Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un explained

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (Arabic: إِنَّا ِلِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ, ), also known as Istirja (Arabic: إِسْتِرْجَاع|link=no,), is an Arabic phrase, mentioned in the second surah of the Quran,^[1] and meaning "Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we return." The phrase is recited by Muslims, during calamities that befalls themselves, their families or their money. These calamities include death and as such this phrase may be said when hearing that someone has died. Through calamity the muslims seek reward, and believe there is no way to attain it but through patience. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

A similar phrase is used in the Tanakh (Genesis 3:19): עָפָ֣ר אַ֔תָּה וְאֶל־עָפָ֖ר תָּשֽׁוּב׃, Dust you are, and to dust you will return.^[5]

Notes and References

1. r. Arabic: ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَ أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ |Translation=Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.".'. https://quran.com/2:156. Al-Hilali & Khan. The previous verse states, "And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirûn (the patient).".
2. Web site: 19 March 2006 . The believers attitude towards calamities . IslamQA . en,ar,es.
3. Web site: 2018-04-01 . When to say: Inna Lilaahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raaji'oon . Islamweb . en.
4. Book: Adia, Aida . Hijab . 2018-02-07 . Alaf 21 . 978-967-446-339-7 . ar.
5. https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/בראשית_ג/טעמים#ג_יט In the Masoretic Text of the Tanakh