Duas for travel: leaving home, the journey and returning
The prophetic supplications of travel — mounting, the road, entering a town, and coming home — with translation.
Referenced from Sahih Muslim and Sunan collections · Last updated 31 August 2026
The traveller's supplication is one of three that are not turned away: "Three supplications are answered without doubt — the supplication of the oppressed, the supplication of the traveller, and the supplication of a parent for his child." (Sunan Abi Dawud 1536)
The dua when setting out
*Subhanalladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun. Allahumma inna nas'aluka fi safarina hadhal-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-'amali ma tarda...* — "Glory to the One who subjected this to us, and we could never have done it ourselves; and to our Lord we shall return. O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for righteousness, piety, and deeds that please You." (Sahih Muslim 1342)
The dua when leaving the house
*Bismillah, tawakkaltu 'ala Allah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.* — "In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no might nor power except with Allah." It is said he is then told: "You are guided, defended and protected." (Sunan Abi Dawud 5095)
The dua when arriving at a place
*A'udhu bikalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq* — "I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created." "Nothing will harm him until he departs from that place." (Sahih Muslim 2708)
Can I shorten and combine prayers when travelling?
Yes. The four-rak'ah prayers are prayed as two, and Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha may be combined when needed. This is a concession Allah gave: "And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer." (Qur'an 4:101)
Should I still pray at night when travelling?
The Prophet ﷺ kept his night prayer on journeys, praying on his mount in whichever direction it faced. (Sahih al-Bukhari 1000) Even two short rak'ahs before Fajr on a journey keeps the habit alive.
References
Sahih Muslim — 1342hadith
The supplication of travel.
Sunan Abi Dawud — 5095hadith
The dua on leaving the house.
Sahih Muslim — 2708hadith
Seeking refuge on arriving at a place.
Qur'an — Surah an-Nisa 4:101quran
Shortening the prayer while travelling.
Sunan Abi Dawud — 1536hadith
The traveller's supplication is answered.
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