Reported supplications for particular occasions
1- The traveler's supplication for his resident brothers and sisters:
It is an act of Sunnah that the resident Muslims say to the traveler:
" أستودع الله دينك وأمانتك وخواتيم عملك "
Astawdi‘ullaaha deenaka, wa amaanataka, wa khawaateema a‘maalik
(I entrust your religion, honesty and last deeds with Allah)
The traveler should reply, saying:
" أستودعكم الله الذي لا تضيع ودائعه"
Astawdi‘kum Allaha allathi laatadhee‘u wadaa’i‘uh
(I entrust you with Allah with whose trusts are never lost.) [At-Tirmithi on the authority of Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar ]
2- Supplication upon riding: When a traveler rides his mount, whether a camel, a plane, or a car, it is the Sunnah that he says:
" الله أكبر الله أكبر الله أكبر ، سبحان الذي سخر لنا هذا وما كنا له مقرنين ، وإنا إلى ربنا لمنقلبون ، اللهم إنا نسألك في سفرنا هذا البر والتقوى ، ومن العمل ما ترضى ، اللهم هون علينا سفرنا هذا ، واطو عنا بعده ، اللهم أنت الصاحب في السفر والخليفة في الأهل، اللهم إني أعوذ بك من وعثاء السفر، وكآبة المنظر وسوء المنقلب في المال والأهل."
Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, subhaan allathi sakhkhara lana haatha wama kunna lahu muqrineen wa-inna ila rabbina lamunqaliboon, Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hatha al-birra wat-taqwa wa minal-‘amali ma tardha. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana haatha, watwi ‘anna bu‘dahu. Allahumma anta As-Saahibu fissafar, wal-Khaleefatu fil’ahl, Allahumma inni a‘oothu bika min wa‘thaa’is-safar, wa ka’aabatil-manthar, wa soo’il-munqalabi fil-maali wal-’ahli wal-walad
(Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest. Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it. And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return. O Allah, we ask You during this journey of ours for righteousness, piety and such deeds as are pleasing to You. O Allah, make easy for us this journey of ours and make the distance short for us. O Allah, You are our Companion during the journey and the Guardian of the family and the property in our absence. O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of traveling, unhappiness connected to unpleasant scenes, and evil turns in property and family).
When he returns home, he should say the same and add:
" آيبون تائبون عابدون لربنا حامدون "
Aayiboon, taa’iboon, ‘aabidoona, li-Rabbina haamidoon
(We return, repentant, worshipping and praising our Lord).[Muslim]
3- Talbiyah: The Talbiyah (Hajj related chant) that the Prophet, , said was as follows:
لبيك اللهم لبيك ، لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك، إن الحمد والنعمة لك والملك لا شريك لك
Labbayk Allahumma labbayk, Labbayka laa shareeka laka labbayk. Innalhamda wanni‘mata laka walmulk, laa shareeka lak
(O Allah, here I am at Your service. There is no partner to be associated with You. Praise, graces and the dominion are Yours. There is no partner to be associated with You.)
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar would add:
لبيك ، لبيك وسعديك، والخير بيديك ، لبيك والرغباء إليك والعمل
Labbayka, Labbayka was-sa‘dayka, walkhayru biyadayka; Labbayka war-raghbaa’u ilayka wal‘amal
(O Allah, here I am at Your service O Allah, here I am at Your service. I follow Your command and all goodness is in Your Hand. I am at Your service, and we hope for Your reward and dedicate our deeds to You.) [Muslim]
The majority of scholars held that it is permissible to add to the Talbiyah formula of the Prophet, , since additions were reported from the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
It is an act of Sunnah that a pilgrim raises his voice with Talbiyah. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Bakr that the Prophet, , was asked, "Which is the finest Hajj?" He replied: "[The one in which there is] the raising of one's voice in Talbiyah and slaughtering the Hady (sacrificial animal)." [At-Tirmithi and others]
4- The supplication of Tawaaf (circumambulation of the Ka’bah): A pilgrim is recommended to supplicate with whatever he wants during his Tawaaf, and there is no particular supplication reported from the Prophet, , in this regard except that he used to recite between the Yamaani Corner and the Black Stone the following Quranic verse:
ربنا آتنا في الدنيا حسنة وفي الآخرة حسنة وقنا عذاب النار
{Rabbana aatina fi addunya hasanatan wafi al-aakhirati hasanatan waqina ‘athaab annaar.}
{Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."} [Ahmad and others]
There is no harm in reciting the Quran during the Tawaaf and glorifying Allah The Almighty with other forms of Thikr too, and this is because this is an instance in which glorifying and praising Allah The Almighty are highly appreciated.
5- Supplication upon drinking Zamzam water: It was authentically narrated that the Prophet, , said: "Zamzam water is for the purpose it is drunk for."[Ahmad] Thus, a Muslim is recommended to select the supplication he wishes upon drinking from this blessed water. When Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, would drink Zamzam water, he would say:
" اللهم إني أسألك علما نافعا، ورزقا واسعا، وشفاء من كل داء ".
Allahumma inni as’aluka ‘ilman naafi‘an wa-rizqan waasi‘an wa-shifaa’an min kulli daa'
(O Allah, I ask You to grant me beneficial knowledge, abundant sustenance and cure from every disease.)
6- Supplication upon ascending Mounts Safa and Al-Marwah: When a pilgrim starts his Sa‘ee (walking between the two mounts), he should start with Safa and upon approaching it, he should recite, as was narrated on the authority of Jaabir, may Allah be pleased with him, the saying of Allah The Almighty:
}إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله{
{Inna as-safa walmarwata min sha‘aa‘irillaah}
{Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah} [Quran 2:158]
Then, he should say:
أبدأ بما بدأ الله به
Abda’u bima bada’a Allahu bih
(I start with what Allah started with)
He should ascend Safa, then, facing the Ka‘bah, say:
لا إله إلا الله والله أكبر ثلاث مرات ، ويقول : لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك وله الحمد يحي ويميت وهو على كل شيء قدير ، لا إله إلا الله وحده أنجز وعده، ونصر عبده، وهزم الأحزاب وحده
Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah wallaahu akbar (3 times), Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah, wahdahu la shareeka lah. Lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, yuhyi wayumeet wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadeer. Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah wahdah, Anjaza wa‘dah, wa Nasara ‘Abdah, wa Hazam Al-Ahzaaba wahdah.
(There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Allah is the Greatest. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, He has no partner. To Him is sovereignty and perfect praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is Competent to do everything. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, who fulfilled His promise, supported His Slave, and defeated the confederates alone. )
This is to be mentioned thrice, supplicating in between. He should then do the same thing upon ascending Marwah without repeating:
إن الصفا والمروة من شعائر الله
Inna as-safa walmarwata min sha‘aa-irillaah
{Indeed, as-Safa and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allah} [Quran 2:158]
أبدأ بما بدأ الله به
and
Abda’u bima bada’allaahu bihi
"I start with what Allah started with" [Muslim]
7- Supplication on the day of ‘Arafah: It was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr that the Prophet, , said: "The best supplication is on the day of ‘Arafah, and the best saying I and the previous prophets ever said is:
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير
Laa ilaaha Illa Allah, wahdahu la shareeka lah; lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadeer
(There is none worthy of worship except Allah, He has no partner. To Him is sovereignty and perfect praise and He is over all things Competent.)” [At-Tirmithi]
In another narration, it was reported that the most frequent supplication for the Prophet, , on the day of ‘Arafah was:
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك ، و له الحمد بيده الخير ، و هو على كل شيء قدير
Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah, wahdahu la shareeka lah, Lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, biyadihi al-khayr, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadeer (There is none worthy of worship except Allah, He has no partner. To Him is the sovereignty and perfect praise and goodness is in His Hand and He is over all things Competent.)[Ahmad]
A Muslim is recommended to utilize his time on that day in supplicating and beseeching Allah The Almighty and frequently declaring the testimony of faith with sincerity and truth.
Thus we have selected for you, dear pilgrim, a collection of succinct supplications to busy yourself with a present heart, an understanding of their meaning and in sincere devotion to Allah The Almighty.
This is a collection of supplications and Athkaar that we have compiled in a three part series for you, our brother or sister who is performing Hajj, in the wish that you benefit from them in your Hajj and ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). Some of them are related to Hajj in particular occasions and others are comprehensive and not restricted to time or place.