This work integrates the Boussinesq approximation and magnetohydrodynamic effects to investigate the dynamics of incompressible triple diffusive fluid flow along a linearly stretched surface. Novel insights are revealed by contrasting instances with opposing and helpful flows. The partial differential equations are symmetrically reduced using Lie-group transformations, which make the Runge–Kutta shooting technique easier to solve. The effects of concentration buoyancy ratio, magnetic parameter, concentration parameter, and Lewis number on temperature, velocity, and concentration profiles are explained through graphical displays. Our results show that in both flow situations, the velocity distribution is decelerated by the magnetic parameter, and the salt concentration distributions are similarly affected by buoyancy ratio factors. Additionally, a higher Lewis number is associated with lower mass and heat transfer rates in the opposing and assisting fluid.