إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Where it comes from
Allah describes patient people as those who, when a hardship hits them, say this phrase (Quran 2:156).
When to say it
- Hearing that someone has passed away.
- Losing something: a toy, a pet, a match.
- Any upsetting news.
A dua to add
The Prophet ﷺ taught that if someone says this and adds the following dua, Allah gives them something better (Sahih Muslim 918):
ٱللَّهُمَّ أْجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتِي وَأَخْلِفْ لِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا
Allahumma’jurni fi musibati wa akhlif li khayran minha – O Allah, reward me in my hardship and replace it with something better.
Teacher’s tip: Explain it gently with a small example first, like a broken toy, so the phrase is familiar before a sad day comes.
Related: explaining death to a Muslim child.
