Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (Arabic: إِنَّا ِلِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ, ʾinnā li-llāhi wa-ʾinnā ʾilayhi rājiʿūn^a), also known as Istirja (Arabic: ٱسْتِرْجَاع, ʾIstirjāʿ), is an Arabic phrase, mentioned in the second surah of the Quran,^[1] and meaning "Surely, we belong to Allah and verily to Him do we return." The phrase is commonly recited by Muslims, either in the midst of being tested by life, both as a sign of patience and an acknowledgement that God is the almighty, and he will not test his worshippers more than they can bear.^[2] More popularly, it is also used by Muslims upon hearing that someone has passed.^[3][4]

إِنَّا ِللّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رٰجِعونَ

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]

References

1. Quran 2:156. "Arabic: ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَ أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۭ قَالُوا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ, lit. 'Those who, when an affliction visits them, say, 'Verily we belong to Allah, and verily to Him do we return.''"
2. "When to say Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un". islamtics. Retrieved 2023-02-06.
3. Adia, Aida (2018-02-07). Hijab (in Arabic). Alaf 21. ISBN 978-967-446-339-7.
4. "Meaning of Innalillahi Wa Innailaihi Rojiun with Clear Translations". Riwaq. 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
5. In the Masoretic Text of the Tanakh