Dua When Boarding a Ship or Boat
Explanation
This is the dua recited when boarding a ship or a ferry, or when setting out on a sea voyage. It consists of verse 41 of Surah Hud and verse 67 of Surah Az-Zumar.
Dua Text
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْرَيهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا، إِنَّ رَبِّى لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ، وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ، وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ، سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
Transliteration
Bismillahi majraha wa mursaha, inna Rabbi laghafurun rahim. Wa ma qadarullaha haqqa qadrihi wal-ardu jami’an qabdatuhu yawmal-qiyamati was-samawatu matwiyyatun biyaminih, subhanallahi ‘amma yushrikun.
Meaning
Its sailing and its halting are in the name of Allah; surely my Lord is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. They have not esteemed Allah as He truly deserves. On the Day of Judgment the whole earth is in His grasp, and the heavens are rolled up in His right hand. He is exalted above whatever they associate with Him.
What Is Asked in This Dua
The dua asks for Allah’s protection on a sea voyage, and that the journey begin and end in safety.
When and How to Recite
It is recited when boarding a ship, a ferry or a boat, and at the start of a sea voyage.
Virtue
The source book states that one should board a ship in the name of Allah, and that both the ship’s sailing and its dropping anchor happen by the will of Allah.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which dua is recited when boarding a ship?
The dua “Bismillahi majraha wa mursaha…” is recited; it consists of verse 41 of Surah Hud and verse 67 of Surah Az-Zumar.
Can this dua also be recited when boarding a plane?
The source book gives this dua for ships; as a dua for boarding a means of transport, it is commonly recited on journeys together with the verse from Surah Az-Zukhruf.
What does the dua for boarding a ship mean?
It means: the ship’s sailing and its halting are in the name of Allah; my Lord is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Source
Hud, 41; Majmu'at al-Ahzab, vol. 1, p. 614 (Az-Zumar, 67).
The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?
Published: 1 October 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026
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