48/46. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3446 — Dua When Riding
What Has Been Related About What One Says When Riding An Animal
Dua When Riding: Praise, Takbir, and Forgiveness
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3446
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3446
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الأَحْوَصِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ رَبِيعَةَ، قَالَ شَهِدْتُ عَلِيًّا أُتِيَ بِدَابَّةٍ لِيَرْكَبَهَا فَلَمَّا وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ فِي الرِّكَابِ قَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ ثَلاَثًا فَلَمَّا اسْتَوَى عَلَى ظَهْرِهَا قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ : ( سبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ * وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ ) ثُمَّ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ثَلاَثًا وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ثَلاَثًا سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ . ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ . فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم صَنَعَ كَمَا صَنَعْتُ ثُمَّ ضَحِكَ فَقُلْتُ مِنْ أَىِّ شَيْءٍ ضَحِكْتَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ " إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَيَعْجَبُ مِنْ عَبْدِهِ إِذَا قَالَ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي إِنَّهُ لاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ غَيْرُكَ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ رضى الله عنهما . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Ali bin Rabi’ah said: “I Witnessed Ali Having An Animal Brought To Him To Ride. When He Placed His Foot In The Stirrup He Said: ‘In The Name Of Allah,’ (Bismillāh) [Three Times]. So Then, Once He Had Ascended Upon Its Back, He Said: ‘All Praise Is Due To Allah.’ (Al-ḤAmdulillāh) Then He Said: Glory Is To Him Who Has Subjected This To Us, And We Were Not Able To Do It. And, Surely, To Our Lord Are We Returning (SubḥĀn Alladhī Sakh-Khara Lanā Hādhā Wa Mā Kunnā Lahū Muqrinīn. Wa Innā Ilā Rabbinā Lamunqalibūn). Then He Said: ‘All Praise Is Due To Allah (Al-ḤAmdulillāh)’ – Three Times – And ‘Allah Is The Greatest (Allāhu Akbar)’ – Three Times – ‘Glory Is To You, Indeed I Have Wronged Myself, So Forgive Me, For Indeed None Forgives Sins Except You (SubḥĀnaka Innī Qad ẒAlamtu Nafsī Faghfirlī Fa-Innahū Lā Yaghfirudh-Dhunūba Illā Ant).’ Then He Laughed. So I Said: ‘O Commander Of The Believer! What Caused You To Laugh?’ He Said: ‘I Saw The Messenger Of Allah Do As I Did, Then He (ﷺ) Laughed, So I Said, ‘What Cause You To Laugh?’ He Said: ‘Indeed, Your Lord Is Very Pleased With His Worshipper When He Says: “O My Lord, Forgive Me My Sins, Indeed, No One Other Than You Forgives Sins.”
[1] Az-Zukhruf 43: 13,14.Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3446In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 77English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3446
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3446
This hadith teaches a dua when riding. Ali placed his foot in the stirrup and said Bismillah three times. After mounting, he praised Allah, recited words about Allah subjecting the ride to us, and remembered the return to our Lord. He then praised Allah three times, said Allahu Akbar three times, and asked Allah to forgive him, saying that none forgives sins except Allah. Ali laughed because he had seen the Messenger of Allah do the same. The hadith connects travel, gratitude, humility, and seeking forgiveness. It does not present riding as a casual act only; it turns it into remembrance of Allah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The riding dua begins with Allah's name and praise.
- The rider remembers that the ride is made useful by Allah's permission.
- The dua includes asking forgiveness and admitting one's own wrong.
