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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DilWala" data-source="post: 10372306" data-attributes="member: 360501">Prophet Muhammad — 63: Facing the difficulties of travelBy SHEIKH MUHAMMAD AL-GHAZALI                                                                                                 Published: Feb  25, 2011 03:25                 Updated: Feb  25, 2011 03:25                            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.</blockquote>

Verification: Awruddata maasa keeyada?

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