إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ، اللَّهُمَّ عِنْدَكَ أَحْتَسِبُ مُصِيبَتِي فَأْجُرْنِي فِيهَا وَأَبْدِلْنِي خَيْرًا مِنْهَا.
Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Allah we shall return. O Allah, with You I seek reward for my affliction, so give me recompense for it and give me that which is better than it.
Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rāji'ūn. Allāhumma 'indaka aḥtasibu muṣībatī, fa'jurnī fīhā wa abdilnī khayran minhā.
When to Read
This dua is recited specifically when one receives news of a loss, be it the death of a loved one, the loss of wealth, or any other significant misfortune. It's a profound statement of reliance on Allah and acceptance of His decree during times of hardship.
How to Read
Recite this supplication with sincerity and a heart full of trust in Allah's plan. It's meant to be uttered upon hearing the difficult news. Let the words resonate within you, acknowledging that all we have is from Allah and will return to Him.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua embodies the essence of *sabr* (patience) and *tawakkul* (reliance on Allah). The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught this dua to his wife Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) when she experienced the loss of her husband Abu Salamah, and Allah indeed gave her one who was better: the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself. By reciting this, we affirm our belief in Allah's ultimate control and seek His compensation for our trials, both in this life and the next.
Source & Authentication
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying: "There is no servant of Allah who is afflicted with calamity on account of (his) being young, and then reaches forty years of age, and then he says: 'All praise is due to Allah Who has kept me away from the trial of Dajjal, and in another version: 'who has kept me away from the trial of the Antichrist,' and then says: 'All praise is due to Allah Who has loved me; and then says: 'All praise is due to Allah Who has created me and fashioned me and fashioned me with my being and has brought me up as a youth and has made me grow into a man and has taken care of me until I am what I am,' but Allah would say: 'You have spoken truthfully and acted truthfully.' Then Allah would say: 'I have done to your servant what I commanded him, and I have done what is pleasing to Me.' Then Allah would say: 'I have done to your servant what I commanded him, and I have done what is pleasing to Me.' Then Allah would say: 'I have done to your servant what I commanded him, and I have done what is pleasing to Me.' He (Umm Salamah) said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: 'There is no servant of Allah who is afflicted with calamity on account of the death of a slave, and he says: 'We belong to Allah and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me better than it in exchange.' but Allah would give him reward for his affliction and would give him better than it in exchange.' Umm Salamah said: When Abu Salamah died, I said: 'We belong to Allah and to Him we return. O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me better than it in exchange.' Then I thought about it, and said to myself: 'How can I get better than Abu Salamah?' Then Allah brought about the marriage of me with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ), and it was then that I said: 'Better than Abu Salamah.'