what one should say when mounting one’s riding animal for travel.

Thus the author—may Allah have mercy on him—restricts the ruling to the situation of mounting for a journey, whereas the explicit sense of the noble verse indicates that the instruction is general: whenever a person mounts his riding-beast, boards his car, or embarks on a ship, he should utter the words that Allah has prescribed. The author then cited the hadith of Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) stating that when the Prophet ﷺ mounted his animal to depart on a journey he would recite this supplication, and he prefaced it with the verse:

“And He created for you, from ships and livestock, whatever you ride, so that you may sit secure on their backs, then remember your Lord’s favor when you are so seated and say, ‘Glory be to Him who has subjected this to us; we could never have done it on our own. Surely to our Lord we shall return.’” ⦗Q 43:12–14⦘

“Created for you” means “prepared and made serviceable for you.”

“From the ships” refers to vessels of three kinds: those that travel by sea, by land, and by air. Sea-going ships were known from ancient times—from the days of Noah, when Allah revealed to him, “Build the ark under Our watchful eye and by Our inspiration,” and He also said, “We left it as a sign; so is there anyone who will take heed?” Land-going “ships” appeared later; they are the automobiles. Air-borne “ships” came after that; they are the airplanes. All of these are included in the word fulk because they carry whatever creatures Allah wills.

“And livestock” refers to camels, mules, donkeys, horses, and every other animal that people ride. The scholars have differed over the permissibility of riding