Three things he asked to be spared on a journey
Only one of them happens while you are away.
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ وَعْثَاءِ السَّفَرِ وَمِنْ كَآبَةِ الْمُنْقَلَبِ وَمِنْ سُوءِ الْمَنْظَرِ فِي الْمَالِ وَالأَهْلِ
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min waʿthāʾi-s-safar, wa min kaʾābati-l-munqalab, wa min sūʾi-l-manẓari fi-l-māli wa-l-ahl
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the hardship of the journey, from the gloom of the return, and from an ugly sight in property and family.”
It opens: O Allah, You are the companion on the journey and the one left in charge of the family.
Where this comes from
Said with a foot in the stirrup. The first is the road. The second is coming back to nothing worth coming back for. The third is arriving home and finding something wrong there.
The full narration
Malik related to me that he heard that when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, set foot in the stirrup intending to travel, he would say, "In the name of Allah. O Allah! You are my companion in the journey and the Khalifa of my family. O Allah! Spread out the earth for us and make the journey easy for us. O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the hardship of the journey and from returning to sorrow and a distressing sight regarding property and family
Source
Muwaṭṭa' Mālik · 1796
- Salim al-Hilali: Sahih Lighairihi