Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un also known as Istirja is a powerful dua that Muslims recite mainly when they hear someone has passed away and in times of hardship generally. It gives them strength, clarity, and patience, as well as keeps those who say it concentrated on what’s truly important.
Table of Contents
Pronunciation
The following video we have made will help you learn the proper pronunciation of Innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun dua word by word:
Inalillahi wainailaihi rajiun in Arabic
The full Dua in Arabic consists of 5 words which are written with the Diacritical as:
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
and Without the Diacritical:
إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون
It can be divided as the following table:
| Inna | إِنَّا | We |
| lillahi | لِلّهِ | belong to God |
| wainna | وَإِنَّـا | and We |
| ilayhi | إِلَيْهِ | to Him |
| raji’un | رَاجِعونَ | will Return |
Innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun Meaning
The general meaning of the Dua is “Surely to Allah, we belong and to Him, we will all return.“ it affirms and reminds those who say it that indeed we all belong to Allah and we all will return to him eventually. As the Quran says “Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction.” [4:78].
When to say it?
No matter the reason that would make you recite Innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun, It’s important not to get in the habit of just saying the Dua without further thought or reflection on what you are saying. We should be mindful of what we are saying as it can benefit us in conducting ourselves.
1. Hearing news of a deceased person
The most common usage of the Dua is when you hear someone has passed away. you should recite the Dua followed by making dua for that person at least by saying Allah Yerhamo (الله يرحمه) him or Allah Yerhamha (الله يرحمها) for her.
Related:
2. Time of Hardship
Unlike what many think, we don’t say it only when someone passes away. In fact, the Quran advises us to recite it at any time of hardship by saying “Who, when faced with a disaster, say, Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un –Surely to Allah we belong and to Him we will ˹all˺ return-.”[2:156]
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return.
Common Spelling
Because it is a long 5 word Dua the spelling can be confusing so here are the most common correct ones:
- Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un (Most Accurate)
- inalillahi wainailaihi rajiun
- innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun
- ina lilah waina ilayhi rajioon
The following are common but wrongly spelled and should be avoided :
- ina lilah waina allah rajiun
- inna lillahi wa inna lillahi rojiun
- inilah wa inallah rajioon
Phrase Origin
It is mentioned in the Holy Quran as it says:
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return.”
ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّآ إِلَيْهِ رَٰجِعُونَ ١٥٦
Allatheena itha asabat-hummuseebatun qaloo inna lillahi wa-innailayhi rajiAAoon
[Quran 2:156]
