The etiquettes of travelling

Summary

The Islamic etiquettes of travelling emphasise:

  • The preference of travelling on Thursdays and in the morning

  • Remembering Allah and thanking Him

  • Praying an optional two rakatayn (iterations) prayer before a long journey

  • Seeking Allah's protection and blessings for a journey

  • Not travelling alone (especially for women) and appointed a leader whilst travelling

  • Take care of one's riding animals and other travellers

  • Shortening the four rakat prayers to  two rakatayn (compulsory)

  • The permissibility of joining Dhur (noon) prayer with 'Asr (afternoon) prayer

  • The permissibility of joining Maghrib (sunset) prayer with 'Isha (night) prayer

  • Returning home quickly and arriving before nightfall

When to set out on a journey

It is preferable to set out on a journey on Thursday, early in the morning.  This was the practice of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who seldom set out on a journey on any day other than Thursday.  The early morning was also favoured by the Prophet (PBUH) and he supplicated to Allah:

'O Allah, bless the mornings of my people'

Before setting out on a journey

Before setting out on a journey a person should:

  • Pray a prayer consisting of two rakatayn (iterations).  Note: This is for long journeys, not just going into town or to the shops.

  • Say to the person/people s/he is leaving behind:

"Astaudi'ukumullaha alladhi la tadee'u wadaa'i'uhu"

(May Allah, Who loses nothing, keep you in His care)

The person/people staying should say to those leaving:

"Astaudi'ullaha deenaka, wa amaanataka , wa khawaateema 'amalika"

(May Allah keep in His care your faith, your safety and the last of your deeds)

When setting out on a journey

  • Say the dua'a (supplication) for riding in a vehicle, or mounting an animal (if this is your means of transport).  This dua'a is said when travelling a short distance (i.e. within the city):

"Bismillah, Alhamdu lillah. Subhannah ladhi sakh-khara lana haadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrineen.  Wa inna ila Rabbina lamun qaliboon."

"Alhamdu lillah. Alhamdu lillah. Alhamdu lillah. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar. Allahu Akbar."

"Subhanna-kalla-humma inni zalamtu nafsi faghfir li, fa innahu la yaghfirudh dhunooba illa anta"

(In the Name of Allah.  All praise is to Allah.  Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us, though we could never have had it by our efforts.  Surely unto our Lord are we returning.

Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah. Allah is Great. Allah is Great. Allah is Great.

Glory is to You.  Oh, Allah, I have wronged my own soul.  Forgive me, surely none forgives sins but you.)

  • Say the dua'a (supplication) for travelling.  This dua'a is said when travelling for long distances (outside the city):

"Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbur.  Subhannah ladhi sakh-khara lana haadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrineen.  Wa inna ila Rabbina lamun qaliboon."

"Allahumma inna nas'aluka fee safarina hadhal birra wat taqwa, wa minal 'amali ma tarda.  Allahumma hawwin 'alaina safarana haddha wattu 'anna bu'dahu.  Allahumma Antas sahibu fis safari, wal khaleefatu fil ahli.  Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min wa'thaa'is safari, wa kaabatil munqalib wa soo'il mandhari fil maali wal ahli"

(Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest, Allah is Greatest.  Glory is to Him Who has provided this for us, though we could never have had it by our efforts.  Surely unto our Lord are we returning.

Oh Allah, I ask You this on our journey for goodness and piety, and for works that are pleasing to you.  Oh Allah, lighten this journey and make its distance easy for us.  Oh Allah, You are our Companion on the road and the One in whose care we leave our family.  Oh Allah, I seek refuge in You from this journey's hardships and from the wicked sights in store, and from finding our family and our property in misfortune upon returning.)

Note: The first part of this dua'a is the same as the first part of the dua'a for riding in a vehicle, and so when travelling in a car/plane etc long distance, one would normally read the dua'a for riding in a vehicle and then skip straight to the second part of the dua'a for travelling (i.e. from "Allahumma inna nas'aluka....").

  • When mounting the riding animal or vehicle, one should say:

"Allahu Akbar"

(Allah is Great)

What to say if a person's vehicle or mount fails

If a person's vehicle or riding beast fails, a person should say:

"Bismillah"

(In the Name of Allah)

Who to travel with

It is better that a person does not travel alone. It is related that Prophet Muhammad said:

"If people could know what I know of the hazards of travelling alone, no rider would set forth on a journey alone at night"

In the case of women, they are strictly not permitted to travel alone outside the confines of the city unless they are accompanied by a mahraam (a close male relative such as their husband, father, brother, adult son etc).  For the purposes of travelling, the mahraam cannot be a woman, nor a non-Muslim.  Prophet Muhammad said:

"It is not lawful for a woman who believes in Allah and the Day of Judgement to go on a journey lasting for a day and a night without accompanying a person who is related to her within the prohibited degrees (i.e. with whom marriage is unlawful)"

It is also preferable to appoint a leader in the travelling party. 

Whilst on a journey

Whilst on a journey a person should:

  • Shorten the prayers that are four rakat (iterations), namely Dhur (noon), 'Asr (afternoon) and 'Isha (night) prayer, to two rakatayn.  This is obligatory, even if one wants to pray the normal length.  Allah has tried to make it easy for those travelling, thus a person should accept this gift from Him. It is also preferable to miss all the optional prayers except for the prayer of two rakatayn before Fajr (dawn) prayer. Note: The other two daily prayers (Fajr and Maghrib (sunset) prayer) are prayed as per normal.

  • Realise that it is permissible to join either Dhur (noon) prayer and 'Asr (afternoon) prayer or join Maghrib (sunset) prayer and 'Isha (night) prayer.  By joining, it means that either of the two prayers may be prayed in the other prayer's time.  For example, 'Asr prayer can be prayed during the time for Dhur - either straight after Dhur prayer, or later on. 

Similarly, Dhur prayer can be prayed during the time for 'Asr prayer (before 'Asr prayer), even though the time for Dhur prayer would have finished.

Important note: the joining of Dhur and 'Asr prayers and Maghrib and 'Isha prayers is ONLY for travellers (one who is away from their normal city of residence).  Under normal circumstances a prayer may NEVER be offered before its time has arrived, nor may a prayer EVER be offered after its time has finished (unless a person has forgotten or was sleeping).

  • Realise the great virtue of praying whilst travelling

  • Ensure his/her riding mount is well fed and hasten the pace when travelling through barren land to conserve the animals' energy.  An animal should not be ridden when it is in poor health and not be overburdened with the load it carries.

  • Camp close to others

  • Help companions and other travellers by assisting them with transport and so on

  • Glorify Allah often by saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Great) when going up a hill, and saying "Subhaan Allah" (Glory be to Allah) when descending from a hill

When returning from a journey:

Upon returning from a journey one should:

  • Return as soon as possible to their town/city as soon as the purpose of their journey is completed

  • Upon sighting one's home town say the following until the place is reached:

"Aye-buna, tai-buna 'abi-duna, li Rabbina Hamidun"

(We are returning from journey, we are repentant, worshipping our Lord and praising Him)

  • Try to return home by daylight (i.e. in the morning or the afternoon) and avoid returning home after nightfall

  • Upon reaching home say the same dua'a as when they set out on the journey, but add the following:

"Allahumma qini 'adhaabaka yauma ta'athu 'ibaadaka"

[Recite the above 3 times in Arabic]

(Oh Allah, save me from Your punishment on the Day of Your slaves' rising)

  • When dismounting from the vehicle or mount one should say:

"Subhaan Allah"

(Glory be to Allah)

 

Read about other Islamic etiquettes

 


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