Who has made this subservient to us, for we have no power to subjugate it, and certainly to our Rubb shall we return. O Allah, we ask You during this journey of ours for righteousness, piety and such deeds as are pleasing to You. O Allah, make easy for us this journey of ours and make the distance short for us. O Allah, You are our Companion during the journey and the Guardian of the family and the property in our absence. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardships of travelling, unhappiness connected with ghastly scenes and evil turns in property and family)." When he returned, he recited this supplication making addition of these words: "Ayibuna, ta'ibuna, 'abiduna, li-Rabbina hamidun (We are those who return; those who repent; those who worship and those who praise our Rubb)." [Muslim].
In plain words
When mounting for a journey the Prophet said Allahu Akbar three times, then a supplication acknowledging that Allah alone made the animal serve us, asking for righteousness, ease, and protection for his family, adding words of return and repentance when he came home.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 972 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 17
Hadith 973
'Abdullah bin Sarjis (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن عبد الله بن سرجس، رضي الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا سافر يتعوذ من وعثاء السفر، وكآبة المنقلب، والحور بعد الكون، ودعوة المظلوم. وسوء المنظر في الأهل والمال. ((رواه مسلم)) هكذا هو في صحيح مسلم: الحور بعد الكون، بالنون، وكذا رواه الترمذي والنسائي. قال الترمذي: يروي :الكور بالراء، وكلاهما له وجه. قال العلماء: ومعناه بالنون والراء جميعاً: الرجوع من الاستقامة أو الزيادة إلي النقص. قالوا: ورواية الراء مأخوذة من تكوير العمامة، وهو لفها وجمعها، ورواية النون، من الكون، مصدراً كان يكون كوناً إذا وجد واستقر.
Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) proceeded on a journey, he would seek refuge in Allah from the hardships of the journey, and against deviation after guidance, and against the supplication of the oppressed, and occurrences of unpleasant events in the family and property. He would say: "Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'tha'is- safari, wa kaabatil-munqalabi, wal-hauri ba'dal-kauni, wa da'watil- mazlumi, wa su'il-manzari fil-ahli wal- mal." [Muslim].
In plain words
On setting out the Prophet would seek refuge in Allah from the hardships of travel, from straying after being guided, from the prayer of anyone wronged, and from finding trouble in his family and property on return.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 973 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 18
Hadith 974
'Ali bin Rabi'ah reported:
وعن علي بن ربيعة قال: شهدت علي بن أبي طالب رضي الله عنه أتي بدابة ليركبها، فلما وضع رجله في الركاب قال: بسم الله، فلما استوي علي ظهرها قال: الحمد لله الذي سخر لنا هذا، وما كنا له مقرنين، وإنا إلي ربنا لمنقلبون، ثم قال: الحمد الله، ثلاث مرات، ثم قال: الله اكبر ثلاث مرات، ثم قال: سبحانك إني ظلمت نفسي فاغفر لي فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، ثم ضحك، فقيل: يا أمير المؤمنين من أي شئ ضحكت؟ قال: رأيت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فعل كما فعلت، ثم ضحك، فقلت: يا رسول الله من أي شئ ضحكت؟ قال: “إن ربك سبحانه يعجب من عبده إذا قال: اغفر لي ذنوبي، يعلم أنه لا يغفر الذنوب غيره" ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال: حديث حسن)) وفي بعض النسخ: حديث صحيح. وهذا لفظ أبي داود
In my presence, a beast was brought to 'Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) for riding. When he put his foot in the stirrup, he said: "Bismillah (With the Name of Allah)." When he had settled himself on its back he recited: "Al-hamdu lillahil-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. (All praise belongs to Allah Who has made this subservient to us, for we had not the strength to overpower it; and to our Rubb shall we return)." He then recited thrice: "Alhamdu lillah (Praise be to Allah)," and then three times: "Allahu Abkar (Allah is Greatest)." Then he said: "Subhanaka inni zalamtu nafsi faghfir li, innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa Anta (You are far removed from imperfection I have wronged myself, so forgive me, because none but You can forgive sins)." Then he smiled. It was asked: "Why have you smiled, O Amir Al-Mu'minin (Leader of the Believers)?" He replied: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) doing as I have done. I (i.e., Ali) asked him (the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)) the reason for smiling. He (ﷺ) said, 'Your Rubb, Glorious is He, is pleased when His slave seeks His forgiveness. He (the slave) has firm faith that none except Allah Alone can forgive sins)'." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Ali rode just as he saw the Prophet do, praising Allah for making the animal serve him and asking forgiveness for wronging himself, and he smiled recalling that Allah is pleased when His servant, sure no one else can forgive, seeks His forgiveness.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 974 In-book reference : Book 7, Hadith 19