His words, “and praise our Lord,” mean that we praise Him for His immense blessings, abundant gifts, and for facilitating matters and making them easy.

It is also sunnah to proclaim Allah’s greatness when ascending hills and elevated places, and to glorify Him when descending into valleys and low-lying places. Al-Bukhārī related from Jābir ibn Abdullah—may Allah be pleased with them both—who said: “When we ascended, we proclaimed Allah’s greatness, and when we descended, we glorified Him.”1

Proclaiming Allah’s greatness during an ascent engages the heart and tongue in magnifying the Lord and declaring His supreme greatness and majesty. It also dispels pride, self-admiration, and vanity. Glorifying Allah during a descent affirms that He is exalted above all deficiencies and faults, and above everything incompatible with or contrary to His perfection and majesty.

Part of the Prophet’s guidance—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—was to supplicate for anyone intending to travel, asking that he be protected, granted a good outcome, and have his affairs facilitated, while advising him to fear Allah—Majestic is His Glory.

Al-Tirmidhī related from Abdullah ibn Umar—may Allah be pleased with them both: “When a man intended to travel, he would say to him, ‘Come close so that I may bid you farewell as the Messenger of Allah—may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him—used to bid us farewell.’ He would then say, ‘I entrust to Allah your religion, what has been entrusted to your care, and the conclusions of your deeds.’”2 That is, I ask Allah to preserve them for you.

Al-Tirmidhī also related from Abū Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him: “A man said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I intend to travel, so advise me.’ He said, ‘You must fear Allah and proclaim His greatness whenever you ascend high ground.’ When the man turned to leave, he said, ‘O Allah, shorten the distance for him and make the journey easy for him.’”3.