[Q 581] What to Say at Death

QUESTION:

What’s the first thing you should say when someone passes away

Alhamdulillah or Inaa lilali wa inaa ilayhi rajiun

ANSWER:

In the Noble Qur’an, one of the qualities of those who exercise sabr (patience) is mentioned: when a calamity befalls them, they say اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ (Indeed we belong to Allah and indeed to Him we are to return). In the blessed Ahadith as well, the virtue of reciting this statement at the time of a calamity has been mentioned. Therefore, upon the death of someone, while exercising sabr (patience) upon this trial and calamity, one should recite اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ. However, if a bad-belief person (bad-mazhab – deviant in creed) passes away who used to cause harm to the religion of Islam, then Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah) may also be recited upon his death.

In the Noble Qur’an, Allah Ta‘ala states:

الَّذِیْنَ اِذَاۤ اَصَابَتْهُمْ مُّصِیْبَةٌۙ-قَالُوْۤا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَﭤ(156)

Translation (Kanz al-‘Irfan): Those who, when a calamity befalls them, say, “We only belong to Allah and to Him alone we shall return.”

In a blessed Hadith it is reported: Umm al-Mu’minin Sayyidatuna Umm Salamah رضي الله تعالى عنها states: I heard the Leader of the Messengers صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم saying that when a Muslim is afflicted with a calamity and he says what Allah Ta‘ala has commanded: اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ and then recites the supplication اَللّٰہُمَّ أْجُرْنِیْ فِیْ مُصِیْبَتِیْ وَاَخْلِفْ لِیْ خَیْرًا مِّنْہَا (O Allah! Grant me reward in this calamity of mine and grant me a better replacement for it), then Allah Ta‘ala grants him something better in return. Umm Salamah رضي الله تعالى عنها states that when Sayyiduna Abu Salamah رضي الله تعالى عنه passed away, I thought who among the Muslims could be better than Abu Salamah رضي الله تعالى عنه, as he was among the first households who migrated to the beloved Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم. Nevertheless, I recited this supplication, and Allah Ta‘ala granted me the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم in marriage in place of him (who was far better).

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith no. 918)

It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Imam Husayn ibn ‘Ali رضي الله تعالى عنه that the Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم said: “If a Muslim man or woman is afflicted with a calamity and later remembers it and says اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ, even if a long time has passed since the calamity, Allah Ta‘ala grants him a new reward and gives him the same reward as He gave on the day when the calamity occurred.”

(Musnad Imam Ahmad, Hadith no. 1734)

Answered by: Mubashir Attari (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 14th March 2026.