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Travel Etiquette

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Narrated by MuslimAuthentic hadith

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mounted his camel while setting out on a journey, he would say Takbīr three times and then say: Glory be to the One who subdued this (ride) for us and we were not ourselves powerful enough to use it as a ride, and to our Lord we shall, indeed, return

Narrator in the source: Ibn ‘Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mounted his camel while setting out on a journey, he would say Takbīr three times and then say: "Glory be to the One who subdued this (ride) for us and we were not ourselves powerful enough to use it as a ride, and to our Lord we shall, indeed, return. O Allah, we ask You during this journey of ours for righteousness, piety, and such deeds that 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 the 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 the evil turns in property and family." On returning, he would recite this supplication, while adding these words: "We are those who return; those who repent; those who worship; and those who praise our Lord." In another narration: “Whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) returned from Hajj or ‘Umrah and ascended a height or hill, he would say Takbīr three times and say: there is no god but Allah, who has no partner; to Him belongs the sovereignty and due to Him is all praise; and He is omnipotent over all things. We are those who return; those who repent; those who worship; those who prostrate; and those who praise our Lord. Allah has fulfilled His promise, granted His slave victory, and vanquished the confederates alone." In a different wording: “Whenever he returned from battles, Hajj or ‘Umrah.”
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا استَوَى على بَعِيره خارجًا إلى سَفَر، كَبَّرَ ثلاثا، ثم قال: «سبحان الذي سخَّر لنا هذا وما كُنَّا له مُقْرِنِينَ وإنَّا إلى ربِّنا لـمُنْقَلِبُون، اللهم إنَّا نَسْأَلُك في سفرنا هذا البِرَّ والتَّقْوَى، ومن العمل ما تَرْضَى، اللهم هَوِّنْ علينا سفرنا هذا واطْوِ عنا بُعْدَه، اللهم أنت الصاحب في السفر، والخليفة في الأهل، اللهم إني أعوذ بك مِن وَعْثَاء السفر، وكآبة الـمَنْظر، وسوء الـمُنْقَلَب في المال والأهل والولد». وإذا رجع قالهن. وزاد فيهن «آيبون تائبون عابدون لِربنا حامدون». وفي رواية: كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا قَفَل من الحج أو العمرة، كلما أَوْفَى على ثَنِيَّة أو فَدْفَدٍ كَبَّرَ ثلاثا، ثم قال: «لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير، آيِبون، تائبون، عابدون، ساجدون، لربنا حامدون، صدَق الله وَعْدَه، ونصَر عَبْدَه، وهزَم الأحزابَ وحده». وفي لفظ: إذا قَفَل من الجيوش أو السَّرايا أو الحج أو العمرة.
Understand this hadith

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) informs us in this Hadīth that whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) prepared to travel and mounted his ride, he would proclaim the greatness of Allah and say this supplication, which involves a number of sublime meanings, one of which is declaring Allah, the Almighty, far exalted above any need or deficiency. It also expresses a person's appreciation for the favors of Allah. Moreover, the Hadīth asserts one's complete lack of might and power, and his admission that he will return to Allah, the Almighty. Then, it comprises invocation to Allah to bestow His favors and grace and to endow the supplicant with piety and guide him to those deeds that please Him and that He accepts. Also in the Hadīth, the supplicant relies on Allah, the Almighty, and leaves all affairs to Him. Allah, the Almighty, is also implored to preserve the supplicant and his relatives and to ease the hardship of traveling and provide refuge from its evil and harm, like returning and seeing anything unpleasant in his family, property, or children. In the other narration, Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) returned from a trip, he would say the above-mentioned supplication and make this addition: We are those who return; those who repent; those who worship; and those who praise our Lord – grateful to Him for our safe return. Whenever the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) stood on a high place, he would proclaim the greatness of Allah – thus standing humble before His majesty and power – and say: “there is no god but Allah, Who has no partner”, acknowledging the uniqueness and Oneness of Allah in His divinity, lordship, and names and attributes, and that He supports His close servants and allies and makes them victorious.

References (original Arabic)

- المسند الصحيح (صحيح مسلم), تأليف: مسلم بن حجاج النيسابوري, تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبدالباقي, دار إحياء التراث العربي. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407ه 1987م. - شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين، نشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، الطبعة: 1426ه. - تطريز رياض الصالحين لفيصل بن عبد العزيز المبارك النجدي, تحقيق: عبد العزيز آل حمد, دار العاصمة , الطبعة: الأولى، 1423 هـ. - بهجة الناظرين, سليم بن عيد الهلالي، الناشر: دار ابن الجوزي ، سنة النشر: 1418 هـ- 1997م. - رياض الصالحين، للنووي، تحقيق : ماهر الفحل. دار ابن كثير - بيروت. الطبعة الأولى 1428ه - 2007م. - دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين, محمد علي بن محمد بن علان البكري الصديقي الشافعي, اعتنى بها: خليل مأمون شيحا, الناشر: دار المعرفة للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، بيروت – لبنان, الطبعة: الرابعة، 1425 هـ - 2004 م.

Narrated by Bukhari & MuslimAuthentic hadith

Travel is a portion of torment

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Travel is a portion of torment. It prevents you from eating, drinking and sleeping. When one of you has achieved his purpose from his journey, let him hasten back to his family."
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Bukhari & Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «السفر قطعة من العذاب، يمنع أحدكم طعامه وشرابه ونومه، فإذا قضى أحدكم نَهْمَتَهُ من سفره، فليُعَجِّلْ إلى أهله».
Understand this hadith

"Travel is a portion of torment”, i.e. part of it. 'Torment' here is the pain resulting from hardship involved in riding, walking and leaving behind one's habitual lifestyle. "It prevents you from sleeping, eating and drinking", i.e. travel hinders one from enjoying the pleasures of life perfectly due to the hardship, toil, suffering from heat and cold, fear, separation from family and friends, and rough living conditions. That is because a traveler is usually worried, does not eat or drink his normal food and drink as in ordinary times, and likewise is the sleep. So, if this is the case, then one should return to comfortable life, to his family and country, so that he could look after his family, discipline them and so on.

References (original Arabic)

1- فتح الباري لابن حجر (623/3). 2- شرح صحيح مسلم(70/13). 3-كنوز رياض الصالحين(580/12). 4-شرح رياض الصالحين لابن عثيمين(621/4).

Narrated by MuslimAuthentic hadith

When you travel through green lush land, give the camels their share from the ground, and when you travel through dry barren land, make them walk quickly before their strength falters

Narrator in the source: Abu Hurayrah reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah say:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: When you travel through green lush land, give the camels their share from the ground, and when you travel through dry barren land, make them walk quickly before their strength falters. When you encamp at night, keep away from the roads, because they are the paths of animals and the resorts of insects at nighttime.
Grade in the source
Authentic hadith
Reported by
Narrated by Muslim
Original Arabic wording
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه مرفوعاً: «إذا سافرتم في الخِصْب، فأَعْطُوا الإبل حظَّها من الأرض، وإذا سافرتم في الجَدْب، فأَسْرِعوا عليها السَّيْر، وبادروا بها نِقْيَها، وإذا عَرَّسْتُم، فاجتنبوا الطريق؛ فإنها طُرُق الدَّوَابِّ، ومَأْوَى الهَوَامِّ بالليل»
Understand this hadith

The instructions in this Hadīth serve the interests of both people and animals, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) directed travelers to the following etiquettes: He ordered a person who is traveling on a camel, donkey, mule, or horse to look after its best interest in respect to grazing, because he is responsible for it. If he travels during a time of fertility, when the land has abundant pasture and fodder, he should proceed slowly to give the animal its share of grazing. If he travels during an arid time, when the land is barren, he should proceed quickly so as not to exhaust the animal. He also ordered the traveler who dismounts at night to rest and sleep to avoid encamping on the roads in order not to block them for other travelers and their mounts. Also, the roads are where beasts of prey, insects, and venomous reptiles wander at night, because they are paved and they can pick up edible things that have fallen there

References (original Arabic)

- رياض الصالحين من كلام سيد المرسلين؛ للإمام أبي زكريا النووي، تحقيق د. ماهر الفحل، دار ابن كثير-دمشق، الطبعة الأولى، 1428ه. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف سليم الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي- الطبعة الأولى 1418ه. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين؛ تأليف د. مصطفى الخِن وغيره، مؤسسة الرسالة-بيروت، الطبعة الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ. - مرقاة المفاتيح، علي بن سلطان محمد، أبو الحسن نور الدين الملا الهروي القاري، دار الفكر. - صحيح مسلم؛ للإمام مسلم بن الحجاج، حققه ورقمه محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار عالم الكتب-الرياض، الطبعة الأولى، 1417هـ. - كنوز رياض الصالحين، لحمد بن ناصر العمار، دار كنوز إشبيليا- الطبعة الأولى 1430ه. - شرح رياض الصالحين؛ للشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن، الرياض، 1426هـ.

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