Dua for Travelling in English: Text, Meaning and How to Memorise It

Sufyan Amjad

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ

You’re getting ready to leave, and someone asks, “What do we say?” You need to memorise a dua quickly. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ gave this dua to the people of his time for each of their journeys, and it is available to us today. I have provided it to you in an easy-to-memorise format.

Travel Dua in English

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (×3)
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ
اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى
اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الأَهْلِ
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ

Sahih Muslim states that the travel dua consists of a total of six parts. Praise, gratitude, a request for goodness, a request for easiness, reliance on Allah, and Allah’s protection.

Travel Dua English Transliteration: How to Read Each Line

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ

Most people get this dua correct and memorised; however, they have great difficulty in correctly pronouncing this dua. Therefore, this dua has been given to you in English with Romanisation in order to assist you. You may also listen to this dua being recited by someone and memorise the pronunciation.

Allahu Akbar (three times)
Subhanal-ladhi 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
Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha watwi ‘anna bu’dah
Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min wa’tha’is-safar, wa ka’abatil-manzar, wa su’il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl

A few pronunciation tips: “dh” is a soft “th” as in “this”, the apostrophe (‘) marks a brief pause or the letter ayn, and a doubled letter (like “kh” or “ll”) is held slightly longer. Transliteration is a bridge, so listen to a reliable reciter once and copy the rhythm.

Travel Dua English Translation: What Each Line Means

اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ

A clear travel dua English translation is easiest to absorb one line at a time:

Line	Meaning
1	Allah is the Greatest.
2	Glory be to Him who made this vehicle usable for us, when we could never have done it ourselves.
3	And to our Lord we will surely return.
4	O Allah, on this journey we ask You for goodness, piety, and 5. deeds that please you.
6	Make this journey easy for us and let its distance feel short.
7	You are our companion on the road and the guardian of the family we left behind.
8	I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a sorrowful sight on return, and from a bad outcome in wealth and family.

Depending upon the translation, “Al-Birr” may be translated as “righteousness” or “goodness”. Thus, the translation of this travel dua may vary.

Dua Before Travelling in English

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ

Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah.

The dua for travel in English is short and is to be said upon leaving the house and before the beginning of each journey. “In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah. There is no power or strength but with Allah.” This is a short dua but is powerful and has many benefits, as stated in an authentic hadith in Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi. This dua is separate from the longer travel dua that comes later.

Dua When Travelling in English:

رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي

Rabbi ishrah li sadri wa yassir li amri. (“My Lord, expand my chest and make my task easy for me.”)

Many people ask for clarification about when to say the travel dua in English. You are to say the dua once you set out on your journey and become seated (in a car/taxi, train, or plane, etc.) and before the journey is initiated. At that time, say the long travel dua and add additional short duas if you wish.

Travelling Dua in English: A Five-Minute Memorisation Plan

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.

A travelling dua in English cards is useful, but you can learn the dua without one. Try this:

Minute 1: Read the English meaning once so the words carry sense.
Minute 2: Learn lines 1 to 3 (the opening verse) and repeat them five times.
Minute 3: Add lines 4 to 6.
Minute 4: Add lines 7 and 8.
Minute 5: Say the whole dua slowly, then end with the comprehensive prayer above.

If you want to help your children learn the travel dua, you can use the same method and have the children repeat the dua after you.

Travel Dua Islam in English: Where It Comes From

ثَلَاثُ دَعَوَاتٍ مُسْتَجَابَاتٌ لَا شَكَّ فِيهِنَّ: دَعْوَةُ الْمَظْلُومِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْمُسَافِرِ، وَدَعْوَةُ الْوَالِدِ عَلَى وَلَدِهِ

A strong basis for the English version of the travel dua is available. The opening is from Surah Az-Zukhruf of the Quran (43:13-14). The full version is in Sahih Muslim, from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). It is also reported in Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi that a traveller’s dua is among those duas that are answered. Because of this, travellers should make use of this opportunity and ask for all their needs.

Dua for Travelling English Versus Arabic

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

Rabbana taqabbal minna innaka antas-sami’ul-‘alim.

People often ask if there is anything else they can do if they type in “Travel Dua” or “Travel Dua English” or “English Travel Dua”. It is always good to read the Arabic version, as it is the version spoken by the Prophet, and then make your own additions in English. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) said, “Alexander, the daughter of Mohammed, went on a journey, and he (the Prophet) said to him, ‘Say “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah) and recite the Quran, and thus it is obligatory on every person who is able to read to recite the Quran and make supplication. However, it is always good to improve yourself and keep in mind that Allah listens to all your supplications, in whatever language you make them.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

Hasbunallahu wa ni’mal-wakil.

Reading only the English. The translation is for understanding, not a replacement for the Arabic.
Rushing. The dua is short, so say it calmly.
Skipping precautions. Wear your seat belt and plan the trip well. Trusting Allah goes together with taking sensible steps.
Forgetting the return. When you come back, say the travel dua again and add: Ayibuna ta’ibuna ‘abiduna li-Rabbina hamidun (آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ).