Travelling

When you go on a journey (by car, bus, train or plane), the Prophet ﷺ taught us to thank Allah who gave us these means of transport.

When getting in and settling down, first say three times: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ (allaahu akbar): "Allah is the greatest."

Then: سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ (subḥaana lladhii sakhkhara lanaa haadhaa wa maa kunnaa lahu muqriniin, wa innaa ilaa rabbinaa la-munqalibuun) "Glory be to the One who has placed this at our service, when we could not have controlled it, and to our Lord we will return."

These words are verses of the Qur'an (43:13-14). The Prophet ﷺ said them when setting off on a journey, then went on with other requests (Muslim 1342).

For parents and older children, the rest of the dua: [TEXTE ARABE À INSÉRER : suite de l'invocation du voyage, Muslim 1342, à partir de « اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْأَلُكَ فِي سَفَرِنَا هٰذَا… »]

What does "placed at our service" mean? A car or a plane is heavy and powerful. Yet Allah allowed humans to build and drive them. Without Him, we could not have done it. So we say "Glory be to Allah!"

On a journey, too, Allah hears duas. The Prophet ﷺ said that the dua of the traveller is among those that are answered (Abu Dawud 1536, Tirmidhi 1905 [À VÉRIFIER]). Use the trip to ask for good for yourself and your family.

The tip to remember it: "Three takbirs, then subḥaan!" Learn the first piece (سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا), then add a piece on each trip, even to go to your grandparents. You can also say it aloud for the whole family, once everyone has fastened their seatbelt!

Understanding the lesson

Explanation The travel dua begins with "Allahu akbar". The companions had a lovely habit when travelling: when they went up a slope they said "Allahu akbar", and when they went down they said "subhan Allah" (Bukhari 2993). That way, even the road became a moment with Allah.

The words "to our Lord we will surely return" remind us that every journey has an end, and that our life is like a journey too. The Prophet ﷺ advised: "Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveller." (Bukhari 6416). This does not mean being sad: it means remembering what really matters.

When travelling we can also practise good manners: being patient in traffic jams, helping carry the bags, sharing our snack, and not complaining all the time.

Lessons to draw from it • I thank Allah for the car, bus, train or plane that carries me. • I am patient and helpful during the trip. • I use the journey to make duas for myself and my family.

Key points to remember • Three times اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ, then سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هٰذَا… (43:13-14, Muslim 1342). • Going uphill we say "Allahu akbar"; going downhill, "subhan Allah" (Bukhari 2993).

The main message Every journey begins with Allah: we thank Him for what carries us, and remember that it is to Him that we return.