Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un
Bismillahir Rahmani Rahim, today’s topic of discussion is the meaning and virtues of Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un and when to recite it.
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Pronunciation: Innalillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raziun.
Meaning: We shall return to Allah and surely to Allah we shall return.
Almighty Allah says:
الَّذِیۡنَ اِذَاۤ اَصَابَتۡهُمۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٌ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ
Those who say when danger comes upon them, We belong to Allah. And surely to Him, we are the returnees. (Surah Baqarah verse no. 156)
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
Pronunciation: Innalillahi wa inna ilahi rajiun, Allahumma ajirni fi musibati; Wa Akhlif-li Khairam Minha.
Bengali meaning: We will return to Allah and surely to Allah. O Allah! Recompense me for my distress and provide for me better than this.
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un When to recite
Almighty Allah says:
وَ لَنَبۡلُوَنَّکُمۡ بِشَیۡءٍ مِّنَ الۡخَوۡفِ وَ الۡجُوۡعِ وَ نَقۡصٍ مِّنَ الۡاَمۡوَالِ وَ الۡاَنۡفُسِ وَ الثَّمَرٰتِ ؕ وَ بَشِّرِ الصّٰبِرِیۡنَ
الَّذِیۡنَ اِذَاۤ اَصَابَتۡهُمۡ مُّصِیۡبَۃٌ ۙ قَالُوۡۤا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ
And I will certainly test you with some fear, hunger, and scarcity of lives and goods and fruits. And give glad tidings to the patient. (Surah Baqarah verse no. 155)
Those who say when danger comes upon them, We belong to Allah. And surely to Him, we are the returnees. (Surah Baqarah verse no. 156)
From the two verses mentioned above, it can be understood that the slave will say ‘Inna Lillah wa Inna Ilaihi Raziun’ whenever he is faced with any danger. Many people think that this dua should be recited only on someone’s death but this is not the case. This dua should be recited at any time, in any danger, or in Bala Masib. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, Whoever (upon) a calamity befalls, then as Allah has commanded him, says ‘Innalillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, Allahumma ajirni fi musibati; Wa akhlif-li khairam minha’ means ‘to Allah we shall return and surely to Allah we shall return. O Allah! Recompense me for my distress and provide for me better than this.’ But Allah will do the same with him. (Muatta Imam Malik: 546)
Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un Fazilat
– و حَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِك عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ أَصَابَتْهُ مُصِيبَةٌ فَقَالَ كَمَا أَمَرَ اللهُ { إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ } اللهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَعْقِبْنِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا إِلَّا فَعَلَ اللهُ ذَلِكَ بِهِ قَالَتْ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ فَلَمَّا تُوُفِّيَ أَبُو سَلَمَةَ قُلْتُ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قُلْتُ وَمَنْ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ فَأَعْقَبَهَا اللهُ رَسُولَهُ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَتَزَوَّجَهَا.
On the authority of Umm Salma, the wife of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace:
Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, Whoever (upon) a calamity befalls, then as Allah has commanded him, says ‘Innalillahi wa inna ilahi raji’un, Allahumma Ajirni fi Musibati; Wa akhlif-li khairam minha’ means ‘to Allah we shall return and surely to Allah we shall return. O Allah! Recompense me for my distress and provide for me better than this.’ But Allah will do the same with him. Umm, Salma (ra) said, after the death of Abu Salma (ra), I recited the said dua, and I said, who would be better than Abu Salma (ra)? As a result, Allah gave me to His Messenger (may peace be upon him) instead, then he married me. (Muatta Imam Malik: 546)
Quality of Hadith: Sahih Hadith