Hadith Text & Reference

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When one of you is afflicted with a calamity, he should say: 'We belong to Allah, and to Him we do return. O Allah, I expect reward from Thee from this affliction, so give me reward for it, and give me a better compensation.'"

Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 3119 (Funerals - Kitab Al-Jana'iz)

Commentary on the Opening Phrase

The statement "Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return) constitutes the foundational Islamic response to calamity. This affirms the believer's recognition of divine ownership - that all existence originates from Allah and ultimately returns to Him. It transforms grief into theological acceptance, acknowledging temporal existence as a trust from the Creator.

Spiritual Dimensions of Affliction

The Prophet teaches believers to actively seek reward through patience during trials. Afflictions serve as spiritual purification, elevating the believer's rank in the hereafter. The expectation of reward transforms suffering from mere endurance into worship, where the believer engages Allah directly in their moment of distress.

The Request for Better Compensation

The supplication's conclusion - requesting "better compensation" - demonstrates Islam's balanced approach to worldly attachment. While accepting divine decree, the believer may rightfully ask for improved circumstances, whether in this life or the next. This reflects the comprehensive mercy of Allah, who replaces what is lost with something superior for those who patiently persevere.

Practical Application in Mourning

Within the context of funeral rites (Kitab Al-Jana'iz), this teaching provides the spiritual framework for processing loss. It directs the grieving heart toward eternal perspectives rather than temporal attachments, transforming the funeral from mere ritual into profound spiritual education about life's transient nature and the certainty of return to the Creator.