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Traveling gives people an opportunity to get away from work pressure and the problems of daily life, so Ash-Shaafi’i 
recommended that everyone travel, especially as there are five benefits to traveling. It assists in:
1- Relieving sorrow
2- Earning a living
3- Acquiring knowledge
4- Making friendships
5- Refining a person’s manners
It is well known that traveling and contemplating the wonders of the world makes a believer more acquainted with Allah The Almighty and more certain that there is a Creator and Sustainer of the universe who deserves to be worshipped alone. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]}[Quran 51:20]
Traveling is among the needs of people - needs that the Sharee‘ah came to regulate. Therefore, whoever travels should follow the guidance of the Prophet, 
, as explained and detailed in the Sunnah.
, as explained and detailed in the Sunnah. The travels of the Prophet, , were for four purposes: Hijrah (emigration), Jihaad, minor pilgrimage and major pilgrimage.
, were for four purposes: Hijrah (emigration), Jihaad, minor pilgrimage and major pilgrimage. Whenever the Prophet, , set out on a journey, he would say farewell to his family and his Companions. Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Prophet used to bid us farewell saying: ‘I entrust to Allah your religion, what you are responsible for, and your final deeds.’” [At-Tirmithi], and he used to advise them to fear Allah The Almighty at all times.
, set out on a journey, he would say farewell to his family and his Companions. Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Prophet used to bid us farewell saying: ‘I entrust to Allah your religion, what you are responsible for, and your final deeds.’” [At-Tirmithi], and he used to advise them to fear Allah The Almighty at all times. Also the Prophet, , would warn his Companions against traveling alone and recommend that they travel in groups, saying: “If people knew what I know about loneliness, then nobody would travel alone at night.” [Al-Bukhari] Thus, the traveler should have a righteous companion to help him during the journey, guide him to what is right and warn him against evil. If the person forgets to remember Allah The Almighty, the companion could remind him, and if he feels tired he can support him.
, would warn his Companions against traveling alone and recommend that they travel in groups, saying: “If people knew what I know about loneliness, then nobody would travel alone at night.” [Al-Bukhari] Thus, the traveler should have a righteous companion to help him during the journey, guide him to what is right and warn him against evil. If the person forgets to remember Allah The Almighty, the companion could remind him, and if he feels tired he can support him.Whenever the Companions of the Prophet, , wanted to travel, he would order them to appoint a person as leader, so that they would avoid disagreement and adhere to the Muslim Jamaa'ah (body).
, wanted to travel, he would order them to appoint a person as leader, so that they would avoid disagreement and adhere to the Muslim Jamaa'ah (body). The Messenger of Allah, , would begin his journeys on Thursday mornings. Ka‘b ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Prophet would travel on Thursdays.”[Al-Bukhari] He also used to supplicate Allah The Almighty to bless his people in the early part of the day.
, would begin his journeys on Thursday mornings. Ka‘b ibn Maalik, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “The Prophet would travel on Thursdays.”[Al-Bukhari] He also used to supplicate Allah The Almighty to bless his people in the early part of the day.There are quite a few Thikr (remembrances) and supplications that the Prophet, , used to say when traveling:
, used to say when traveling:- Whenever the Messenger of Allah, , mounted his camel for setting out on a journey, he would say: “Subhanal-lathi sakh-khara lana hatha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrineen, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqaliboon. [Far removed from imperfection is the One who has made this subservient to us, for we have no power to subjugate it, and certainly to our Lord shall we return].” Then he would say: “Allahu Abkar [Allah is the Greatest]. Subhanaka inni thalamtu nafsi faghfir li, innahu la yaghfiruth-thunuba illa Ant [You are far removed from imperfection, I have wronged myself, so forgive me, because none but You can forgive sins].” [Abu Daawood]
, mounted his camel for setting out on a journey, he would say: “Subhanal-lathi sakh-khara lana hatha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrineen, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqaliboon. [Far removed from imperfection is the One who has made this subservient to us, for we have no power to subjugate it, and certainly to our Lord shall we return].” Then he would say: “Allahu Abkar [Allah is the Greatest]. Subhanaka inni thalamtu nafsi faghfir li, innahu la yaghfiruth-thunuba illa Ant [You are far removed from imperfection, I have wronged myself, so forgive me, because none but You can forgive sins].” [Abu Daawood]He would also say: “Allahumma inna nas’aluka fi safarina hatha al-birra wat-taqwa, wa minal-‘amali ma tardha. Allahumma hawwin ‘alayna safarana hatha, watwi ‘anna bu‘dahu. Allahumma Antas-Sahibu fis safari, wal-Khalifatu fil-‘ahli. Allahumma inni a‘oothu bika min wa‘thaa’is-safari, wa ka’abatil-manthari, wa soo’il-munqalabi fil-maali wal-’ahli wal-walad [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 hardships of traveling, unhappiness connected with ghastly scenes and evil turns in property and family].” [Muslim]When he returned, he would say this supplication again, adding these words: “Aayiboona, ta’iboona, ‘abidoona, li-Rabbina hamidoon [We are those who return, those who repent, those who worship and those who praise our Lord].” [Al-Bukhari]
- Whenever the Prophet, , ascended a high place he would proclaim: “Allahu Akbar [Allah is Greatest],” and when he descended into a valley he would proclaim: “Subhaan Allah [Allah is free from imperfection].” [Al-Bukhari]
, ascended a high place he would proclaim: “Allahu Akbar [Allah is Greatest],” and when he descended into a valley he would proclaim: “Subhaan Allah [Allah is free from imperfection].” [Al-Bukhari] - Whenever the Prophet, , entered a village or was about to enter it, he would say: “O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and what they shade, Lord of the seven earths and what they carry, Lord of the Shaytaans and those that they misguide, Lord of the winds and what they blow away, I ask of You for the good of this city and the good of its inhabitants and the good of what is in it. I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of its inhabitants and the evil of what is in it.” [An-Nasaa’i]
, entered a village or was about to enter it, he would say: “O Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and what they shade, Lord of the seven earths and what they carry, Lord of the Shaytaans and those that they misguide, Lord of the winds and what they blow away, I ask of You for the good of this city and the good of its inhabitants and the good of what is in it. I seek refuge in You from its evil and the evil of its inhabitants and the evil of what is in it.” [An-Nasaa’i] - Whenever the Prophet, , stopped somewhere during his travel, he would say: “A‘oothu bikalimaat-illaahit-taammaati min sharri ma khalaqa [I seek refuge with the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created].” [Muslim]
, stopped somewhere during his travel, he would say: “A‘oothu bikalimaat-illaahit-taammaati min sharri ma khalaqa [I seek refuge with the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created].” [Muslim]- The Prophet, , would use the concessions that Allah The Almighty granted him, including reducing the four-Rak‘ah prayers to only two, breaking fast when it was difficult for him to fast, and wiping over his shoes for three days and nights (instead of washing his feet for ablution). In addition, it was not reported that the Prophet, , performed the emphasized supererogatory prayers, except the Fajr and Witr prayer.
, would use the concessions that Allah The Almighty granted him, including reducing the four-Rak‘ah prayers to only two, breaking fast when it was difficult for him to fast, and wiping over his shoes for three days and nights (instead of washing his feet for ablution). In addition, it was not reported that the Prophet, , performed the emphasized supererogatory prayers, except the Fajr and Witr prayer. - Among the things that the Messenger of Allah, , forbade people from taking with them while traveling, was a dog and a bell. He said: “Angels do not accompany travelers who have with them a dog or a bell.” [Muslim]
, forbade people from taking with them while traveling, was a dog and a bell. He said: “Angels do not accompany travelers who have with them a dog or a bell.” [Muslim]- The Prophet, , forbade women from traveling without a Mahram-man (i.e., a relative that she is not permitted to marry), because it may lead to temptation and harm. The Prophet, , said: “No woman should travel unless she is accompanied by a Mahram [husband or any other relative to whom she is prohibited to marry].” [Al-Bukhari]
, forbade women from traveling without a Mahram-man (i.e., a relative that she is not permitted to marry), because it may lead to temptation and harm. The Prophet, , said: “No woman should travel unless she is accompanied by a Mahram [husband or any other relative to whom she is prohibited to marry].” [Al-Bukhari]- The Prophet, , also forbade a traveler from surprising his family at night by returning without notification. In this regard he said: “When one of you stays away [from his family] for a long period of time, let him not surprise his family at night.” [Al-Bukhari]. He also forbade: “Surprising one’s family at night as if he mistrusts them or searches for their faults.” [Al-Bukhari]
, also forbade a traveler from surprising his family at night by returning without notification. In this regard he said: “When one of you stays away [from his family] for a long period of time, let him not surprise his family at night.” [Al-Bukhari]. He also forbade: “Surprising one’s family at night as if he mistrusts them or searches for their faults.” [Al-Bukhari]We recommend you to follow the guidance of the Prophet, , in your whole life, in order to win happiness in this world and the Hereafter.
, in your whole life, in order to win happiness in this world and the Hereafter.
