When to say: Inna Lilaahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raaji'oon

Question

Salam alaikum, Is "Inna lilayhi wa inna ilayhi" only to be said when a Muslim dies, or also when a kafir dies, when one looses his job, pet, house, etc.? Salam alaikum Nuha

Answer 

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.  I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  is His slave and Messenger.

The texts from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention), legislated the permissibility for a Muslim to say: {“Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”}[Quran 2:156] when a calamity befalls him in his own self, his family or his money.

Therefore, it is permissible to say: “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” when losing one’s job, one’s animal, one’s house and so forth. Rather, it is desirable to say: “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” when one is afflicted with a calamity. An-Nawawi  said about the Hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, in the incident of Al-Ifk (when she was falsely accused of adultery) when she mentioned the arrival of Safwan Ibn Al-Mu’attal  to her while she was asleep that he said: “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Imam An-Nawawi  said: "This is evidence that it is desirable to say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” when one is afflicted with a calamity in his worldly matters or in his religion, whether it is in his own self or in a person who is dear to him.”

However, is the death of a non-Muslim a calamity? The death of a non-Muslim may be a calamity for a Muslim. Al-Hattab  quoted in his book Mawahib Al-Jaleel from Ibn Rushd  that he said in regard to presenting one’s condolences to a Muslim son about his dead non-Muslim father, “There is no greater calamity for a man than the death of his father who used to be compassionate with him and benefit him in his worldly matters while he was a non-Muslim, and so he will not be with him in the Hereafter, so one makes the calamity easier for him (the son) by engaging him and presenting his condolences to him.”

If the death of a non-Muslim relative is a calamity for his Muslim relative and he says: “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” for his calamity, then we hope, Allah willing, that this is permissible.

Allah Knows best.

Answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb