Zikrullah whilst traveling (34)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

The significance of Zikr whilst on a journey

34.) Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “If a person engages in the Zikr of Allah during his journey, the angels travel with him during that journey, and if he engages in singing (or listening to) poems and lyrics, the devil remains his companion.”

 [Hazrat Uqbah Ibn Aamir (RA)]

Note : In today’s times, people would rather listen to music and songs whilst traveling instead of engaging in Zikr actively or passively. Thus, devils travel with them, instead of angels.

Three noble tasks during a journey

Hazrat Ali (RA) is reported to have said that three noble tasks that ought to be done whilst on a journey are :

§  To spend of one’s provisions on those who are poor,

§  To adorn oneself with good character,

§  To maintain a light-hearted and humuorous attitude with fellow travelers, on condition that this does not constitute sin.

[Ma`ariful Qur`aan]

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Accepted Dua (33)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

The Supplication of the Musaafir

33.) Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “Three persons supplications are readily accepted : the supplication of a father for his child, the supplications of the oppressed, and the supplication of the traveler.”

 [Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA)  - Sunan Abu Dawud]

Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “The quickest dua that is accepted is the dua of an absent person in favour of an absent person.”

 [Hazrat Amar Ibul Aas (RA) - Sunan Abu Dawud]

- A traveler is absent from his home and his family members are absent from him. If he makes dua for them, it is accepted almost immediately.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Requesting Dua (32)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Requesting dua from one undertaking a journey

32.)  When Sayyidina Umar (RA) sought permission from Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  to travel for the sake of performing Umrah, Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) permitted him to go and said : “Do not forget us in your righteous supplications.”

[Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA)

- Sunan Abu Dawud / Tirmizi Shareef]

-        Note : The dua of a traveler is accepted, hence it is good to seek such a person’s dua.

-    Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “Three persons duas are readily accepted: the fasting person, the traveler, and the oppressed.”

[Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA)]

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Selecting an Imaam (29 - 31)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Who should be made the leader of the group

29.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “When you are traveling, make the most learned person amongst you, the Imaam.”

[Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) ]

-      Since the most learned person would be the Imaam, he would also be the leader of the group.

-      Such a person should be made the leader, who is best in conduct, easy in his approach, and one who gives preference to others above himself.

-    Whilst having good character, the leader should also be intelligent and experienced, magnanimous and selfless.

-      He should not be harsh and arrogant.

-      The true leader is one who serves his companions.

30.) Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : ‘When three people are traveling, one should be selected as the Amir (leader)’.

[Hazrat Abu Sa`eed (RA) - Mishkaat / Sunan Abu Dawood]

31.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “When anyone is on a journey, he should select somebody to be the Amir.”

[Sayyedena Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) ]

-     Mulla Ali Qaari (Rahmatullah ‘alayh) has written that even if two people are traveling, one should be selected to be the Amir.

-      When few people are traveling together, one should be made the Amir. This is a Sunnah practice. The rest of the travelers should abide by the directives and opinions of the leader. Should any difference of opinion arise, they could resort to the decision of the Amir.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Meeting and Greeting (28)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

It is Sunnah to meet and shake hands

before departing for a journey

28.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said :  “When anyone intends traveling, he should meet his fellow brothers, for their supplications added to his own supplications will only be a means of additional goodness.”

[Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) ]

Note : One should meet one’s family members and associates before traveling and request them to make dua. This would go a long way in ensuring the well being of the traveler.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Bidding farewell (25-27)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

To walk a distance with the traveler

when bidding him farewell is a Sunnah

25.)  Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbaas (RA) narrates that when bidding farewell to him, Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) accompanied him to Jannatul Baqi and then said : ‘Proceed in the name of Allah.’

26.)  Hazrat Mu`az (RA) narrates that when dispatching him to Yemen, Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) walked alongside him, issuing advices to him. Hazrat Mu`az (RA) was seated on the animal and Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) walked alongside him.

27.)  Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Yazid Al Hatmi (RA) narrates that when Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) dispatched any army, he (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) walked with them till Thaniyyatul Wada.

-        Thaniyyatul Wada is the mountain pass from where travelers were received and seen off. Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) also entered Madina Munawwarah through this sacred mountain pass.

-       In view of the above Ahaadeeth, the Ulama, have regarded it preferable to accompany the visitor, etc. for a while and see him off in the above manner. One should go as far as one can, but even if one walks a few steps, this would suffice to fulfill the Sunnah. The author of Ithaaf has asserted that this is a Sunnah practice.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Du`aa for the Musaafir (21-24)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Entrusting the welfare of a person to Allah Ta’ala

21.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) would recite the following dua when bidding farewell to a person :

Narrated by Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA)

-   Sayyidina Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA) narrates that Hazrat Luqmaan (Alayhis Salaam) said : “Whenever anything is entrusted to Allah Ta’ala, He protects it.”

22.)  Hazrat Abu Hurairah (RA) bade farewell to Musa Ibn Wardaan (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) saying : I will bid farewell to you as Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) bid farewell to me

‘I entrust you to Allah, who does not cause that which has been entrusted to Him to be destroyed.”

-      It is Sunnah for family members and friends to bid farewell to the traveler and entrust the safety of the person, his religion, belongings, etc. to Allah Ta’ala.

23.) Certain Ahaadeeth indicate that sometimes Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  prayed for the traveler saying : “Fi Hifzillaah” which means, ‘May you be in the protection of Allah.’

24.)  Sayyidina Abdullah ibn Abbaas (RA) narrates that when bidding farewell to  him, Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) accompanied him to Jannatul Baqi and then said: ‘Proceed in the name of Allah.’

- To say the above statement to a traveler is also a Sunnah.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

History of Makkah Mukarramah

1 – Centre of the Earth

2 – Makkah Mukarramah during the era of Nabi Ibraheem (AS)

3 – Year 157 before the Hijrah - Makkah Mukarramah during the time of Qusayy

4 – Year 12 before the Hijrah - Makkah during the Quraysh Rule

5 – Year 91 AH - Makkah during the Umayyad Era

6 – Year 310 AH - Makkah during the Abbasid Era

7 – Year 1215 AH - Makkah during the Ottoman Empire

8 – Year 1412 AH - After completion by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, 

King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz 

Advice for the Traveller (20)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Advice to be given to one undertaking a journey

20.)   A person came to Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) and informing him that he intended going on a journey, requested advice. Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) advised him to always observe piety and to recite Takbeer upon every incline. When the person turned to leave,  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) made the following dua :

O Allah, shorten the distance of the journey for him and make the journey easy.

[Hazrat Abu Hurairah  (RA) - Tirmizi / Mishkaat]

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al-Kubra
[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Food for the Journey (18 & 19)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

Taking food and drinks with on a journey

18.)  Sayyidah Asmaa (RA) narrates that she arranged the food, water and tablecloth for Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (RA)  for the migration journey.

[Sahih Bukhari]

19.)  Hazrat Jaabir (RA) narrates that three hundred of them once set out on a campaign, and every person had his provisions over his shoulders. When this got finished, they survived on one date per day.

[Sahih Bukhari]

-      The Shariah has encouraged that a person travels with some kind of provisions, be it cash or kind, so that one does not have to stretch one’s hands to others.

-      Sayyidina Ibn Abbas (RA)  narrated that in pre-Islamic times, people used to undertake the journey of Hajj without carrying any provisions with them. They were eventually forced to beg and live upon other people’s generosity. Allah Ta’ala thus revealed : “And carry provisions, and indeed the best of provisions is piety.”- Surah Baqarah.

-      Hence it is encouraged to carry provisions and doing so is not against the Sunnah. This was also the practice of the pious predecessors.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]

Salaah before Departure (16 & 17)

Bismihi Ta’ala

Ahaadeeth and Sunnats of Traveling

It is Sunnah to perform Salaah before departing

     16.)  A person came to Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) and informed Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) that he was departing on a business journey to Bahrayn. Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) instructed him to perform two rakaats of Salaah (before departing).

[Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Mas`ud (RA)]

    17.)  Nabi (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam) said : “A person cannot leave a better substitute for his family than the two rakaats of Salaah that he performs before departing.”

[Hazrat Mut`im Ibn Miqdam (RA)].

-      It is narrated that whenever Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar (RA)  left his home for a journey, he would always proceed to the Masjid and perform two rakaats of Salaah.

-      It is Sunnah to perform 2 or 4 rakaats of Salaah when departing for a journey. This action contains many benefits and blessings.

-     Imam Nawawi (Rahmatullah ‘alayh) has written that a person should recite Surah Kaafiroon in the first rakaat and Surah Ikhlaas in the second rakaat.

-      Others view that Surah Falaq and Surah Naas in the respective rakaats.

-   After making Salaam, one should read Ayatul Kursi. A narration mentions that the person who reads Ayatul Kursi before departing will be saved from every unpleasant thing until his return.

Extracted from Ash-Shamaa`il al Kubra

[The Sublime Conduct of Nabi  (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi waSallam)  Volume 3]