The Dua of Travel
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَٰذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَىٰ، اللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَٰذَا وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ، وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ
Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar. Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila rabbina la-munqalibun. 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.
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Glory to the One who has made this subject to us, for we could never have managed it ourselves, and to our Lord we are surely returning. O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for righteousness and mindfulness of You, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and fold up its distance. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of the family left behind. O Allah, I take refuge with You from the hardship of travel, from a sorrowful sight, and from an evil turn of events in my wealth and my family.
What it means
The dua opens with a verse of the Quran about animals and vehicles being placed at our service, which fits a car or a plane as naturally as it fit a camel. Then it asks for the two things a traveller most needs: an easy road and a family kept safe while he is away. The last line names the real fears of travelling, from exhaustion to coming home to bad news.
When and how
Say Allahu akbar three times as you settle into your seat, then recite the rest once at the start of the journey.
Its virtue
This is the dua of the Prophet ﷺ whenever he mounted his camel to set out on a journey, reported in Sahih Muslim 1342.
Source
Muslim 1342sahih