Dua Upon Hearing of Death
3 Things to Know About Patience
When the news of a death reaches the believer, they turn to Allah with the words of return, declaring that they belong to Allah and to Him they will return, and seeking the reward and comfort that He alone can give. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) taught the believers to say these words upon any affliction, and to ask Allah to reward them and to replace their loss with something better. The dua upon hearing of death is this turning to Allah, meeting the news with patience and hope rather than despair.
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un. Allahumma’jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha.
“To Allah we belong and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me in my affliction and replace it for me with something better.”
Patience at the first moment of affliction is the most beloved patience to Allah, and the believer who turns to Him at the news of a death finds comfort and reward. This guide explains the dua upon hearing of death and three things to know about patience, so that the believer may meet the loss of a loved one by returning to Allah, find comfort in His promise to reward the patient, and remember that everything belongs to Allah and returns to Him, and that the One who took the loved one is the most merciful and the best to recompense.
Returning to Allah at the News
The Prophet (pbuh) taught the believers that when affliction strikes, including the news of a death, they should say the beautiful words quoted above, declaring that they belong to Allah and to Him they will return, and asking Allah to reward them in their affliction and to replace their loss with something better. These words turn the heart to Allah at the very moment of loss, affirming that everything belongs to Him and returns to Him, and seeking His reward and comfort.
There is deep comfort in these words, for they remind the believer that the loved one was always a trust from Allah, who has now returned to the One who gave them, and that Allah promises reward and recompense to the one who turns to Him. The dua upon hearing of death carries this comfort, meeting the news with patience and hope, and seeking from Allah the reward of the patient and a goodness that follows the loss.
إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un
To Allah we belong and to Him we return
Three Things to Know About Patience
Patience at the news of loss is beloved to Allah. These three things help the believer turn to Him.
- Return to Allah with the words of return, declaring that all belongs to Him.
- Ask Allah to reward you in your affliction and to replace the loss with good.
- Meet the news with patience and hope, for patience at the first blow is most beloved to Allah.
Finding Comfort in Allah
The dua upon hearing of death is the believer turning to Allah, meeting the news with patience and hope. By returning to Allah with the words of return, asking Him to reward you and replace the loss with good, and meeting the news with patience, the believer responds to loss in the best way. Everything belongs to Allah and returns to Him, and the believer who turns to Him at the news of a death finds the comfort and reward that He promises to the patient, from the One who is most merciful and best to recompense.
This supplication pairs naturally with the dua for the deceased and the dua for grief. Together they help the believer meet loss with patience and turn to Allah for comfort.
To Allah we belong and to Him we return, the Prophet (pbuh) taught the believer to say at the news of loss. Learn the duas of the Hereafter with us on YouTube, where the supplications are recited aloud, on Instagram for a reminder to meet loss with patience, and on Threads where readers share how they find comfort in Allah.
Frequently Asked Questions
The dua upon hearing of death is the words the Prophet (pbuh) taught: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajiun, Allahumma-jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha, to Allah we belong and to Him we return; O Allah reward me in my affliction and replace it with something better.
It is recited upon any affliction, including when the news of a death reaches the believer. The Prophet (pbuh) taught the believers to turn to Allah with these words at the moment of loss.
The Prophet (pbuh) taught that Allah rewards the one who turns to Him at affliction with these words, recompenses them for their loss, and grants them something better. It brings comfort and reward to the patient.
Because they affirm that everything belongs to Allah and returns to Him, turning the heart to Him at the moment of loss. The loved one was a trust from Allah, who has now returned to the One who gave them.
The Prophet (pbuh) taught that patience at the first blow of affliction is the most beloved to Allah, when the believer turns to Him at once. Meeting the news of loss with patience and hope earns the great reward of the patient.