Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. I heard that for those who are planning to travel should supplicate for those he is leaving behind. The same goes for those who are left behind should supplicate for those who are travelling. Is this true?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
According to an opinion of the scholars, travel means when one is travelling for a distance of more than 2 marhalah or 81 kilometres.
Supplication of A Traveller for Those He is Leaving
In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA, the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ أَرَادَ أنْ يُسافِرَ فَلْيَقُلْ لِمَنْ يُخَلِّفُ: أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذي لا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ
“Whoever who is leaving for travel should supplicate for those he is leaving: (أَسْتَوْدِعُكُمُ اللَّهَ الَّذي لا تَضِيعُ وَدَائِعُهُ) ‘I command you to Allah’s keeping, Whose trust is never lost.’”
Musnad Ahmad (8494), Sunan al-Nasa’ie (9903) and Sunan Ibn Majah (2819)
Syeikh Sa’id al-Qahtani said: A traveller should supplicate for his beloved family members; “May Allah keep you in His protection and I keep you in hifzillah (Allah SWT’s protection) and His ri’ayah.” (See Syarh Hisn al-Muslim min Azkar al-Kitab wa al-Sunnah, pg. 239)
Abu Hurairah RA also narrated that the Prophet PBUH said:
إذا أرَاد أحَدُكُم سَفَراً فَلْيُوَدّعْ إخْوَانَهُ، فإنَّ اللَّهَ تَعالى جاعِلٌ فِي دُعائِهِمْ خَيْراً
“When one of you leave, then he should supplicate for his family members that he is leaving. For indeed, Allah SWT gives blessings on their supplications.”
Narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat (2926) and Abu Ya’la in his Musnad (6647)
Supplication for Traveler
In an authentic hadith, it is narrated that when a man was starting on a long journey, Ibnu Umar R.Anhuma said to him:
ادْنُ مِنِّي أُوَدِّعْكَ كَمَا كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُوَدِّعُنَا فَيَقُولُ : أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ
“Come close to me so that I may bid you farewell as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to bid us farewell.” Then he would say:
أَسْتَوْدِعُ اللَّهَ دِينَكَ وَأَمَانَتَكَ وَخَوَاتِيمَ عَمَلِكَ
“I entrust to Allah your religion, and your trusts, and the last of your deeds (Astawdi`ullāha dīnaka wa amānataka wa khawātīma `amalik).”
Sunan al-Nasa’ie (8806) and Sunan al-Tirmizi (3443)
In another hadith, Abu Hurairah RA said:
أَنَّ رَجُلاً قَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللهِ ، إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُسَافِرَ فَأَوْصِنِي ، قَالَ : عَلَيْكَ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ ، وَالتَّكْبِيرِ عَلَى كُلِّ شَرَفٍ ، فَلَمَّا أَنْ وَلَّى الرَّجُلُ ، قَالَ : اللَّهُمَّ اطْوِ لَهُ الأَرْضَ ، وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْهِ السَّفَرَ.
“O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), I intend to travel, so advise me.” He said, “Hold fast to the Taqwa of Allah, and (say the) Takbir upon every elevated place.” So, when the man turned away, he said:
اللَّهُمَّ اطْوِ لَهُ الأَرْضَ ، وَهَوِّنْ عَلَيْهِ السَّفَرَ
“O Allah make near for him the distance, and ease for him the journey (Allāhummaṭwi lahul-arḍa wa hawwin `alaihis-safar).”
Sunan al-Tirmizi (3445)
Syeikh al-Mubarakfuri said: Advice of being conscious of Allah SWT, fearing Him and being cautious and stay away from sinning to Him, while the commandment of reciting takbir in high places is because it acts as a reminder to not forget to be humble in front of the greatness of Allah SWT. Furthermore, it is also a way to showcase our gratitude to Him and this will only increase the blessings of Allah unto us. (See Tuhfah al-Ahwazi, 9/406)
May Allah SWT make us from those who practise the sunnah of our beloved Prophet PBUH, showcasing our love for our Prophet PBUH in our daily lives. Amin.