318. Powerful Dua for Travel (Masnun Dua)
Rasulullah (ﷺ) used to say Bismillah while boarding the ride, he said the rest after setting down:
Dua for Travel in Arabic
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِيْنَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اَللّهُ أَكْبَرُ، (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ) سُبْحَانَكَ، إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ
Dua for Travel English Transliteration
Alhamdu lillaah. Subhaanal-ladhee sakhkhara lanaa haadhaa wa maa kunnaa lahu muqrineen. Wa 'innaa 'ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon. Alhamdu lillaah, alhamdu lillaah, alhamdu lillaah, Allahu 'Akbar, Allahu 'Akbar, Allahu 'Akbar, (laa ilahaa 'illaa 'Anta) subhaanaka 'innee dhalamtu nafsee faghfir lee, fa'innahu laa yaghfirudh-dhunooba 'illaa 'Anta
Dua for Travel English Translation
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.
Hadith about the Dua
Arabic Text
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ عَلِيًّا أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ :
( سبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ * وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ ) ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثَلاَثًا وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلاَثًا سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ . ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ . فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرُكَ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضى الله عنهما . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ . Ali bin Rabi’ah said: “I witnessed Ali having an animal brought to him to ride. When he placed his foot in the stirrup he said: ‘In the Name of Allah,’ (Bismillāh) [three times]. So then, once he had ascended upon its back, he said: ‘All praise is due to Allah.’ (Al-ḥamdulillāh) then he said: Glory is to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we were not able to do it. And, surely, to our Lord are we returning (Subḥān alladhī sakh-khara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn. Wa innā ilā rabbinā lamunqalibūn). Then he said: ‘All praise is due to Allah (Al-ḥamdulillāh)’ – three times – and ‘Allah is the Greatest (Allāhu Akbar)’ – three times – ‘Glory is to You, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for indeed none forgives sins except You (Subḥānaka innī qad ẓalamtu nafsī faghfirlī fa-innahū lā yaghfirudh-dhunūba illā ant).’ Then he laughed. So I said: ‘O Commander of the Believer! What caused you to laugh?’ He said: ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah do as I did, then he (ﷺ) laughed, so I said, ‘What cause you to laugh?’ He said: ‘Indeed, your Lord is very pleased with His worshipper when he says: “O my Lord, forgive me my sins, indeed, no one other than You forgives sins.” [Sahih (Albani). Tirmidhi: 3446]
Benefits of dua for travel
A travel prayer helps people feel calm & trust Allahwhen they go on trips
- It works as a safety dua for travelers, asking Allahto keep them safe on the road
- It reminds us how great Allahis, making hearts feel quiet before leaving
- It asks for forgiveness for mistakes, so the mind stays clear while traveling
- It shows Allahis the one who lets us travel & gives us ways to move
- It helps people remember Allahwith zikr Allah& thank Him during the trip
- It helps travelers stay humble, knowing they will always return to Allah
- It makes traveling feel safer with the dua for safe journey
When to Recite dua for travel
Traveling dua brings peace & safety when said at these times
- Say it before starting any trip, by car, plane, or train, for a safe journey
- Say it when getting on any vehicle to remember Allah’s help
- Say it at the start of a long trip, as a prayer for safe travel
- Say it before driving alone or with others for extra safety
How to Perform dua for travel
Safar ki dua is easy & brings comfort when traveling
- Begin by saying the dua for travel with full trust in Allah& a clean heart
- Say or read the traveling dua out loud or quietly, before starting your trip
- Use the words subhanallazi sakhara lana & la ilaha illa anta subhanaka as taught in masnun dua
- Say the dua for journey three times for better focus & remembering
Summary
The dua for travel, called dua e safar asks Allahfor safety and forgiveness when traveling. This strong masnun dua helps Muslims remember Allah’s power, kindness, and help on every trip, big or small. Muslims say this prayer with hope and trust, knowing all safety comes from Allahonly.
Making the travel prayer part of every trip brings calm, safety, and helps people feel close to Allah. With this dua for safe journey, every traveler can feel safe, knowing Allahis watching over them. Use this Islamic dua for peace and safety every time you travel.