Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) — 63: Facing The Difficulties Of Travel
Islamic Perspectives - Muslim Journals
Arab News & Information - By Sheikh Muhammad
Al-Ghazali
Travel has become second nature to many people all
over the world. In the past, travel was very hard,
presenting the traveller with great difficulties.
Human efforts have been exerted in a variety of ways
to reduce these difficulties, but the fact remains
that travel involves difficulties of different types,
including parting from family and loved ones, changing
one's habits, the need to adjust to the prevailing
customs at the destination, as well as not knowing
what to expect there.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) traveled several times
in his youth and early adulthood, when he attended to
his future wife's business, and then later after he
became God's messenger. He accurately describes the
feelings and wishes of a traveler, recognizing his
need of a helpful friend. Therefore, he establishes a
splendid relation between the traveler and God, based
on fine supplication. He says: "Whoever embarks on
travel should say to those he is leaving behind: "I
trust you to God who is always faithful to His trust."
He explains this in another Hadith in which he is
quoted as saying: "When God is entrusted with
something, He takes care of it." What this means is
that when you embark on travel, you should remember
that there is the One who is never away when you are
away. That is, God Almighty. When you appeal to God to
protect your family and children, entrusting them to
His care, you will, on your return, find them well
taken care of in your absence.
Travel often leaves us without many masks we acquire
as we go about life. It also takes away our usual
support that we grow to rely upon. Therefore, when we
travel we are more keenly aware of what we find and
what we miss. The Prophet's prayer and supplication is
particularly suitable to these conditions. A man said
to the Prophet: "I am going on a trip. Could you
please give me something to help me? He said: ‘May God
help you with being God-fearing.' The man said: ‘And
something more?' The Prophet said: ‘And may He forgive
you your sins.' The man said: ‘And more than that?'
The Prophet said: ‘And may He facilitate what is good
for you wherever you happen to be.'"
Abu Hurayrah reports that a man said to the Prophet:
"Messenger of God, I am going on a trip. What do you
recommend me to do?" The Prophet said: "I urge you to
remain God-fearing and to always seek what is
honorable." When the man departed, the Prophet prayed:
"My Lord, let his far destination be close, and make
his travel easy."
With smoother roads and comfortable means of
transport, travel has become much easier. A trip that
could take months in the past is covered today in a
matter of hours. Yet despite all the comfort of modern
travel, travel involves risks and dangers, whether by
land, sea or air. Although these risks have been
significantly reduced, the fact that they have not
been totally eradicated makes all travelers exposed to
them to a certain degree. We always hear of dangers
faced by travelers. Hence, to claim that one does not
need God's protection is sheer madness. Road accidents
continue to be one of the worst dangers that plague
human life. Hence, the Prophet directed his companions
who embark on a journey to seek God's protection and
pray for His care. Abdullah ibn Umar used to say to
anyone embarking on a trip: "Get closer to me so that
I bid you farewell like the Prophet used to do." He
would then say to him: "I entrust to God your faith,
honesty and the outcome of your actions."
Ibn Umar said: "When the Prophet bid farewell to
anyone embarking on a trip, he would hold his hand and
would not let go of it until that person lets go of
the Prophet's hand." This is a gesture of a strong
feeling toward his companions. The Prophet would not
leave the man's hand, so as not to give him any
impression to hasten his departure. He would pray for
him that God will preserve his faith, help him
discharge his commitments and make the ultimate result
of his actions a good outcome. This is the best
prayer. Anyone can make a mistake. This prayer helps
him to rise after a slip and to mend what is wrong so
that the ultimate outcome of his action is good.
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