There’s a du’a that my dad always makes whenever he gets into the car (or any vehicle he’s in). It’s the du’a of travelling. Now I admit, I never really said this du’a for short car trips to the corner shop, but my dad always does. Even if it’s a 5min journey, he never fails to say it masha’Allah, and I recently found myself taking after him and trying to do the same. Of course, I forget at times, but when I do remember it really brings tranquillity and safety.

Anyway, as I drove home one day on the motorway I noticed my car started to overheat. Fearing a breakdown, I pulled on to the hard shoulder and started fumbling with the engine. Hmm, there was a leak from the radiator so I waited for it to cool before topping it up with water. As I was waiting outside the car, I realised that I hadn’t made the travelling du’a so I started to do it just about then. Subhan’Allah, barely 5mins passed before I heard a car skidding in front of me before it smashed straight into the back of another car. It was horrible hearing the sound of metals clash. I jumped and looked on in horror with my eyes wide open. And then just behind me, I heard another car skidding to a halt. Before I could turn around, it also got smashed into by another car, and a third car also collided from behind! I gasped and turned around just in time to see a huge truck swerve (trying to avoid the pile-up) and head straight towards me. Out of fear, I almost threw myself over the railing lol, but subhan’Allah the truck swerved again, regained control, and just about squeezed between myself and the 2 pile ups. My heart was pounding as I looked at the scene in alarm. Luckily alhamdulillah, there were no casualties or big injuries that day, but it was a very close call.

Despite the messy scene, I realised and saw the work of God in this. It was no coincidence that very soon after the du’a, all this took place and despite being in the middle of these accidents, I actually escaped without harm wa lillahi-hamd. Du’a is a fortress and it is a protection. We have no idea how the day or night can unfold, no idea what we will encounter on the road or even on our own street. We don’t know if there is a calamity heading straight towards us or if we are heading straight into a hole, a trap, or a disaster. We just don’t know the Unseen. But we’ve been given the power of du’a and dhikr – every morning and evening, on every occasion. I encourage myself and everyone to hold onto these treasures because they are life-saving and they are a sure protection gifted to us from God. The decree may fall by day and night, but fortress of Allah always has its gates open.

[Below is the du’a for travelling which I mentioned above]: