The Meaning of the Hadith: "The One Rider Is a Shaytan, and the Two Riders Are Two Shayatins"

Question:
The questioner Abu Harun says: Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. What is the meaning of the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) ? To the end of the hadith. And if a person travels alone or with one other person in an airplane or a car, does that fall under this meaning?

Answer:
The meaning of the hadith is clear: it is a prohibition against a person traveling alone or traveling with only one other person. There is a danger in that, because something may befall him during the journey, such as illness or an accident. Who would help him and take care of him? He must have someone with him. Two travelers are two devils, because they may dispute and fight, and there is no one to mediate or keep them apart. However, if there are three, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said that three make a congregation, so there is no harm. As for traveling by car or airplane, there are usually people in them. There are usually people in them. Even if he travels alone by car on a well-traveled public road full of cars, that is like a street; he is not alone.