Daleel: Traveling: Riyad-us Saliheen

Riyad-us Saliheen- Etiquette of Traveling
Chapter166: Setting off on Thursdays


956. Ka`b bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) set out on Thursday for the expedition of Tabuk. He liked to set out on a journey on Thursdays.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]


957. Sakhr bin Wada`ah Al-Ghamidi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "O Allah! Bless my people in the early part of the day (morning). Whenever he dispatched a detachment or an army-unit, he would dispatch it at the beginning of the day (soon after dawn). The narrator, Sakhr (May Allah be pleased with him) was a merchant, and he used to send off his merchandise at the beginning of the day. So his trade flourished and he made a good fortune.
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].


In this chapter of hadeeth, we see that the ProphetSAW went on his journeys on Thursdays, and he would leave early after fajr when ALLAHSWT gives the travelers blessings.

Chapter 167
The Desirability of undertaking a Journey in a Group and appointing a Leader


958. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Were people to know of what I know about the dangers of travelling alone, no rider would travel alone at night.''
[Al-Bukhari].


959. `Amr bin Shu`aib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "A single rider is (accompanied with) Satan and two riders are (accompanied with) two Satans. Three riders form a group.''
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

960. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When three persons set out on a journey, they should appoint one of them as their leader.''
[Abu Dawud].

961. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "The best number of companions is four; the best detachment is four hundred and the best army is four thousand; and twelve thousand men will not be defeated as a result of smallness of number.''
[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

In this chapter of Riyad-us Saliheen, The ProphetSAW gives clear instructions of what should occur after setting out onto an expedition or journey. The ProphetSAW tells us that 3 people makes a group while 4 is the best number. He also instructs a group of people to choose a leader in order to maintain organization and stability while on the trip.

Chapter 179
Prohibiting Woman from Traveling Alone

989. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the Last Day to make a journey of one day and night unless she is accompanied by a Mahram (husband or any other relative to whom she is prohibited to marry).''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


990. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: The Prophet (PBUH) said, "No man must not be alone with a woman except in the presence of her (Mahram). No woman should travel except in company of a (Mahram).'' A man said: "O Messenger of Allah! I have been enrolled for such and such expedition, and my wife left for Hajj.'' He (PBUH) said to him, "Go and perform Hajj with your wife.''
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].


Conclusion: The first two chapters discusses the etiquette of traveling in regards to appointing a leader and on what day we should travel on. The last chapter is especially important for the sisters because as women we cannot travel alone except with a mahram.