Embarking on the journey to the revered cities of Makkah and Madinah is not merely a physical excursion but a spiritual odyssey. Throughout this sacred passage, it is imperative to immerse oneself in the remembrance of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Preparation Before Departure: Prioritize spending quality time with loved ones before setting forth on your expedition. Seek blessings from your parents and offer supplications for them, whether they are present or have departed. Extend this gesture of farewell and forgiveness to relatives, neighbors, mentors, and friends. Embrace them tenderly and request their prayers, following the example set by Umar ibn al-Khattab, who cherished the Prophet’s ﷺ heartfelt request to include him in his prayers.
Supplication for Family and Friends: Recite the following supplication for your beloved ones:
أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللهَ الَّذِي لَا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ ❁
Astawdiʿukumu Llāha lladhī lā taḍīʿu wadā’iʿuh.
I leave you in the care of Allah, Who does not allow anything entrusted to Him to be lost.
Those wishing for the traveler’s well-being are urged to recite the following supplication:
أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ ❁ زَوَّدَكَ اللهُ التَّقْوَى ❁ وَغَفَرَ ذَنْبَكَ ❁ وَيَسَّرَ لَكَ الْخَيْرَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ ❁
Astawdiʿu Llāha dīnaka wa amānataka wa khawatīma ʿamalik, zawwadaka Llāhu t-taqwā, wa ghafara dhanbak, wa yassara laka l-khayra ḥaythumā kunt.
I entrust your religion, your integrity and your final deeds to Allah’s protection. May Allah grant you taqwa, forgive your sins and facilitate goodness for you, wherever you are.
The same supplication can also be recited for the pilgrim:
اَللَّهُمَّ اطْوِ لَهُ الْبُعْدَ وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْهِ السَّفَرَ ❁
Allāhumma-ṭwi lahu l-buʿda wa hawwin ʿalayhi s-safar. O Allah, shorten the distance for him and make the journey easy for him.
Prayer (Salah)
Before embarking on your journey, offer two rak’ahs of salah as a means of protection from harm. Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised:
“When you intend to leave your house, then perform two rak’ahs of salah. These (two rak’ahs of salah) will safeguard you from a harmful exit. When you enter your house (after the journey, then again) perform two rak’ahs of salah. These (two rak’ahs of salah) will safeguard you from a harmful entry.” [Narrated in Musnad al-Bazzar]
Additionally, Muqattam ibn al-Miqdam reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“No-one has left his family with anything better than two rak’ahs that he performs among them when he intends to travel.”
Some scholars recommend reciting Surah al-Kafirun (Surah 109) after Al-Fatiha in the first rak’ah, and Surah al-Ikhlas (Surah 112) in the second. Others suggest reciting Surah al-Falaq (Surah 113) in the first rak’ah and Surah al-Nas (Surah 114) in the second.
After completing the salah, it is advised to recite the Verse of the Throne (Ayat al-Kursi). It is reported that reciting this verse before leaving home protects one from undesired afflictions until their return.
Furthermore, reciting Surah al-Fil (Surah 105) is recommended. Abu’l Hasan al-Qazwini, a renowned Shafi’i jurist, attested to its efficacy in providing security from all forms of evil.
Invocation (Du’a)
Following the prayer, supplicate for a smooth journey and seek assistance during your travels. You may say the following:
اللّٰهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ تَوَجَّهْتُ ❁ وَبِكَ اعْتَصَمْتُ ❁ اللّٰهُمَّ اكْفِنِي مَا هَمَّنِي وَمَا لَا أَهْتَمُّ لَهُ ❁ اللّٰهُمَّ زَوِّدْنِي
التَّقْوَى ❁ وَاغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي ❁ وَوَجِّهْنِي لِلْخَيْرِ أيْنَمَا تَوَجَّهْتُ ❁
Allāhumma ilayka tawajjaht, wa bika-‘taṣamt. Allāhumma-kfinī mā hammanī wa mā lā ahtammu lah. Allāhumma zawwidnī t-taqwa, waghfir lī dhanbī, wa wawajjihnī li l-khayri aynamā tawajjaht.
O Allah, to You I turn, and to You I hold fast. O Allah, be my sufficiency for that which preoccupies me and that which does not preoccupy me. O Allah, provide me with fear of You, forgive me my sins, and turn me towards good wherever I may turn.
Supplications During Travel
As you embark on your journey, it’s crucial to recite various supplications at different stages. At a minimum, remember to say “Bismillah” when boarding your conveyance and “Alhamdulillah” once comfortably seated.
Concessions for Travelers
Due to the often demanding nature of travel, certain allowances are granted to you from your hometown. Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
“Traveling can be arduous, disrupting one’s usual routines of eating, drinking, and resting. Therefore, once your needs are met, hasten back to your family.” [Narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari]
As a traveler, you’re permitted to:
- Shorten the obligatory prayers, typically consisting of four rak’ahs, to two rak’ahs, known as qasr (Arabic: قصر). This applies when praying alone or leading the prayer yourself.
- Combine prayers, known as jama’ (Arabic: جمع). This does not apply to adherents of the Hanafi school of thought.
- Delay Ramadan fasts. According to the Hanafi school, you’re considered a traveler once your journey spans 81 kilometers from your place of residence. These concessions come into effect as soon as you depart from your hometown.
Shortening of Salah (Qasr)
The directive to shorten prayers during travel is both a commandment and a mercy from Allah:
وَإِذَا ضَرَبْتُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ أَنْ تَقْصُرُوا مِنَ الصَّلَاةِ إِنْ خِفْتُمْ أَنْ يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنَّ الْكَافِرِينَ كَانُوا لَكُمْ عَدُوًّا مُبِينًا ❁
And when you (Muslims) travel in the land, there is no sin on you if you shorten your Salah (prayer) if you fear that those who commit Kufr (disbelieve) may attack you; verily, the Kafirin (disbelievers) are ever open enemies unto you.
Salah on a Plane
During your journey, you should strive to observe the mandatory prayers without inconveniencing others. Here are some tips on how to perform salah on a plane:
Wudhu
If you need to perform wudhu during your flight, do it in the following way:
- Wash the face once.
- Wash both arms (including the hands and elbows) once.
- Wipe at least a quarter of the head.
- Wash both feet (including the ankles) once.
These are the obligatory actions of wudhu according to the Hanafi madhhab. This will allow you to use less water and carry it out quickly.
Try not to splatter, and don’t spill water on the floor to wash your feet. This may present a safety risk to other passengers.
Praying in an Airplane
Every effort should be made to stand and face the Qibla when carrying out obligatory prayers on a flight. Airlines such as Saudia have designated areas where salah can be performed.
Saudi-Airlines A designated prayer area on Saudia
Other airlines don’t have prayer facilities which may pose a problem. In these airplanes, standing in certain areas may pose a safety risk or be an inconvenience to others, particularly if it’s a smaller plane.
There is a difference of opinion about what should be done in this scenario. Some scholars believe that it is acceptable for the prayer to be performed sitting down. Ruku’ (bowing) and sujud (prostration) should be gestured by bowing the head, with the sujud more pronounced than the ruku’.
Other scholars are of the opinion that the prayer must be performed sitting down and then be repeated after landing.
It may then be advisable to take the cautious approach and perform the prayer in the best manner possible during the flight, without inconveniencing others, and repeating it when it can be performed properly.
Nevertheless, you should still ask if there are any vacant spaces on the plane where the prayer can be performed. After all, the prayer itself shouldn’t take a great deal of time.
When to Pray in an Airplane
Before performing salah, the direction of the Qibla must first be established. This is actually relatively straightforward as most international flights have satellite navigation devices in front of each seat which shows the direction in which the plane is traveling. Using this, it’s quite easy to deduce the direction of the Qibla. It is also generally the case that since you will be flying towards Saudi Arabia, the plane will be facing the direction of the Qibla.
**Preparing for Ihram During the Flight**
It’s advisable to don your Ihram attire before boarding, aligning your intention (niyyah) to enter the state of Ihram as the designated Miqat approaches. Given the cramped spaces in airplane lavatories, changing into Ihram clothing mid-flight can be challenging.
If you opt to change during the flight, some planes may offer toilets equipped with changing tables, albeit with limited space. On certain airlines like Saudia, there might be designated prayer areas where you can transition into Ihram. Plan ahead to avoid last-minute rushes as the Miqat approaches.
As you prepare to enter Ihram, remember to remove your underwear and headgear if you’re male and familiarize yourself with Ihram’s restrictions.
Journey Checklist
* Approach the journey with the sole intention of seeking Allah’s pleasure, guarding against any ulterior motives.
* Ensure your actions are free from ostentation, pride, or showing off.
* Purify your heart from ill feelings or malice towards others.
* Seek forgiveness and fulfill any outstanding rights or debts owed to others.
* Repay any debts or wealth usurped from others.
* Return borrowed items to their owners.
* Seek forgiveness for all sins, major and minor.
* Make up for any missed prayers, fasts, or zakat obligations to the best of your ability.
* Familiarize yourself with Hajj and Umrah rules and regulations.
* Carry a guidebook for performing Hajj and Umrah rites.
* Seek blessings from your parents before departure.
* Spend quality time with family members, reassuring and encouraging them.
* Bid farewell to family and friends, seeking their prayers.
* Give charity before leaving your home.
* Perform two rak’ahs of salah before departure and supplicate afterward.
* Travel with a righteous companion who encourages virtuous deeds.
* Perform two rak’ahs of salah at every stop during the journey.
* Strive to pray on the plane without inconveniencing others.
* Maintain humility and modesty throughout the journey.
* Exhibit good character by avoiding anger, arguments, or abusive behavior.
* Treat others with love, kindness, and affection.
* Avoid stinginess during the journey; spend generously and carry extra money for charity.
* Refrain from excessive bargaining while shopping.
* Stay engaged in remembrance of Allah and His Messenger throughout the journey, making du’a for yourself, family, and the Muslim community.
* Strive to pray in congregation and observe the five daily prayers at their prescribed times.
* Adhere to sunnah and optional prayers to the best of your ability.