Dua Before Driving A Car (With Audio)

You may wonder: How can there be a dua for driving or riding in a vehicle when cars did not exist during the Prophet’s (ﷺ) time? This is a valid question—but the supplication we share today is rooted in authentic Sunnah, adapted to modern travel just as the Prophet’s teachings transcend time.

The dua originates from Jami’ At Tirmidhi (Hadith #3446), where it was recited before mounting an animal to begin a journey. Today, this practice translates seamlessly to traveling by car, bus, or any vehicle—reminding us to seek Allah’s (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) protection and gratitude for the gift of safe travel, just as the Prophet (ﷺ) did.

Below are the short and full versions of the dua, along with the complete hadith, Qur’anic confirmation, and practical guidance to incorporate this supplication into your daily routine.

Arabic Text:

سبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ

Transliteration:

Subhanal-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha, wa ma kunna lahu muqrinin, wa inna ila Rabbina lamunqalibun

English Translation:

Glory is to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we were not able to do it. And surely, to our Lord are we returning.

Reference: Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3446

The Prophet (ﷺ) taught a comprehensive dua to recite before traveling, as narrated by Ali bin Rabi’ah (may Allah be pleased with him). This full version includes the short dua along with additional prayers of praise, glorification, and repentance:

Arabic Text:

سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ

Transliteration:

Subḥanaka inni qad ẓalamtu nafsi faghfirli fa-innahu la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa ant

English Translation:

Glory is to You, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me—for indeed none forgives sins except You.

Ali bin Rabi’ah said: “I witnessed Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) having an animal brought to him to ride. When he placed his foot in the stirrup, he said: ‘Bismillāh’ three times. Once he had ascended, he said: ‘Alḥamdulillah,’ then recited: ‘Subhanal-ladhi sakh-khara lana hadha…’ (the short dua). Then he said: ‘Alḥamdulillah’ three times, ‘Allahu Akbar’ three times, and ‘Subḥanaka inni qad ẓalamtu nafsi…’ Then he laughed.

I asked: ‘O Commander of the Believers! What caused you to laugh?’ He replied: ‘I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) do exactly as I did, then he laughed. I asked him: “What caused you to laugh, O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Indeed, your Lord is very pleased with His worshipper when he says: ‘O my Lord, forgive me my sins—indeed, no one other than You forgives sins.’”’”

Grade: Sahih (Authentic, Darussalam)

Reference: Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3446

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ عَلِيًّا أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏:‏ ‏(‏ سبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ ‏)‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثَلاَثًا وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلاَثًا سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ ‏.‏ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ ‏.‏ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏”‏ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرُكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضى الله عنهما ‏.‏ قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

The authenticity of this dua is further supported by the Qur’an, where Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) teaches believers to glorify Him for subduing creation for their benefit:

Arabic Text (Surah Zukhruf 43:13-14):

لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّآ إِلَىٰ رَبِّنَا لَمُنقَلِبُونَ

Transliteration:

Litastawoo ‘alaa zuhoorihee summa tazkuroo ni’mata Rabbikum izastawaitum ‘alaihi wa taqooloo Subhaanal lazee sakhkhara lana haaza wa maa kunnaa lahoo muqrineen wa innaaa ilaa Rabbinaa lamunqaliboon

English Translation:

That you may settle yourselves upon their backs, 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. And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return.”

Travel—whether by car, plane, or train—carries inherent risks, and turning to Allah in supplication is a believer’s source of comfort and protection. Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stated: ‘I am near to the thought of my servant as he thinks about me, and I am with him as he remembers me. If he remembers me in his heart, I also remember him in my heart; if he remembers me in assembly, I remember him in assembly better than his remembrance. If he draws near me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by a cubit; if he draws near me by a cubit, I draw near him by the space of two hands. And if he walks towards me, I rush towards him.’”

The Qur’an also reminds us: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Mawla (protector).” (Surah Taubah 9:51) Reciting this dua is an act of tawakkul (trust in Allah) and gratitude for His blessings—acknowledging that all means of transport are subdued by His will.

To remember the dua consistently, print a copy of the Arabic text, transliteration, and translation, and place it on your car’s dashboard, cup holder, or phone case. This eliminates forgetfulness and distraction, making it easy to recite before every journey. The goal is to integrate this supplication into your routine, so it becomes second nature to seek Allah’s protection before traveling.

May Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) protect you and your loved ones on every journey, grant you safe arrival, and accept your supplications. Ameen.

Jazakallah khair—may Allah reward you with His mercy and guidance.