JIHAD SECTION · 79 – HOW SHOULD ONE PRAY WHEN SETTING OUT ON A JOURNEY?
Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would say when setting out on a journey:
"O God, You are our companion in this journey, and You are our protector over our families.
O God, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of this journey. I seek refuge in You from returning without attaining my desire, and from finding ugliness in my family and possessions. O God, make the earth easy for me, shorten the distance, and ease our journey."
Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would, when setting out on a journey, mount his camel, rise up, and say takbir three times. Then he would say: “I exonerate Allah from all imperfections for granting us this means [the camel]. We would not have been able to ride it without His command. Indeed, we shall return to our Lord.”
He would then say: "O Allah, I ask of you goodness and piety in this journey, and an action You are pleased with. O my Lord, make this journey easy for us. O Allah, distance the near [troubles] from us, and shorten it."
“O Lord, You are our master in this journey, and You are our guardian over our family and possessions.” And he would say these words upon returning from the journey. There he would add: “We return as those who repent and give thanks to our Lord.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) and his army would say takbir when ascending a hill, and tasbih when descending. This was exemplified in prayer [by saying] takbir while standing, tasbih during rukū’ and prostration. [414]
**EXPLANATION:**
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) was likened to this practice in prayer because he would say takbir on hills and tasbih in valleys.