Children travel — to school, to relatives, on long journeys in Ramadan and Hajj season. The Sunnah turns every one of those journeys into worship. The Prophet ﷺ said Allahu akbar three times when he mounted, then recited the ayah about Allah subduing the ride for us and asked for goodness, taqwa and an easy road. He ﷺ taught that a traveller's dua is answered, that travel is a piece of hardship so you should hurry back to your family, that three travellers should appoint one of them as leader, and what to say when the town comes into sight again. These five lessons give a child the words and the manners for every trip. Every point carries its ayah or hadith reference.
Lesson 1 · Setting off · ages 8-11
The dua as you set out
The Prophet ﷺ said Allahu akbar three times when he mounted, then asked Allah for goodness and an easy journey.
1The hadith
Ibn Umar reported that whenever the Prophet ﷺ mounted his camel to set out on a journey he said Allahu akbar three times, then made the travel dua.
2It starts with the ayah
The dua begins with the Qur'an's own words: hallowed is He who subdued this for us, and to our Lord we are returning.
3What he asked for
He ﷺ asked for birr and taqwa on the journey, for deeds that please Allah, for the distance to be folded up and made easy.
4Allah minds the family
The dua names Allah as the companion on the road and the guardian over the family left behind.
5Say it in the car
A car, a bus or a plane is today's ride; the same dua is said as you sit down in it.
Litastawoo 'alaa zuhoorihee summa tazkuroo ni'mata Rabbikum izastawaitum 'alaihi wa taqooloo Subhaanal lazee sakhkhara lana haaza wa maa kunnaa lahoo muqrineen
“That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say. "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it.”
Surah Az-Zukhruf · 43:14
وَإِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ
Wa innaaa ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon
“And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return."”
Wa qur Rabbi anzilnee munzalam mubaarakanw wa Anta khairul munzileen
“And say, 'My Lord, let me land at a blessed landing place, and You are the best to accommodate [us].' "”
“Ibn Umar reported that whenever Allah's Messenger mounted his camel while setting out on a journey, he glorified Allah (uttered Allah-o-Akbar) thrice, and then said: Hallowed is He Who subdued for us this (ride) and we were not ourselves powerful enough to use It as a ride, and we are going to return to our Lord.”
Sahih Muslim 1342
Do this before next time
Learn the first line of the travel dua and say it on your next car journey.
Lesson 2 · Dua · ages 8-11
A traveller's dua is answered
The Prophet ﷺ named three duas that are answered without doubt: the parent's, the traveller's and the wronged person's.
1The hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said three supplications are answered, there being no doubt about them: that of a father, that of a traveller and that of one who has been wronged.
2So use the road
A long journey is a chance to make dua for your family, your friends and the ummah, not only to watch a screen.
3Allah is near
Allah says He is near and answers the one who calls on Him.
4Ask for others
Duas made for someone who is not there carry their own reward in the Sunnah.
5Keep a list
Children can keep a short dua list for journeys so nothing is forgotten.
Wa izaa sa alaka 'ibaadee 'annnee fa innee qareebun ujeebu da'wataddaa'i izaa da'aani falyastajeeboo lee walyu minoo beela 'allahum yarshudoon
“And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.”
Ud'oo Rabbakum tadarru'anw wa khufyah; innahoo laa yuhibbul mu'tadeen
“Call upon your Lord in humility and privately; indeed, He does not like transgressors.”
“Three supplications are answered, there being no doubt about them; that of a father, that of a traveller and that of one who has been wronged.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 1536
Do this before next time
Write three duas to make on your next journey, and one of them for someone else.
Lesson 3 · Family · ages 5-7
Travel is hard — hurry home
The Prophet ﷺ said travelling is a kind of hardship, so when your work is done you should hurry back to your family.
1The hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said travelling is a kind of torture as it prevents one from eating, drinking and sleeping properly, so when you finish your business you should hurry back to your family.
2It is honest about tiredness
Islam does not pretend journeys are always fun; it names the hardship and gives you help through it.
3Allah lightens worship
Allah shortens the prayer for the traveller in the Qur'an, and there is a concession for fasting when travelling.
4Family comes first
Coming home to your people is treated as part of the good, not as the boring bit.
5Be patient in the car
Knowing the tiredness is real makes it easier to be patient and kind on a long trip.
Wa izaa darabtum fil ardi falaisa 'alaikum junaahun an taqsuroo minas Salaati in khiftum ai yaftinakumul lazeena kafarooo; innal kaafireena kaanoo lakum aduwwam mubeenaa
“And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.”
Ayyaamam ma'doodaat; faman kaana minkum mareedan aw'alaa safarin fa'iddatum min ayyaamin ukhar; wa 'alal lazeena yuteeqoonahoo fidyatun ta'aamu miskeenin faman tatawwa'a khairan fahuwa khairulo lahoo wa an tasoomoo khairul lakum in kuntum ta'lamoon
“[Fasting for] a limited number of days. So whoever among you is ill or on a journey [during them] - then an equal number of days [are to be made up]. And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] - a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day]. And whoever volunteers excess - it is better for him. But to fast is best for you, if you only knew.”
Shahru Ramadaanallazeee unzila feehil Qur'aanu hudal linnaasi wa baiyinaatim minal hudaa wal furqaan; faman shahida minkumush shahra falyasumhu wa man kaana mareedan aw 'alaa safarin fa'iddatum min ayyaamin ukhar; yureedul laahu bikumul yusra wa laa yureedu bikumul 'usra wa litukmilul 'iddata wa litukabbirul laaha 'alaa maa hadaakum wa la'allakum tashkuroon
“The month of Ramadhan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur'an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion. So whoever sights [the new moon of] the month, let him fast it; and whoever is ill or on a journey - then an equal number of other days. Allah intends for you ease and does not intend for you hardship and [wants] for you to complete the period and to glorify Allah for that [to] which He has guided you; and perhaps you will be grateful.”
“Traveling is a kind of torture as it prevents one from eating, drinking and sleeping properly. So, when one has finished his business, he should hurry back home.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 1804
Do this before next time
On your next long trip, say one patient word instead of one complaint.
Lesson 4 · Company · ages 8-11
Three travellers, one leader
The Prophet ﷺ said when three go out on a journey they should appoint one of them as their leader.
1The hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said when three are on a journey, they should appoint one of them as their commander.
2Why it helps
Someone has to decide when to stop, where to pray and who carries what, or the group argues the whole way.
3Leading is serving
The leader in the Sunnah is the one who carries more, not the one who is served more.
4Obey in what is good
A group leader is followed in good things; nobody is obeyed in disobedience to Allah.
5Shura on the road
Allah praises those who decide matters by consulting each other.
Wallazeenas tajaaboo li Rabbhim wa aqaamus Salaata wa amruhum shooraa bainahum wa mimmaa razaqnaahum yunfiqoon
“And those who have responded to their lord and established prayer and whose affair is [determined by] consultation among themselves, and from what We have provided them, they spend.”
Fabimaa rahmatim minal laahi linta lahum wa law kunta fazzan ghaleezal qalbi lanfaddoo min hawlika fafu 'anhum wastaghfir lahum wa shaawirhum fil amri fa izaa 'azamta fatawakkal 'alal laah; innallaaha yuhibbul mutawak kileen
“So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].”
Yaaa aiyuhal lazeena aamanooo atee'ul laaha wa atee'ur Rasoola wa ulil amri minkum fa in tanaaza'tum fee shai'in faruddoohu ilal laahi war Rasooli in kuntum tu'minoona billaahi wal yawmil Aakhir; zaalika khairunw wa ahsanu taaweelaa
“O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way] and best in result.”
“When three are on a journey, they should appoint one of them as their commander.”
Sunan Abi Dawud 2608
Do this before next time
On the next family outing, ask to be given one job you are responsible for.
Lesson 5 · Return · ages 8-11
What to say coming home
When the Prophet ﷺ came back from a journey and reached high ground he said Allahu akbar three times and praised Allah.
1The hadith
Ibn Umar reported that when the Prophet ﷺ returned from a journey and reached a hillock or high ground he said Allahu akbar three times, then declared there is no god but Allah, alone, with sovereignty and praise.
2Returning, repenting
The words include ayibun, ta'ibun, 'abidun — we are returning, repenting, worshipping, and praising our Lord.
3Thanks first
The first thing said on arriving home is Allah's praise, before the stories and the presents.
4He prayed at the masjid
It was his ﷺ practice on returning to Madinah to begin at the masjid before going home.
5Then greet your family
Salaam on entering the house is part of the same sunnah of arriving well.
Laisa 'alal a'maa barajunw wa laa 'alal a'raji barajunw wa laa 'alal mareedi barajun wa laa 'alaa anfusikum an taakuloo mim buyootikum aw buyooti aabaaa'ikum aw buyooti ummahaatikum aw buyooti ikhwaanikum aw buyooti akhawaatikum aw buyooti a'maamikum aw buyooti 'ammaatikum aw buyooti akhwaalikum aw buyooti khaalaatikum aw maa malaktum mafaatihahooo aw sadeeqikum; laisa 'alaikum junaahun an taakuloo jamee'an aw ashtaata; fa izaa dakhaltum buyootan fasallimoo 'alaaa anfusikum tahiyyatam min 'indil laahi mubaarakatan taiyibah; kazaalika yubai yinul laahu lakumul Aayaati la'allakum ta'qiloon
“There is not upon the blind [any] constraint nor upon the lame constraint nor upon the ill constraint nor upon yourselves when you eat from your [own] houses or the houses of your fathers or the houses of your mothers or the houses of your brothers or the houses of your sisters or the houses of your father's brothers or the houses of your father's sisters or the houses of your mother's brothers or the houses of your mother's sisters or [from houses] whose keys you possess or [from the house] of your friend. There is no blame upon you whether you eat together or separately. But when you enter houses, give greetings of peace upon each other - a greeting from Allah, blessed and good. Thus does Allah make clear to you the verses [of ordinance] that you may understand.”
“There is no god but Allah. He is One, there is no partner with Him, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He is Potent over everything. (We are) returning, repenting, worshipping, prostrating before our Lord, and we praise Him.”
Sahih Muslim 1344a
Do this before next time
Next time you get home from a trip, say Alhamdulillah out loud before anything else.
Every ayah on this page comes from the Tanzil Uthmani text of the Qur'an with the Sahih International translation, and every hadith carries its collection and number so you can check it yourself. Back to the learning path