Dua for travel, the safar dua.

When the Prophet ﷺ mounted his camel to set out on a journey, he said Allahu akbar three times, recited the verse of travel and then asked Allah for righteousness and ease on the way. It is sunnah to say it once you are seated in your car, train or plane.

Dua 1

اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، اللهُ أَكْبَرُ، 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 الْأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ، وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ

Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Subḥānal-ladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahū muqrinīn, wa innā ilā rabbinā lamunqalibūn. Allāhumma innā nasʾaluka fī safarinā hādhal-birra wat-taqwā, wa minal-ʿamali mā tarḍā. Allāhumma hawwin ʿalaynā safaranā hādhā waṭwi ʿannā buʿdah. Allāhumma antaṣ-ṣāḥibu fis-safari wal-khalīfatu fil-ahl. Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min waʿthāʾis-safari wa kaʾābatil-manẓari wa sūʾil-munqalabi fil-māli wal-ahl.

Allah is the Greatest (three times). Glory be to the One who has placed this at our service, and we could not have done it ourselves, and to our Lord we will surely return. O Allah, we ask You on this journey for goodness and piety, and for deeds that please You. O Allah, make this journey easy for us and shorten its distance. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the One who looks after the family. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from seeing anything distressing, and from finding harm in my wealth and family on my return.

Sahih Muslim 1342

Dua 2

آيِبُونَ، تَائِبُونَ، عَابِدُونَ، لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ

Āyibūna, tāʾibūna, ʿābidūna, li-rabbinā ḥāmidūn

We return, repenting, worshipping and praising our Lord. (Said on the way home, after the dua above.)

Sahih Muslim 1342

Our teachers will check the Arabic and transliteration on this page before launch.

Guide

When and how to say it.

Say the travel dua once you are seated and setting off. On the way back, say the same dua and add the words of return. On the journey, say Allahu akbar when going uphill or taking off, and Subhanallah when going downhill or landing.¹

Sahih al-Bukhari 2993.
Sahih Muslim 1342
Sahih Muslim 1342

Questions

Good to know.

Can I say the travel dua in the car or on a plane?

Yes. The dua was said on mounting a camel, and scholars apply it to any means of travel.

Is there a dua for a safe flight?

Use this travel dua when the plane is moving, and add any dua in your own words for safety and ease.

When do I say the travel dua?

When you set off and are seated, and again on the way back, adding the words of return.