I’ve always been passionate about the road less travelled, in my younger years I loved to adventure off the beaten track. I truly believe that we really discover and get to know ourselves when we are out of our comfort zone and travelling is one way to create this environment. When you strip yourself back and remove the familiarity that we get so used to, we start to slow down and actually reflect upon who we are and more importantly who we want to be.

Forced to adapt

Being forced to adapt to different situations builds confidence and we realise how resilient we are. Having a sensitivity to different cultures and values helps us to have more understanding and more compassion which is so necessary in the world today.

Travel also helps us to recognise and appreciate the things and most importantly the relationships we have back at home. I always love to meet and connect with new people but I also yearn for and miss the people I love the most.

I’m currently traveling across the South West of Turkey with my husband and two young children and on this occasion, I’ve been reflecting on how you can also use to travel to reconnect with Allah. So I would like to share with you my 9 tips for increasing your Imam whilst travelling. It’s important to have barakah in everything you do, I hope you gain value from this piece.

1. Learn the specific dua for travel and teach it to your children.

Subḥaan-alladhee sakh–khara lanaa haadhaa, wa maa kunnaa lahu muqrineena, wa innaa ilaaa rabinaa la-munqaliboon- Glory to Him who has brought this [vehicle] under our control, though we were unable to control it [ourselves], and indeed, to Our Lord we will surely return.

2. Collect dua requests from your friends and family

As we know that duas from the travelling person are more accepted and this keeps you connected to your loved ones at home.

3. Connect to local masjids

Personally, when I travel to a Muslim country where you can hear the Adhan it really helps me connect and to visit different Masjid’s is heartwarming.

4. Keep a daily gratitude journal

At the end of each day share and record the blessings and highlights. (This is an exert from ours)

5. Take spiritual books

Read together instead of unwinding with TV. We are currently reading Purification of the Heart which I would highly recommend.

6. Embrace and admire Allah’s creation

As you take photographs of the views praise and remember Him.

7. Mix with the locals

Push yourself to get to know them, Share with the people around you, break bread with them, learn from them. Remembering that Allah SWT says in

Surat l-Hujarat: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.”

8. Take some time to disconnect

Remove yourself from the online space, create a barrier between you and social media, unplug from technology and dedicate time to spiritually recharge.

9. Give sadaqah

As a way to thank Allah for the opportunity to travel and be generous (within your means and this can also be with your time and manners) to those, you meet along the way.

Remember that travel allows us space and time to slow down the pace of life, to make memories and enjoy the company others. However, with the right intention, it can also offer countless opportunities to worship our Lord and praise Him.

May Allah bless us all with experiences that will help us grow as Muslims Ameen.