The Prayers to Say When Leaving for a Journey

“I once heard Musa ibn Ja‘far (a.s.), say, ‘When one of your people decides to leave for a journey, he should stand at the door of his house. He should face the direction of his journey, read Chapter one of the Holy Quran to his front, right and left side. He then should read Ayatu al-Kursiy (verse 255 of Chapter two) to his front, right and left side, then say, “O Allah, protect me and whatever is with me, keep me and whatever is with me safe, move me and whatever is with me with Your best moving means to our destination.” Allah protects him and whatever is with him, keeps him and whatever is with him safe, and moves him and whatever is with him to his destination.’” “He (the Imam) then said, ‘O Sabbah, ‘Have you seen a person is protected but not what is with him, kept safe but not what is with him and helped to reach his destination but not what is with him?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I have seen. I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when you come out of your house with the intention to perform al-Hajj and al-‘Umrah, by the will of Allah, read the prayer of good tidings. ‘No one, except Allah, who is forbearing and gracious, deserves worship. No one, except Allah, the most High, the most Great, deserves worship. Allah, Lord of the seven heavens and seven earths, Lord of the great Throne, is free of all defects and all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’ Thereafter say, ‘O Allah, be my protector against every unjust and hostile person and condemn Satan.’ Then say, ‘I with the name of Allah enter and with the name of Allah I come out, and for the sake of Allah is my journey. O Allah, to overcome my forgetfulness and hastiness, I have begun in the name of Allah and by the will of Allah during my journey, whether I will remember it or forget it (such expressions). O Allah, You are the helper in all of my affairs and You are the companion during the journey and the Deputy in the family. O Allah, make this journey for us easy, make its length shorter, and make us travel in Your obedience and in obedience to You Messenger, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. O Allah, keep our supplies in good condition, place blessings in the sustenance You have granted us and protect us against the hellfire. O Allah, I seek protection with You against fatigue during my journey, sadness during my return, evil appearance with my possession and before my family. O Allah, from You is my power and support. By Your power I disembark and travel. O Allah, I appeal before You during this journey for happiness and such deeds, which You will like. O Allah, reduce for me the length of this journey and its hardships, be my Companion during this journey and my Deputy in my family with goodness. There is no means and power except the means and power of Allah. O Allah, I am Your servant, this is Your transporting animal, the direction, the journey is toward You, and You have information about matters, which no one beside You has. Make this journey an expiation for my sins that I have committed before this journey. Be my supporter during this journey and suffice for me its fatigue and hardships. Dictate to me the words and deeds that make You happy; I am Your servant with You and for You.’ When you place your foot in the stirrup of the saddle say, ‘In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, in the name of Allah and Allah is great beyond description.’ When you are in place on the saddle and have taken your place in the carriage say, ‘All praise belongs to Allah who guided us to al-Islam, taught us the Quran and has bestowed upon us Muhammad (SAW). Allah is free of all defects. Allah is free of all defects and it is He who has made this subservient to us. We were not able to do it on our own. To our Lord, we certainly return. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds. O Allah, You are the carrier on the backs of transport animal and the helper in the matter. O Allah, move us to our destination in the best condition of moving, a moving condition, which will take us to Your forgiveness and happiness. O Allah, there is no omen except Your omen; there is no goodness except Your goodness; and there is no protector except You.’”