Allah is Goodness and the Goodness in The Sunnans of Travel

It is the nature of the human to be superstitious and cautious especially when it comes to traveling. The prophet taught us from his sunnah: "If any of you is wary about some matter, he should offer two Rakaahs." (Bukhari) So thus superstition and caution were replaced with belief in and reliance on Allah. Islam does away with seeking omens, astrology, numerology, and the likes. To utlize these other beliefs makes one fall guilty of Association for which Allah says: “"Who set up along with Allah another Ilah (god); but they will come to know." (Sarah Al-Hijr 15:96)

The Prophet taught us from his sunnah to trust and rely solely upon Allah; and to be accepting of his decree no matter what it is: "Among the means of (achieving) happiness for the son of Adam is to seek Allah's Guidance (Istikharah) and his acceptance of what Allah has decreed; and one of the causes of wretchedness for the son of Adam is his not seeking Allah's Guidance and his rejection of what Allah has decreed." (Ahmed and Tirmidhi)

In order to reach this level of contentment, the person must: ● Trust in Allah and seek his guidance in everything ● Accept that nothing happens unless Allah decrees for it to happen ● Nothing can stop or change what Allah has decreed to be ● The Prophet applied the above in everything he did. This is why when leaving on a journey he would mount his camel, make Takbeer 3 times and then say: ● Subhanalladhee Sakhkhara Lana Hadha Wa Ma Kunna Lahu Muqrineena Wa Irma Ila Rabbina Lamunqaliban" ● "Glory be to Him Who granted this [journey] to us and we were not able to do it and to our Lord we are turning back)." - Muslim

Also the Prophet would say before leaving: ● "Allahumma, Innee As'aluka Fee Safaree Hazal-Birra Wat-Taqwa Wa MinaliAmali Ma Tarda. Allahumma, Hawwin 'Alainas-Safara Watwai Anna Bu'dah. AlMhumma, Antas-Sahibu Fis- Safari Wal-Khaleefatu Fil-Ahli. Allahummas-habna Fee Safarina Wakhlufna Fee Ahlina" ● "Oh, Allah! I ask You in this journey of mine righteousness and piety and deeds which are pleasing to You. Oh, Allah! Make this journey easy for us and cause us to cover the distance [quickly]. You are our Companion on the journey and the One in Whose Charge we leave our families. Oh, Allah! Accompany us on our journey and take charge of our families in our absence." ● (Tirmidhi and Dawud)

It is also from the Prophet's sunnah to again turn to and trust in Allah when returning from his journey He would say upon returning: "Ayilima Ta'ibana, In sha' Allahu 'Abidana Lirabbina Hamiditn" "We are returning, turning to Allah in repentance, if Allah wills, worshipping our Lord and praising and thanking Him” (Bukhari) ● And Ahmad has reported from him A that when he returned home to his family he would say: ● "Tawban, Tawban Lirabbina Awban, La Yughadiru 'Alaina Hawban" ● "Repenting, repenting to our Lord, we return [home]; may He not leave us as sinners."

To show how much the prophet trusted and depended upon Allah he would always do the following: He would mention Allah's name with “Bismiallah” before embarking upon anything and he would glorify Allah with “Alhumduliallah” afterwards. And whenever he traveled somewhere and would leave his companions with words of advice such as: "I commend to Allah your Religion, what you are responsible for and your final deeds." (Tirmidhi)

It is from the Prophet's sunnah when traveling to keep Allah foremost in one's mind by doing the following: ● Whenever the Prophet and his Companions ascended the mountain paths, they would say: "Allahu Akbar" and if they descended, they would say: "Subhanallah" (Muslim) ● When he ascended an elevated piece of ground he would say: ● Allithumma, Lakash-Sharafu 'Ala Kulli Sharaf Wa Lakal-Hamdu Ala Kulli Halin" ● "Oh, Allah! High above every elevation are You and all praise and thanks are due to You in all circumstances." ● (Tirmidhi)

While trusting in Allah, the prophet taught us from his sunnah to always be on guard against shaytaan for he is quick to descend upon us at the most unexpecting times, even when traveling ● This is why the prophet taught us to do the deeds that attract the angels because they are the protectors over the believers, and the evil Shayateen do not come near the angels. ● But in order to do this, one must be conscious as to what deeds attracts the shayateen for example: ● The prophet (sa) said: ● "The angels do not accompany a group of travellers which includes a dog or a bell." (Muslim) ● So thus we are warned to not travel with this things. Another example: ● "If the people knew what is entailed by traveling alone, no one would set out on his own at night." (Bukhari)

Traveling at night, this is the time the evil Jinn come out, and in regards to traveling alone he said: "A person alone is accompanied by a devil, two persons are also accompanied by a devil. But three persons are a group.” (Tirmidhi) He also taught: "When any one of you stays at a place, he should say: "I seek refuge in the Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of that which He created," nothing would then do him any harm until he moves from that place." (Muslim)

Everything that the Prophet ordered and advised us to do he did so for our betterment and there is goodness in everything he ordered and advised: ● The Prophet forbade traveling to the land of the enemy with the Qur'an, fearful that the enemy would get hold of it ● He forbade a woman from traveling even a short distance without a Mahram. ● He ordered the traveller upon completing his business to hasten to return to his family ● He forbade a man from awakening his family at night, if his absence from them had been prolonged. ● (Muslim)

Finally, it is from the Goodness of his sunnah: ● That upon returning from a journey, he would meet his children ● He would also embrace the person who had returned from a journey and kiss him if he was a member of his family. ● Ash-Sha'bi said: ● "When the Companions of the Messenger of Allah returned from a journey, they used to embrace one another and when he returned from a journey, he would go first to the mosque and offer a two Rak'ah prayer there.” ● (Muslim)