Read this dua when you board a vehicle [a ship or a plane]
” In the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is certainly Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْر۪ىٰهَا وَمُرْسَىٰهَآ ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Bismillaahi majraahaa wamursaahaa inna rabbee laghafoorun raheem
Surah Hud, verse 41
This is the prayer of Prophet Nuh Alaihissalaam.
Allah, the Exalted, informs about Prophet Nuh Alaihissalaam. He was the first Messenger whom Allah sent to the people of the earth who were polytheists involved in worshiping idols.
Allah, the Exalted, sent revelation to Nuh Alaihissalaam when his people hastened the vengeance and punishment of Allah upon themselves. Then, Nuh Alaihissalaam supplicated against them.
At this point Allah revealed to him,
(None of your people will believe except those who have believed already.) Therefore, do not grieve over them and do not be concerned with their affair.
(And construct the ship.)
(and address Me not on behalf of those who did wrong; they are surely to be drowned.)
Muhammad bin Ishaq mentioned from the Tawrah, “Allah commanded Nuh Alaihissalaam to make it (the ship) from Indian oak wood. Then He commanded him to make its length eighty cubits and its width fifty cubits. Allah then commanded him to coat its interior and exterior with tar and to make it with a slanted bow to part the water (as it sailed). Its height was thirty cubits into the sky. It had three levels and each level was ten cubits high. The lowest level was for the animals, both tame and wild, the second level was for the human beings and the highest level was for the birds. Its door was in the center of it and it had a cover on top of it that covered the entire ship.
At this point, Allah commanded Nuh Alaihissalaam to select one pair from every kind of creature possessing a soul, and load them on the ship. Some said that this included other creatures as well, such as pairs of plants, male and female. It has also been said that the first of the birds to enter the ship was the parrot, and the last of the animals to enter was the donkey.
When the command of Allah came, the rain was continuous and there was a severe storm which did not slacken or subside
(41. And he said: “Embark therein: in the Name of Allah will be its (moving) course and its (resting) anchorage. Surely, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”)
This means that its sailing upon the surface of the water, the end of its journeying and its anchoring, would all be with the Name of Allah.
Allah, the Exalted, said,
(And when you have embarked on the ship, you and whoever is with you, then say: “All the praises and thanks are to Allah, Who has saved us from the people who are wrongdoers. And say: “My Lord! Cause me to land at a blessed landing place, for You are the Best of those who bring to land.”)﴿23:28-29﴾ For this reason, it is preferred to mention the Name of Allah (Bismillah) at the beginning of all affairs. The Name of Allah should be mentioned when boarding a ship, or when mounting an animal.
This is as Allah, the Exalted, says,
(And Who has created all the pairs and has appointed for you ships and cattle on which you ride, in order that you may mount on their backs.)﴿43:12-13﴾ This practice (mentioning Allah’s Name) has been encouraged in the Sunnah and is considered a preferred act.
(Surely, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.) Such statement is suitable while mentioning (His) vengeance upon the disbelievers by drowning all of them. Therefore, Nuh Alaihissalaam mentions that His Lord is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.
