Safar Ki Dua: Travel Dua in Arabic With Urdu and English Meaning
Quick answer: Safar ki dua is the supplication the Prophet ﷺ taught for the start of a journey. You say Allahu Akbar three times, recite “Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha” (Quran 43:13-14), then ask Allah for righteousness, ease, and protection on the road. The full Arabic, transliteration and meaning are below.
Note: this post is about the dua for travel. If you were looking for the Islamic month of Safar, read our guide on whether Safar is really an unlucky month.
What Is Safar Ki Dua?
“Safar” in Urdu and Arabic means a journey. Safar ki dua, also searched as dua for travel or travel dua, is the supplication a Muslim makes when setting out by car, bus, train, plane or on foot. It appears in Sahih Muslim in the narration of Abdullah ibn Umar, who reports how the Prophet ﷺ would recite it once seated on his mount.
Safar Ki Dua: Arabic, Transliteration, and Meaning
Part 1: Say Allahu Akbar three times, then recite
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ
Transliteration: Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila rabbina lamunqalibun.
Meaning: Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, for we could not have done it ourselves. Surely, to our Lord we shall return.
Part 2: The dua of the journey
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
Transliteration: Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha wa-twi ‘anna bu’dah. Allahumma antas-sahibu fis-safar, wal-khalifatu fil-ahl. Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min wa’tha’is-safar, wa ka’abatil-manzar, wa su’il-munqalabi fil-mali wal-ahl.
Meaning: O Allah, we ask You on this journey of ours for righteousness 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 Guardian of the family left behind. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a distressing sight, and from an evil return in wealth and family.
When you return home, add
آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ
Transliteration: Ayibuna ta’ibuna ‘abiduna li-rabbina hamiduna.
Meaning: We return, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.
Other Duas Useful for Travelers
Dua when leaving the house
The Prophet ﷺ taught saying: Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, meaning “In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, and there is no power or might except with Allah.” It is reported in Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi. Our guide on tawakkul explains the trust behind these words.
Dua when stopping at a place on the way
It is reported in Sahih Muslim that whoever stops somewhere and says A’udhu bi-kalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq, “I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created”, nothing will harm him until he leaves that place.
The dua of the traveler
A narration in Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi lists the traveler among those whose dua is not rejected. Use the journey to make your own duas too, following the etiquette in how to make dua. For more protection supplications, see our collection of hifazat ki dua.
Travel and Salah
Travelers may shorten four-rakat prayers to two (qasr) once they pass the distance scholars define as a legal journey. In the Hanafi school this is generally taken as about 48 miles, roughly 77 km. Details differ by school and situation, so confirm with a scholar before a long trip. The basics of each prayer are in our guide to how many rakats are in each prayer.
Heading for Makkah? Read our primers on Umrah and Hajj first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the dua for travel in Islam?
Say Allahu Akbar three times, then recite Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha followed by the dua asking for righteousness, ease, and protection on the journey.
Do I recite safar ki dua for short trips?
Yes. Many scholars encourage it for any journey, long or short, including a daily commute by bus or car.
Can I recite it silently?
Yes. It can be said quietly in your heart and on your lips. There is no need to say it aloud.
What do I say when I return from a journey?
Repeat the same dua and add: Ayibuna ta’ibuna ‘abiduna li-rabbina hamiduna.
Is safar ki dua the same as the month of Safar?
No. The word is spelled the same in English, but the dua is about a journey, while the month of Safar is the second month of the Islamic calendar.
Conclusion
Safar ki dua takes about thirty seconds, and it turns an ordinary trip into an act of worship. Teach it to your children, keep it in your phone notes, and say it every time you leave home.
Related reading: Hifazat ki dua, Tawakkul, How to make dua. You can also browse upcoming Islamic gatherings near you.