Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilayhi Raji’un
Explanation
This is the istirja, said whenever news of a death is heard (Al-Baqarah 2/156). We will say these words every time we hear news of a death, because tomorrow people will say them for us too.
Dua Text
إِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Transliteration
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
Meaning
We were created for Allah, and to Him we will be returned.
What Is Asked in This Dua
It is not a request but an expression of submission: one affirms that everything belongs to Allah and that the return is to Him.
When and How to Recite
It is said when news of a death is heard and at every time of calamity.
Virtue
Not dying and staying in this world forever is not in our hands; it is our duty to expect death at every moment and to make the necessary preparation for it. Our Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith: “Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler, and count yourself among the dead, among the people of the graves.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What do you say when you hear of a death?
You say “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”
What does Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un mean?
We were created for Allah, and to Him we will be returned.
Is it only said when someone dies?
It is said upon news of a death and in every calamity; in the Holy Quran (Al-Baqarah 156) it appears as the words of those who are patient.
Source
Al-Baqarah 2/156. At-Targhib wat-Tarhib, vol. 2, p. 90.
The text on this page was prepared by Dua Kitaplığı based on the work cited above. The Arabic text has been transcribed from the original with its vowel marks, and the transliteration in Latin letters and the English meaning are given separately. No virtue or number that does not appear in the source is added to this page. How do we prepare our content?
Published: 24 September 2026 · Last updated: 9 October 2026
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