Safar Ki Dua is the supplication the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught Muslims to say when they begin a journey. Below you will find the Safar Ki Dua in English with Arabic, transliteration and translation, plus the short version, the dua for flights and what to say on your return.
What Safar Ki Dua in English?
“Safar” means travel in Arabic, Urdu and Hindi, and “dua” means supplication. Safar Ki Dua is the prayer a traveler says after settling into a car, bus, train, ship or plane. It has three parts: praise of Allah for making transport possible, a reminder that we will return to Him, and a request for a safe, easy and good journey.
The wording comes from the hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them), recorded in Sahih Muslim (hadith 1342). It opens with a Quranic verse, Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:13-14.
Safar Ki Dua in English and Arabic (Full Text)
Arabic:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ
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 الأَهْلِ، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْظَرِ وَسُوءِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ
Safar Ki Dua in English transliteration (Roman text):
Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun.
Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hadha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tarda. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hadha, watwi ‘anna bu’dahu. 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.
Safar Ki Dua in English translation (meaning):
“Glory to Him who has made this subject to us, and we could not have done it ourselves. And to our Lord we will surely return.
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 for us. O Allah, You are the Companion on the journey and the Guardian of the family we leave behind. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of travel, from a sorrowful sight, and from a bad return in wealth and family.”
Safar Ki Dua in Urdu and Hindi (Meaning)
For readers who want the meaning of the opening verse in their own language:
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Urdu: پاک ہے وہ ذات جس نے اسے ہمارے تابع کر دیا، حالانکہ ہم اسے قابو میں لانے والے نہ تھے، اور بے شک ہم اپنے رب کی طرف لوٹنے والے ہیں۔
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Hindi: पाक है वह ज़ात जिसने इसे हमारे वश में कर दिया, जबकि हम इसे वश में करने वाले नहीं थे, और बेशक हम अपने रब की तरफ़ लौटने वाले हैं।
Safar Ki Dua in English Short Version
If you cannot memorize the full dua, start with the Quranic part alone:
Subhanal-ladhi sakhkhara lana hadha wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin. Wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun.
“Glory to Him who has made this subject to us, and we could not have done it ourselves. And to our Lord we will surely return.”
This is a good starting point for children and new learners. Once it feels natural, add the second paragraph.
When and How to Recite safar ki dua in english
Many people think the dua is only for the moment you leave the house. The hadith says something more specific. Ibn Umar reported that when the Prophet ﷺ was seated on his camel to leave for a journey, he said “Allahu Akbar” three times and then recited the dua. So the usual timing is after you sit in your vehicle, not at the front door.
A simple order that matches the hadith:
- Say “Bismillah” as you get in.
- Say “Alhamdulillah” once you are seated.
- Say “Allahu Akbar” three times.
- Recite the dua.
An account from Ali ibn Rabi’ah in Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi describes a similar sequence. It includes “Bismillah” when placing a foot in the stirrup and praise once seated, before the verse is recited.
Hawai Jahaz Ka Safar Ki Dua in English (Dua for Flights)
The Sunnah does not list a separate dua for airplanes, since planes did not exist. Scholars generally apply the same travel dua to any vehicle, including cars, trains and planes. The practical routine for a flight:
- Say “Bismillah” as you board.
- Recite the dua once you are in your seat, or at takeoff if you are busy settling in.
- Say it again on connecting flights, since each leg is a new stage of the journey.
Many travelers add a personal dua in their own language during takeoff. That is fine, as dua is always allowed in any language.
The Complete Travel Dua Routine
Most pages stop at the main dua. These other short duas complete the routine:
| Moment | What to say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Leaving home | Bismillah, tawakkaltu ‘alallah, wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (“In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah, there is no power or strength except with Allah”) | Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi |
| Starting the journey | The Safar Ki Dua above | Sahih Muslim 1342 |
| Stopping at a new place | A’udhu bi-kalimatillahit-tammati min sharri ma khalaq (“I seek refuge in Allah’s perfect words from the evil of what He created”) | Sahih Muslim 2708 |
| Returning home | Repeat the dua, then add Ayibuna ta’ibuna ‘abiduna li Rabbina hamidun (“We return, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord”) | Sahih Muslim 1342 |
Why the Dua Is Worded This Way
The wording gives you a mindset, not just words to say. In order:
- It starts with gratitude. A car, train or plane is a gift. We did not make it, and the verse admits we could not have tamed it ourselves.
- It reminds you of the return. “To our Lord we will surely return” ties a short trip to the final journey, which keeps travel from becoming careless.
- It asks for good deeds, not just safety. “Righteousness and piety” means you hope to be better because of the trip.
- It covers the family left behind. Calling Allah “the Guardian of the family” is a comfort for both the traveler and the people at home.
- It names real risks. Hardship on the road, bad news on arrival and trouble in wealth or family on return are all things travelers worry about.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
- Saying it only at the door. The hadith places it once you are seated in the vehicle.
- Skipping the second paragraph. The first part is the verse. The request for an easy journey follows it.
- Thinking you need Arabic perfectly. Learn the Arabic gradually, but reading the transliteration and understanding the meaning is a sound start. Meaning matters more than speed.
- Forgetting the return part. The extra line on coming home is part of the same hadith.
- Treating it as a lucky charm. It is worship and a request to Allah, not a guarantee against every problem. It goes alongside sensible travel habits like checking your vehicle, driving carefully and keeping documents ready.
A Simple Checklist Before You Travel
- Say the leaving-home dua at the door.
- Recite Safar Ki Dua once seated.
- Pack a small card or save an image of the dua on your phone for easy reading.
- Teach it to children with the short version first.
- Make personal dua during the trip. A traveler’s dua is mentioned in a hadith reported in Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi among the supplications that are answered.
- Say the return addition when you head home.
Conclusion
safar ki dua in english is a short routine with a lot of meaning: thank Allah for the means of travel, Safar ki dua in english remember the final return, and ask for ease and protection. Start with the short version, add the full dua when ready, and safar ki dua in english finish with the return line when you arrive home.
FAQs about Safar Ki Dua in English
Do I repeat the dua on every leg of a long trip?
Scholars generally say once per journey is enough, though repeating it when you change vehicles is a good habit.
Can I read it from my phone while driving?
Do not read from a screen while driving. Memorize at least the short version, or play it before you start the car.
Does a short trip, like a drive to the market, count as safar?
The dua is recommended for any journey. Legal rulings on shortening prayers depend on distance, but reciting the dua does not.
Can I say it in English only?
The Arabic is the authentic wording. If you are still learning, say the meaning in your language as dua while you work on the Arabic.
Thank you for Reading
Also check out “The Powerful Dua” for more such powerful duas.