When You Arrive Somewhere New, Don't Forget This Sunnah

The Prophet (SAW) taught us a beautiful du'a to say when we stop at a place: "A'udhu bikalimatillahi tammati min sharri ma khalaq" - "I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of what He has created." The Prophet said: "Whoever stops at a place and says it, nothing will harm him until he departs from that place" (Sahih Muslim).

In saying it we admit: "Ya Allah, I do not know everything that surrounds me, but You do; I cannot protect myself from everything, but You can."

So make it a habit: when you arrive at a new city, check into a hotel, stay in a new house, or stop somewhere during a journey, say it - and teach your children to say it too.

The believer does not merely prepare his luggage for a journey; he prepares his tongue with dhikr and his heart with tawakkul. May Allah protect us wherever we go, seen and unseen.