How the Prophet ﷺ Travelled: Learn Travel Etiquette From His Sunnah

The Revered and Blessed Manners of my Beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

How the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم travelled

Nasir Jamal Attari Madani

Just as the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم is the best example for us in living our lives, his noble actions during travel are also an excellent guide for us. He صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had a host of beautiful actions when travelling and returning, and he also gave guidance regarding this on many occasions.

How he صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم walked during a journey

Usāma b. Zayd رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was asked about the speed at which the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم returned (from Arafa to Muzdalifa) during Ḥajjat al-Wadā. He replied, “The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم walked at medium pace, and when the path become spacious, he would walk quickly.”[1]

When returning from Arafa to Muzdalifa, haste is observed due to restriction in time. This is because pilgrims must go to Muzdalifa, which is at around 3 miles from Arafa, after sunset. Upon arrival, they must offer maghrib and ʿishāˈ salah together, which is why the journey from Arafa is done speedily.[2]

Following this, our journey from Muzdalifa to Mina is undertaken with calmness and dignity. Yet, one should walk quickly through the Valley of Muḥassar. As it is narrated in Tirmidhī with an authentic chain: “Jābir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would walk very quickly in the Valley of Muḥassar.”[3]

Note that the Valley of Muḥassar is where the elephants of Abraha’s army stopped and would not go ahead, despite many attempts to drive them forward. It was here that Abraha’s entire army was destroyed with pebbles. As this was a place where punishment descended, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed through swiftly.[4]

We come to know that one should not visit places where Allah Almighty’s punishment descended, simply for the sake of leisure and enjoyment. If one happens to pass by such a place, they should try to pass through as quickly as possible.

This question put to Usāma b. Zayd رَضِىَ اللهُ عَـنْهُ was regarding the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’s pace on the return from Arafa.[5] We come to know from this point that our pious predecessors would ask about every aspect in relation to the actions of the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and then try to adopt his way.[6]

May Allah Almighty grant us the desire and passion to seek knowledge regarding the actions of the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

His good conduct and blessed manner of advising

The universe being free from conflict and containing a type of congruity is a sign of Allah Almighty’s mercy, and it is upon this mercy that the system of the universe depends.[7] This same Merciful Lord sent His Greatest and Final Prophet  صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم as a mercy.

The Prophet’s mercy was seen during travel too. When he departed upon a journey, he would seat one of the Companions behind him on his mount. This Companion would then be known as “Radīf al-Rasūl”.[8] Many Companions رَضِیَ اللهُ عَنْهُم received this honour.[9]

Let us read some hadith in this regard.

(1) Upon his return from the Battle of Khaybar, the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم positioned his blessed foot in a way that would allow his sacred wife, Lady Ṣafiyya رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا, to place her foot on upon his holy thigh and climb atop the mount. This was the noble conduct of the Greatest Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, but out of respect for him, instead of placing her foot on his blessed thigh, she placed her knee upon it and mounted the ride in this way. The Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم placed her behind himself and tied a veil.[10]

(2) On another occasion, MuꜤādh رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ was riding behind the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

“O MuꜤādh b. Jabal!”, the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said.

“لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَسَعْدَيْكَ – At your service, O Messenger of Allah”, he replied.

 “O MuꜤādh!”, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said again.

“لَبَّيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَسَعْدَيْكَ – At your service, O Messenger of Allah”, he replied again.

After the third time, the Beloved Prophet ,صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, “Whosoever testifies with a sincere heart that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم) is the Allah’s Messenger; Allah shall make Hell haram upon them.”[11]

His manner of resting during a journey

These are the ways in which the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would rest during a journey:

(1) When sleeping at night, he would sleep on his right side.

(2) When resting a short while before dawn, he would raise his elbow and place his blessed head on his sanctified palm.[12]

How he made dua during journeys

(1) When the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم journeyed, he would say the following at dawn: “Those who are listening should know that we praise Allah, Whose favour upon us is great. O our Lord! Be our Companion and bestow Your grace upon us. I seek Allah’s refuge from the Fire.”[13]

(2) ꜤAbdullāh b. Sarjis رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that when the Beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم travelled, he would seek refuge from these things: the harms of travel, the hardships of returning, evil after goodness, the dua of the oppressed, and witnessing any harm in family and wealth.[14]

His manner of dua upon returning from a journey

When the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would return from jihād, ḥajj or ʿumrah, he would say اللہُ اکبر on every elevated piece of land, and then say:

لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهٗ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهٗ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ، وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، آيِبُونَ تَائِبُونَ عَابِدُونَ سَاجِدُونَ لِرَبِّنَا حَامِدُونَ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهٗ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهٗ وَهَزَمَ الاَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهٗ

There is none worthy of worship except Allah. He is One and has no partners. To Him belongs the dominion and all praise, and He has power over everything. We repent, worship, and prostrate to our Lord, and we praise Him. Allah fulfilled His promise and aided His servant, and He alone caused the confederates to flee.[15]

We should try out absolute best to act upon what we have read. May Allah Almighty grant us the ability to adopt the beautiful and blessed mannerisms of His Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

اٰمِیْنْ بِجَاہِ خاتَمِ النَّبِیّٖن صلَّی اللہُ عَلَیْہ ِوَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّمَ