There are several prayers associated with traveling that are beneficial to recite throughout your journey.
Primary Dua for Travel:
Once you are settled in your mode of transportation, be it a car, bus, or airplane, you should recite the following prayer. It is reported by Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would straighten up on his camel at the start of a journey and say:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ❁ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ❁ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ❁ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ ❁ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ ❁ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هَذَا الْبِرَّ وَالتَّقْوَى ❁ وَمِنَ الْعَمَلِ مَا تَرْضَى ❁ اَللَّهُمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَيْنَا سَفَرَنَا هَذَا ❁ وَاطْوِ عَنَّا بُعْدَهُ ❁ اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ ❁ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوْءِ الْمُنْقَلِبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالْأَهْلِ ❁
Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar, Allāhu akbar. Subḥāna lladhī sakhkhara lanā hadhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn, wa innā ila rabbinā la munqalibūn. Allāhumma innā nas’aluka fī safarinā hadha l-birra wa t-taqwā, wa mina l-ʿamali mā tarḍa. Allāhumma hawwin ʿalaynā safaranā hādhā, wa-ṭwi ʿannā buʿdah. Allāhumma anta ṣ-ṣāḥibu fi s-safari wa l-khalīfatu fi l-ahl. Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bikā min waʿthā’i s-safari wa ka’ābati l-manẓari wa sū’i l-munqalibi fi l-māli wa l-ahl.
Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Glory be to Him Who has subjugated this to us, for we could not have accomplished it, and truly to our Lord we are returning. O Allah, we ask You for piety and fear of Allah and deeds with which You will be pleased on this journey of ours. O Allah make this journey easy for us and fold up for us its distance. O Allah You are the Companion on the journey and the Deputy among the family. O Allah I seek Your protection from discomfort on the journey and from a gloomy outlook, and from any evil befalling my wealth or family.
Second Du’a for Travelling
Abdullah ibn Sarjis I reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ went on journey he would say:
اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الصَّاحِبُ فِي السَّفَرِ ❁ وَالْخَلِيفَةُ فِي الْأَهْلِ ❁ اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمُنْقَلِبِ ❁ وَ مِنْ الْحَوْرِ بَعْدَ الْكَوْنِ ❁ وَ مِنْ دَعْوَةَ الْمَظْلومَ ❁ وَ مِنْ سُوْءِ الْمَنْظَرِ فِي الْأَهْلِا وَ الْمَالِ ❁
Allāhumma anta s-sāhibu fi s-safar, wa l-khalīfatu fi l-ahl. Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min waʿthā’i s-safar, wa ka’ābati-l-munqalab, wa mina l-hawri baʿda l-kawn, wa min daʿwati l-mazlūma, wa min sū’i l-manẓari fi l-ahli wa l-māl.
O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Deputy among the family. O Allah I seek Your protection from difficulties on the journey, sadness on returning, infidelity after faith, beseeching You as an oppressed person, and from evil befalling my wealth or family.
Third Du’a for Travelling
Husayn ibn Ali I reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prescribed the recitation of the following Quranic verse when boarding transport:
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا، إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ❁
Bismi Llāhi majrāhā wa mursāhā, inna rabbī la-ghafūrur-raḥīm.
In the name of Allah be its movement and rest. Truly my Lord is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
When Ascending or Descending
There are two supplications that can be recited when ascending or descending.
Ibn Umar I reported that when the Prophet ﷺ returned from Hajj, Umrah or a military expedition, whenever he climbed a hill or hillock he said takbīr thrice, followed by:
لَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ❁ لَهُ المُلْكُ ولَهُ الْحَمْدُ ❁ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ❁ آئِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ ساجِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُون ❁ صَدَقَ اللّٰهُ وَعْدهُ ❁ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ ❁ وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وحْدَهُ ❁
Lā ilāha illa Llāhu wahdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu l-mulk, wa lahu l-ḥamd, wa Huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr. Ā’ibūnā tā’ibūna, ʿābidūna sājidūna li-rabbinā ḥāmidūn. Ṣadaqa Llāhu waʿdah, wa naṣara ʿabdah, wa hazama l-aḥzāba waḥdah.
There is no god but Allah, the One Who has no partner. His is the kingdom and His is the praise, and He has power over all things. Returning, repenting, worshipping, prostrating before our Lord, praising. Allah has fulfilled His promise, and given victory to His servant, and routed the confederates by Himself.
Anas I narrated that when the Prophet ﷺ ascended to a high place in the land he would say:
اللّٰهُمَّ لَكَ الشَّرَفُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَرَفٍ ❁ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ ❁
Allāhumma laka sh-sharafu ʿalā kulli sharafin, wa laka l-ḥamdu ʿalā kulli ḥāl.
O Allah, to You belongs exaltation over every high place and to You belongs praise in every situation.
Disembarking from Transport
After you have disembarked from your means of transport, recite this du’a:
رَبِّ أَنْزِلْنِي مُنْزَلًا مُبَارَكًا وَأَنْتَ خَيْرُ الْمُنْزِلِينَ ❁
Rabbi anzilnī munzalān mubārakān wa anta khayru l-munzilīn.
O Allah, let me disembark with a blessed disembarking, and You are the best of those who cause to disembark.
Approaching a Town
Upon approaching a town or city during your journey, recite the following du’a. Suhayb I related that the Prophet ﷺ did not see any village he was about to enter without saying:
اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَظْلَلْنَ ❁ وَالْأَرَضِينَ السَّبْعِ وَمَا أَقْلَلْنَ ❁ وَرَبَّ الشَّيَاطِينَ وَمَا أَضْلَلْنَ ❁ وَرَبَّ الرِّيَاحِ وَمَا ذَرَيْنَ ❁ أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا ❁ وَنَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا ❁
Allāhumma Rabba s-samāwāti s-sabʿi wa mā aẓlalna, wa l-ardīna s-sabʿi wa mā aqlalna, wa rabba sh-shayāṭīni wa mā aḍlalna, wa Rabba r-riyāḥi wa mā dharayn. As’aluka khayra hādhihi l-qaryati wa khayra ahlihā, wa naʿūdhu bika min sharrihā wa sharri ahlihā wa sharri mā fīhā.
O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and what they cover, Lord of the seven earths and what they carry, Lord of the Shayatin and all those they lead astray, Lord of the winds and what they scatter. I ask You (to grant me) the good of this town, the good of its people and the good of whatever is in it. And I seek protection in You from the evil of this town, the evil of its people and the evil of whatever is in it.
Aisha J said that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ looked upon a region he was about to enter he would say:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ هَذِهِ وَخَيْرِ مَا جَمِعْتَ فِيهَا ❁ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا جَمِعْتَ فِيهَا ❁ اَللَّهُمَّ ارْزِقْنَا حَيَاهَا ❁ وَأَعِذْنَا مِنْ وَبَاهَا ❁ وَحَبِّبْنَا إِلَى أَهْلِهَا ❁ وَحَبِّبْ صَالِحِي أَهْلِهَا إِلَيْنَا ❁
Allāhumma innī as’aluka min khayri hādhihi wa khayri mā jamiʿta fīhā, wa aʿūdhu bikā min sharrihā wa sharri mā jamiʿtu fīhā. Allāhumma-rzuqnā ḥayāhā, wa aʿidhnā min wabāhā, wa ḥabbibnā ilā ahlihā, wa ḥabbib ṣāliḥī ahlihā ilaynā.
O Allah, I ask You for the good in this and the good You have gathered in it, and I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil You have gathered in it Allah, give us our provision from it, protect us from its diseases, and endear us to its inhabitants, and endear us to the righteous amongst them.
Stopping for the Night
If you stop at night during your journey, recite the following du’a. Khawlah bint Hakim J reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘Whoever dismounts at a place and says the following, nothing will harm him until he sets off again from that place.’
أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللهِ التَّامَّاتِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ❁
Aʿūdhu bi-kalimāti Llāhi t-tāmmāti min sharri mā khalaq.
I seek protection in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created.
Umar ibn al-Khattab I reported that when the Prophet of Allah ﷺ was travelling, as night was approaching he would say:
يَا أَرْضُ رَبِّي وَرَبُّكِ اللهُ ❁ أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شَرِّكِ وَشَرِّ مَا فِيكِ ❁ وَشَرِّ مَا خُلِقَ فِيكِ ❁ وَشَرِّ مَا يَدُبَّ عَلَيْكِ ❁ أَعُوذُ باللهِ مِنْ أَسَدٍ وَأَسْوَدَ ❁ وَمِنَ الْحَيَّةِ وَالْعَقْرَبِ ❁ وَمِنْ سَاكِنِ الْبَلَدِ وَمِنْ والِدٍ وَمَا وَلَدَ ❁
Yā arḍu rabbī wa Rabbuki Llāh. A‘ūdhu bi Llāhi min sharriki wa sharri mā fīk, wa sharri mā khuliqa fīk, wa sharri mā yadubba ʿalayk. Aʿūdhu bi Llāhi min asadin wa aswad, wa min al-ḥayyati wa l-ʿaqrab, wa min sākini l-balad, wa min wālidin wa mā walad.
O Earth, my Lord and yours is Allah. I seek protection in Allah from your evil and the evil that is in you, and the evil that has been created in you, and the evil of that which crawls on you. I seek protection in Allah from lions, black things, snakes, scorpions, and the inhabitants of the land, parents and offspring alike.
Returning Home
Upon returning home after your journey, recite the following.
آئِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّناَ حَامِدُونَ ❁
Ȧ’ibūna tā’ibūna ‘ābidūn, li-rabbinā ḥamidūn.
Returning, repenting, worshipping, praising our Lord.
Anas I narrated: “We returned with the Prophet ﷺ, Abū Talhah and I, and Safiyyah was riding behind him on his she-camel. When we were close to Madinah he said: ‘Returning, repenting, worshipping, praising our Lord.’ He continued to say that until we reached Madinah.”
Ibn Abbas I related that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned from a journey and went to his family, he would say:
تَوْباً تَوْباً ❁ لِرَبِّنَا أَوْباً ❁ لاَ يُغَادِرُ حَوْباً ❁
Tawban tawbā, li-rabbinā awbā, lā yughādiru ḥawbā.
Turning turning, to our Lord returning, not leaving behind any sin