Invocation for the bereaved

((إِنَّ للَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ، وَلَهُ مَا أَعطَى، وَكُلُّ شَيءٍ عِندَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمَّى... فَلتَصبِر وَلتَحتَسِب)). وَإِن قَالَ: ((أَعظَمَ اللَّهُ أَجرَكَ، وَأَحسَنَ عَزَاءَكَ، وَغَفَرَ لِمَيِّتِكَ)) فَحَسَنٌ.

Approximate Arabic reading aid

Inna lillāhi mā akhadha, walahu mā a'ṭā, wakullu shay'in 'indahu bi'ajalin musammā. faltaṣbir waltaḥtasib. wa'in qāla: a'ẓama allāhu ajraka, wa'aḥsana 'azā'aka, waghafara limayyitika faḥasanun.

English meaning

Verily to Allah, belongs what He took and to Him belongs what He gave, and everything with Him has an appointed time…and then he ordered for her to be patient and hope for Allah’s reward.)(The words (faltasbir waltahtasib) are commands in the feminine 3rd person form, so they will need to be changed in respect to whom is being addressed.

Explanation (Tafseer)

This condolence reminds the bereaved that what Allah takes and what He gives both belong to Him, and that everything has an appointed time. It then directs the grieving person toward patience and seeking reward from Allah, grounding consolation in ownership, limit, and hopeful endurance.

When to use

Invocation for the bereaved

Reference & source

Hisn al-Muslim 162

Open source