Pre-travel anxieties and solution

Whenever I am about to start planning for a road trip, my mind becomes a whirlwind of anxieties and apprehensions. Thoughts of my family’s health and safety, my car’s reliability, the enjoyability of the destinations, the friendliness of the locals, and the security of my possessions back home swirl within me. Sometimes these concerns become so magnified that I start questioning the worthiness of the trip that I am planning to embark on. Why not stay cocooned in the comfort of my home, within the boundaries of familiarity? My mind oscillates between two extremes, like a pendulum, one urging me to stay put, while the other whispers tales of adventure, exploration, and, above all, learning. Those close to me have witnessed this inner conflict firsthand, and by now, they’ve grown accustomed to it.

With these inner struggles, I started planning my two-week trip through various cities of Saudi Arabia. As the departure date neared, I found myself oscillating between bouts of lethargy and surges of adventurous anticipation. One day, I dreaded the prospect of driving for countless hours, and the next, I brimmed with adrenaline at the thought of encountering new places.

In this emotional state, my mind served me a memory of a book that I had read years ago. Jahan-e-Deedah by Mufti Taqi Usmani. Along with the memory of the book, came several linked memories and sensations that I had formed and felt while reading the book. Probably, it was this book itself, that made a lazy person like me want to witness magical lands loaded with natural beauty, and historical sites, and see different cultures and people. No amount of reading, viewing pictures, or watching videos could replicate such profound experiences that one forms while traveling. While the book rekindled my longing for travel, I tried to remember whether the book covered any wisdom on the emotional turmoil that I experienced before every travel. With this intention, I picked the book again.

In Jahan-e-Deedah Mufti Sahab writes about his travels to around twenty countries. The book begins with the verse.

Who knows what destinations life has penned on my pages
For Travel has become my quest since ages

Mufti Taqi Usmani

A few pages in, Mufti Sahab discusses the turmoil and anxieties that a traveler faces before every journey. I felt like I had hit the jackpot since they were exactly the same concerns that I was having. He then provides a remedy for countering these emotions which is a collection of duas that Rasool Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite before and during his journeys. When I read these duas and their meanings, I felt that they not only helped me address my anxieties but also gave me the opportunity to follow the Sunnah of Traveling.

The duas with their meanings in both Urdu and English are shared here.

After reading the duas with their meanings, I felt a considerable decline in my anxiousness, and secure in the belief that Allah would be with me, whether in a bustling city or on a deserted highway. This, I believe, was the most significant lesson I learned, and I pray that these duas remain close to me before every journey that I make.

In my next blog post, I’ll share the stunning experience of seeing the Wahbah Crater up, close and personal. Follow me on Twitter to know when the post is out.