The meaning of Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilahi Raaji'oon
In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate
'May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You'
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raaji’oon
By Asma bint Shameem
Yeah, sure we say this statement when someone dies. Also some of us may say this sentence when they lose something, suffer a setback or harm. But do you know what it means?
Sure, everyone know that it obviously means 'To Allaah we belong and to Him is our return' but that’s not what I am talking about. I mean ….do you REALLY, TRULY understand these words and their implications in a Muslim’s life?
It means …whatever we have is not really ours. It belongs to Allaah. Take a look around you; everything you see, all that you have and all that there is... in you, on you, around you... belongs to Allaah, alone. It is Allah Who has given you all the property and goods you possess, and that He is the true Owner of them all.
So the cars that you own, the houses that you live in, the businesses you possess all truly belong to Allaah The kids that He blessed you with, the health that He gave you, the time that He has allowed you are all Allah’s property.Even the bodies we live in and the life that we have belongs to Allaah alone.
“And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth….” (Surah Aal-Imraan:180)
“The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allah. He has power over all things.” (Surat al-Ma'ida: 120)
'Say: 'To Allah belongs the East and the West…' (Surah al-Baqarah:142)
Now, since everything belongs to Allaah, then we have to include even our souls in that list. The very souls that we think of as our “self”; our “nafs”; our “being” -- whatever you want to call it -- that very thing that distinguishes you from the rest of the world, belongs to Allaah. It's not YOURS. In fact, YOU are not YOURS. You belong to Allaah. And this is the essence of the concept of slavery to Allaah in Islam.
And since He is the true Possessor of everything, and everything is His property, He allots what He wills to whomever He wills... and then He takes it away. After all, it was Allaah’s to begin with.
So He may give you some thing and then take it back after a while. He will bless you with a precious child that you love dearly... and then He may take it away. He will grant you money, honour and status... and then He may take it away.He will give you youth, vitality and health and then surely He will take it away.
In fact everything you have will only be with you for a very short while. And then the Owner will claim His Right. So when Allaah does reclaim what was rightfully His, WHY MOURN OUR LOSSES? Just like a friend who lends you his book. And then after a few days, he wants it back and you give it back to him... no regrets... no sorrow... no questions asked.
Similarly, if Allah takes back some of His blessings upon you for some reason... so be it. Say Alhamdulillaah.Don’t grieve. Be patient. Submit to the will of Allaah, being pleased with His decision for you. For surely He will only do what is best for you.Just think... The Owner came and took it back.
Remember... that you’re not the real owner... you were NEVER the real owner to begin with. You only had everything because it was Allah who gave it to you in the first place. If He didn’t give it to you, you wouldn’t have had it in any way... in fact, you couldn’t have had it.
Remember... man enters into this world empty handed…and leaves it empty handed. Remember... that everything we have, all the blessings we enjoy, are gifts from Almighty Allah... gifts that we enjoy for a limited period until He takes them away whenever He deems fit. They are a trust from Allah... a loan to you... to see how you respond to these gifts from Allaah and how you use them... in the obedience of the Almighty, thanking Him and worshipping Him... OR... to the disobedience to the One Who gave then to you in the first place.
Take note of the words of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) on the occasion of the death of his son, Ibraahim: 'Our eyes are filled with tears, our hearts with grief, but we say nothing with our lips except that which pleases Allah... Verily, to Allah we belong, and to Him we return.' (Bukhaari).
And we all know the famous incidence about the companion Abu Talha and his wife when one of the sons died and Abu Talha was not at home. She washed and shrouded him and when Abu Talha came home and asked about his son, she said, 'The child is quiet and I hope he is in peace... ' (Bukhaari). Subhaan Allaah... such patience! And such Imaan in the statement “Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raaji’oon”!
She truly understood its meaning and the effect it should have on her life as a Muslimah, submitting to him and being pleased with whatever He has decreed for her. She knew that whatever she has, is not truly hers. Rather, it is Allaah’s... and He took back whatever He owns at its appointed time. And it is because of this Imaan so strong, this understanding, that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) made dua for them and Allaah blessed them immensely. “They (i.e. Abu Talha and his wife) had nine sons and all of them became reciters of the Quran (by heart).” (Bukhaari).
“Be sure we will test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives, but give glad tidings to those who are steadfast, who say when afflicted with calamity: ‘To Allah we belong and to him is our return.’ They are those on who (descend) blessings from Allah and mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance.” (al-Baqarah: 155).
The Prophet (PBUH) said 'Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse'.
The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
11 March 2009 - 12:47pm
what is Congregation Times?
What does it mean Isha and Fajar Congregation? Can I pray Isha and Fajar at the same time at 10 pm.
10 April 2009 - 3:39pm
Salam Nice to hear from you and thank you for asking. Muslims should pray five times a day, which is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. These five prayers have their specific timings which are roughly as follows: Fajr (the dawn prayer) time: before sunrise. Zuhr (just after noon) : Asr (before sunset) Maghrib Just after sunset. Isha: when the darkness has spread. These can be performed individually at one's home, work or outside, however one is encouraged to attend the masjid/mosque and pray these with jama'ah which is called congregation i.e behind the Imam/one who leads the prayer. Muslims pray these prayers together in mosque with the Imam being in front. I hope this clarifies the matter.
Finally, you can not pray Isha and Fajar at the same time.
15 February 2010 - 1:23pm
asalam u alaikum
i am confused about celebrating birthdays especially children.As I cannot recall any birth days in any hadith only aqeeka please can u enlighten on this What should one do if family members are inviting u to the birthdays
17 February 2010 - 11:45am
In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Principally, birthdays are not something that should be celebrated or to be happy about. When it is someone's birthday, one year of his/her life has decreased, and not increased. As such, what intelligence is there in celebrating and showing happiness when a year has decreased in one's life?
Before understanding the legal ruling with regards to birthday celebrations, it is worth remembering here that imitation of the unbelievers (Kuffar) is something that Islam strictly disapproves of.
In a Hadith recorded by Imam Abu Dawud (Allah have Mercy on him) and others, The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) said:
�Whosoever imitates a nation is amongst them�. (Sunan Abu Dawud,)
It should be remembered here that not everything what the non-Muslims wear and do, is Haram and unlawful. Imitation, which is prohibited, is effected in one of the following two ways:
a) One does something with the intention of imitating the Kuffar, meaning one does so because one wants to be like a particular non-believer or non-believers.
b) Doing something that is unique and exclusive to the non-believers or it is part of their faith. This will also be considered imitation, thus Haram (unlawful). (See the Fatwa of Shaykh Mufti Taqi Usmani).
In light of the above, there are few situations with regards to the Shariah (legal) ruling on celebrating birthdays:
1)If it is celebrated by imitating the Kuffar in that all or some of the customs that are unique with the Kuffar are adopted, or acts that are unlawful in Shariah are committed, then there is no doubt in its impermissibility. The lighting of candles on a cake that number the years of one�s life and then blowing on them, playing of music, singing, extravagant and lavish spending, showing off, etc are all unlawful and forbidden practices. Thus, if birthdays are celebrated by adopting the above-mentioned customs, it will not be permissible.
2)If the above-mentioned evils are avoided, then there are two possibilities:
a) If one celebrates birthdays with the intention of imitating the Kuffar meaning one does so because one wants to be like the Kuffar, then, as stated previously, it will be considered imitating the Kuffar, thus unlawful.
b) If there is no intention of imitating the Kuffar (and also the above mentioned evils are avoided) then the ruling on celebrating birthdays will depend on whether it originated from the religious customs of the non-Muslims and it is part of their faith. (It can not be considered to be unique with the Kuffar, for celebrating birthdays has become a widespread phenomenon that is carried out in many different parts of the world). I am personally unaware of whether celebrating birthdays has a connection with the Christian faith or other wise, thus I am unable to give a decisive ruling.
However, I have mentioned the criterion of which the ruling will be based. If the origins of birthday celebrations are connected to a particular faith, then there is no doubt in its impermissibility. If, however, it has no connections with the faith of the non-Muslims, then (and Allah knows best) it seems that it would be permissible to celebrate it (provided the evils mentioned above are avoided).
3)If one thanks Allah and shows gratitude for being blessed with one more year of his life, thus expresses happiness and joy, then there is nothing wrong with that. (See: al-Fatawa al-Rahimiyya (urdu), 6/320).
And Allah knows best
By:
Muhammad ibn Adam al-Kawthari
Darul Iftaa, Leicester, UK
25 May 2010 - 3:17pm
What Inna means and could be used as a baby name?
17 June 2010 - 6:43pm
salam alaikom
Thank you for asking the question.
"Inna" is an Arabic word which means we and if the vovel at the end is a short one (zabar/fatha) and not a long one (alif) then it means verily or indeed.
I do not thing it is a nice idea to keep it as a name, unles it means something else in any way in which case there is no harm using it as a name, inshallah.
Allah knows best.