Traveling is scary for many of us. If you’re not worrying about finding your gate on time, you’re worried about finding your plane seat. Finally, you’re seated. Suddenly as the airplane skids off the runway, you’re worried about CRASHING! (Although you’re more likely to get into a car accident than your plane crashing from what I hear) Yet, that thought of your plane falling in the middle of the ocean and being eaten by sea creatures crosses your mind as much as you try to bury it. And, the turbulence… well, that makes the thoughts even stronger… forcing you to mumble incessantly for Allah to land your plane safely. WHEW! You’ve landed! But, you’re still anxious because you still have no idea if your luggage made it safely. WHEW, again! They are unscathed. Oh, no! You’re still not home. Oh, the anxiety!
Well, if you’re Muslim, you know about protective prayers. While you may know that they offer Allah’s protection for your travels, you may have no idea how to write one. No worries! It’s not an article about Quran lessons.
But, it’s an article encouraging you to carry a protective dua, to help ease your fears. For as far as I remember, my grandma always wrote protective duas for my mother, siblings and me. She’d carefully fold and then place in a pocket of our luggage for safety.
For 15 years, I’ve held onto one of her duas in my wallet. It has comforted me on my many travels by plane or car. My grandma, who died over 40 days ago June 23 (Allah Irhamha) at 93, spent hours writing it with her self-taught Koran skills since she never completed her schooling and was married at 14 in Palestine. But, that’s what makes this dua more special, because she put diligence and effort in writing each Arabic letter and passage flawlessly (as far as know since I traveled to and from Palestine many times safely, Al hamdillah). I believe it also may have had a hand in protecting me after two car accidents in Colorado’s snowy winter between 2008 and 2009, where I totaled my Jeep Cherokee (it’s fixed now) and my first new car ever, the Saturn. (Though, it will not protect you against paying a higher car insurance premium).
While Allah only knows your fate, it’s comforting and powerful knowing you carry with you a special prayer for your safety.
You deserve to feel safe, so take my advice and be sure to carry a dua for traveling. And, the dua will help protect you on your trips, inshallah!
