Dua Upon Entering a New City
Ask Allah for 3 Goods
Arriving in an unfamiliar city brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty, for the traveller knows neither its people nor what awaits within it. The dua upon entering a new city meets that moment by turning to Allah, asking for the good of the place and seeking refuge from its harm. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught a supplication for entering a town that places the believer under the care of Allah in any new land.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَيْرَ هَذِهِ الْقَرْيَةِ وَخَيْرَ أَهْلِهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيهَا، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ أَهْلِهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيهَا
Allāhumma innī as’aluka khayra hādhihil-qaryah wa khayra ahlihā wa khayra mā fīhā, wa a‘ūdhu bika min sharrihā wa sharri ahlihā wa sharri mā fīhā.
“O Allah, I ask You for the good of this town, the good of its people, and the good of what is in it, and I seek refuge in You from its evil, the evil of its people, and the evil of what is in it.”
This guide explains the dua upon entering a new city, the three goods it asks Allah for, and the refuge it seeks, so that the believer steps into every unfamiliar place not as a stranger alone, but as a guest under the protection of Allah.
The Meaning of the Dua Upon Entering a New City
The dua upon entering a new city asks Allah for the good of three things: the city itself, its people, and whatever it contains, and then seeks refuge in Allah from the evil of those same three. A new place holds unknown opportunities and unknown dangers alike, and the believer faces both by turning to Allah, who alone knows what the city hides and who alone can grant its good while shielding from its harm. The Prophet (pbuh) taught this balanced supplication for entering any town.
It is a prayer of wisdom as much as protection. The believer does not enter a new place assuming the best or fearing the worst, but humbly asks Allah for benefit and protection together. Whether the city brings provision, friendship and ease, or hidden trials, the heart has already placed the whole experience in the hands of Allah.
Asking Allah for Three Goods
The Prophet (pbuh) taught the believer to ask Allah for the good of three things on entering a new place, and to seek refuge from the evil of each. This covers everything a traveller might meet in an unfamiliar city.
- The good of the city itself, its safety, its provision and its ease.
- The good of its people, that the traveller meet kindness and honest dealing.
- The good of what is in it, the opportunities and blessings it may hold.
وَهُوَ اللَّهُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَفِي الْأَرْضِ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ
Wa huwallahu fis-samawati wa fil-ardi ya‘lamu sirrakum wa jahrakum
And He is Allah in the heavens and the earth He knows all you do
Entering Every Place with Allah
To arrive in a strange city can leave a person feeling small and unprotected, and Islam answers that feeling by reminding the believer that he is never beyond the care of Allah. The dua upon entering a new city turns arrival into an act of trust, asking the One who owns every land for its good and shelter from its harm. The believer walks the unfamiliar streets as a guest of Allah, not a stranger left to chance.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua upon arrival at a destination said on reaching a stopping place, and the dua before checking into accommodation recited on settling in. Together they place the whole experience of a new place under the protection and provision of Allah.
Arriving in a new city becomes an act of trust when you ask Allah for its good and shelter from its harm. Learn the travel duas with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on Instagram for a reminder as you reach a new place, and on LinkedIn where readers share how they keep faith while exploring the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua upon entering a new city is Allahumma inni as’aluka khayra hadhihil-qaryah, asking Allah for the good of the place, its people and what is in it, and seeking refuge from their evil. The Prophet (pbuh) taught it for entering a town.
It asks Allah for the good of the city itself, the good of its people, and the good of what is in it. It then seeks refuge in Allah from the evil of each of those three.
Say it as you enter or arrive in an unfamiliar town or city, before settling in. It places your stay in the care of Allah from the very moment of arrival.
Yes, the supplication suits arriving in any unfamiliar town, city or land, whether for travel, work or study. The believer asks Allah for its good and protection from its harm wherever he goes.
A new place holds both opportunities and dangers, so the believer asks Allah for its benefit while seeking shelter from its harm. This balance keeps the heart trusting in Allah rather than assuming the best or fearing the worst.
On settling into accommodation the believer asks Allah for a blessed landing place, reciting the dua of Prophet Nuh from the Quran. Entering the city and settling in are both placed under the care of Allah.