When a Muslim passes away, the first thing a believer does is recite a specific supplication from the Quran. This supplication is known as Inteqal Ki Dua, the prayer recited upon hearing the news of someone’s death.
The word Inteqal comes from Arabic and Urdu. Inteqal meaning in Urdu and Hindi is “departure” or “passing away.” It is used respectfully to refer to the death of a person. In Islamic tradition, death is not seen as the end it is a transition from this temporary world to the eternal life of the Hereafter.
Islam teaches that every soul belongs to Allah (SWT) and will return to Him. When a Muslim hears that someone has passed away, they immediately respond with the Quranic words known as Istirja a declaration of submission to the will of Allah. This is the foundation of Inteqal Ki Dua.
Inteqal Ki Dua in Arabic
The primary Inteqal Ki Dua in Arabic is taken directly from the Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 156:
إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
This verse is the heart of every Muslim’s response to the news of a death. It is a Quranic statement not just a phrase and carries immense weight and meaning.
Inteqal Ki Dua Transliteration (Roman English)
Inteqal Ki Dua in Roman English:
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
This is the most accurate and widely accepted transliteration. Other common spellings include:
- Innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun
- Inalillahi wainailaihi rajiun
- Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon
- Inna lillahi wa inallah-e-raji’oon
All of these refer to the same Quranic verse and carry the same meaning.
Inteqal Ki Dua Meaning in English
Inteqal Ki Dua in English:
“Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we shall return.”
Every word of this dua carries a profound message:
- Inna — Indeed / Verily, we
- Lillahi — Belong to Allah
- Wa Inna — And indeed, we
- Ilayhi — Towards Him
- Raji’un — Shall return
Inteqal Ki Dua in Urdu
Transliteration:
انا للہ و انا الیہ راجعون
Meaning:
بے شک ہم اللہ کے ہیں اور ہمیں اسی کی طرف لوٹ کر جانا ہے۔
This is the Urdu translation of the dua. It is read by Muslims in Pakistan, India, and other Urdu-speaking communities upon hearing the news of someone’s passing.
Inteqal Ki Dua in Hindi
Transliteration:
इन्ना लिल्लाहि वा इन्ना इलैहि राजिऊन
Meaning:
हम अल्लाह के हैं और उसी की ओर हम लौटेंगे।
This Hindi translation carries the same meaning and is recited by Muslims in India and other Hindi-speaking regions when they hear about someone’s inteqal (death).
Complete Dua for the Deceased (After Inteqal)
After reciting Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, a Muslim is also encouraged to recite a longer dua for the forgiveness and mercy of the deceased. This dua is narrated in Sahih Muslim (Hadith 963):
Dua in Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْحَمْهُ وَعَافِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنْهُ، وَأَكْرِمْ نُزُلَهُ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَهُ، وَاغْسِلْهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّهِ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا نَقَّيْتَ الثَّوْبَ الْأَبْيَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْهُ دَارًا خَيْرًا مِنْ دَارِهِ، وَأَهْلًا خَيْرًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ، وَزَوْجًا خَيْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِهِ، وَأَدْخِلْهُ الْجَنَّةَ، وَأَعِذْهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ
Transliteration:
Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘afihi wa’fu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi’ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqihi mina al-khataya kama naqqayta ath-thawba al-abyada mina-d-danas, wa abdilhu daran khayran min darih, wa ahlan khayran min ahlih, wa zawjan khayran min zawjih, wa adkhilhu al-jannah, wa a’idhhu min ‘adhabi al-qabri wa ‘adhabi an-nar.
Meaning:
“O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him. Grant him safety and pardon him. Honor his reception and widen his entrance. Wash him with water, snow, and hail, and purify him of sins as a white garment is purified of dirt. Replace his home with a better home, his family with a better family, and his spouse with a better spouse. Admit him into Paradise, and protect him from the punishment of the grave and of the Fire.”
In Urdu
Transliteration:
اَللّٰہُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَہٗ وَارْحَمْہُ وَعَافِہٖ وَاعْفُ عَنْہُ، وَأَکْرِمْ نُزُلَہٗ، وَوَسِّعْ مُدْخَلَہٗ، وَاغْسِلْہُ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ، وَنَقِّہٖ مِنَ الْخَطَایَا کَمَا نَقَّیْتَ الثَّوْبَ الْأَبْیَضَ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، وَأَبْدِلْہُ دَارًا خَیْرًا مِنْ دَارِہٖ، وَأَہْلًا خَیْرًا مِنْ أَہْلِہٖ، وَزَوْجًا خَیْرًا مِنْ زَوْجِہٖ، وَأَدْخِلْہُ الْجَنَّۃَ، وَأَعِذْہُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَعَذَابِ النَّارِ
Meaning:
اے اللہ! اسے بخش دے اور اس پر رحم فرما، اسے عافیت دے اور اسے معاف فرما، اس کی مہمان نوازی کو عزت دے اور اس کے داخلے کو وسعت دے، اسے پانی، برف اور اولے سے دھو دے اور گناہوں سے پاک کر دے جیسے سفید کپڑے کو میل سے پاک کیا جاتا ہے، اسے بہتر گھر، بہتر اہل اور بہتر ساتھی عطا فرما، اسے جنت میں داخل فرما اور قبر کے عذاب اور آگ کے عذاب سے محفوظ فرما۔
In Hindi
Transliteration:
अल्लाहुम्मग़्फ़िर लहु वरहमहु, वा आफ़िही वाअ्फु अन्हु, वा अक्रिम नुज़ुलहु, वा वस्सिअ् मुद्ख़लहु, वग़्सिलहु बिल-माई वस्सल्जि वल-बरद, वा नक़्क़िही मिनल-ख़तायाला कमा नक़्क़ैत अस्सौबल-अबयज़ मिनद्दनस, वा अब्दिलहु दारन ख़ैरम्मिन दारिही, वा अहलन ख़ैरम्मिन अहलिही, वा ज़ौजन ख़ैरम्मिन ज़ौजिही, वद्ख़िलहुल-जन्नह, वा आइज़्हु मिन अज़ाबिल-क़ब्रि वा अज़ाबिन्नार।
Meaning:
ऐ अल्लाह! इसे माफ कर और इस पर रहम फरमा, इसे अफ़ियत दे और इसे माफ़ फरमा, इसकी मेहमाननवाज़ी को इज़्ज़त दे और इसके दाखिले को वुसअत दे, इसे पानी, बर्फ और ओलों से धो दे और गुनाहों से पाक कर दे जैसे सफेद कपड़े को मैल से पाक किया जाता है, इसे बेहतर घर, बेहतर परिवार और बेहतर साथी अता फरमा, इसे जन्नत में दाखिल फरमा और क़ब्र के अज़ाब और जहन्नम की आग से महफूज़ फरमा।
Source: Sahih Muslim, Hadith 963
Note: When the deceased is a woman, replace lahu (for him) with laha (for her) throughout the dua.
Another Short Dua After Inteqal (From Hadith)
The Prophet (ﷺ) also taught a dua to be made when someone passes away. This is narrated in Sahih Muslim (Hadith 920a):
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَهُ فِي الْمَهْدِيِّينَ، وَاخْلُفْهُ فِي عَقِبِهِ فِي الْغَابِرِينَ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَهُ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ، وَافْسَحْ لَهُ فِي قَبْرِهِ وَنَوِّرْ لَهُ فِيهِ
Transliteration:
Allahumma ighfir lahu, warfa’ darajatahu fil-mahdiyyeen, wakhlufhu fi ‘aqibihi fil-ghaabireen, waghfir lana wa lahu ya Rabbal-‘aalameen, wafsah lahu fi qabrihi wa nawwir lahu feeh.
Meaning in English:
“O Allah, forgive him and raise his degree among those who are rightly guided. Grant him a good successor among his descendants who remain. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Worlds. Make his grave spacious and fill it with light.”
In Urdu
Transliteration:
اَللّٰہُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَہٗ، وَارْفَعْ دَرَجَتَہٗ فِی الْمَہْدِیِّیْنَ، وَاخْلُفْہُ فِیْ عَقِبِہٖ فِی الْغَابِرِیْنَ، وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلَہٗ یَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ، وَافْسَحْ لَہٗ فِیْ قَبْرِہٖ وَنَوِّرْ لَہٗ فِیْہِ
Meaning:
اے اللہ! اسے بخش دے اور ہدایت یافتہ لوگوں میں اس کا درجہ بلند فرما، پیچھے رہ جانے والوں میں اس کا بہترین جانشین عطا فرما، اے رب العالمین! ہمیں اور اسے بخش دے، اس کی قبر کو کشادہ فرما اور اس میں روشنی عطا فرما۔
In Hindi
Transliteration:
अल्लाहुम्मग़्फ़िर लहु, वरफ़अ् दरजतहु फ़िल-महदिय्यीन, वख़्लुफ़हु फ़ी अक़िबिही फ़िल-ग़ाबिरीन, वग़्फ़िर लना वलहु या रब्बल-आलमीन, वफ़्सह लहु फ़ी क़ब्रिही वनव्विर लहु फ़ीह।
Meaning:
ऐ अल्लाह! इसे माफ कर और हिदायत पाने वालों में इसका दर्जा बुलंद फरमा, पीछे रहने वालों में इसका बेहतरीन जानशीन अता फरमा, ऐ रब्बुल आलमीन! हमें और इसे माफ फरमा, इसकी क़ब्र को कुशादा फरमा और उसमें रोशनी अता फरमा।
Source: Sahih Muslim, Hadith 920a
Inteqal Ki Dua Quotes
Here are some meaningful Inteqal Ki Dua quotes that reflect the Islamic understanding of death and the importance of this dua:
“Every soul will taste death, and you will only be given your full compensation on the Day of Resurrection.” — Surah Aal-e-Imran, 3:185
“Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction.” — Surah An-Nisa, 4:78
“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient who, when disaster strikes them, say: Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” — Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:155–156
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “There is no Muslim who is stricken with a calamity and responds by saying Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un — O Allah, I seek reward from You for this affliction, so reward me for it and compensate me — except that Allah will reward him for it and give him something better in return.” — Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 3119
Read Also: Qurbani Ki Dua In English
When to Read Inteqal Ki Dua
Inteqal Ki Dua is recited in the following situations:
- Immediately upon hearing news of someone’s death — This is the primary situation and the Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ).
- During any calamity or hardship — The Quran commands believers to recite this verse at the time of any difficulty, not only at death (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155–156).
- When something is lost — If a Muslim loses something valuable or faces an unexpected trial, reciting Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un is a way of returning to Allah.
- During Salat al-Janazah (Funeral Prayer) — The longer dua for the deceased is read after the third Takbir.
- At the graveside — When visiting or burying the deceased, the duas for the departed soul are recited.
- As part of daily Dhikr — There is no restriction on how many times this dua can be recited. Making it part of daily remembrance is encouraged.
Benefits of Inteqal Ki Dua
The Inteqal Ki Dua carries immense spiritual importance for both the one who says it and the one who has passed away.
For the one reciting the dua:
- It is an act of Sabr (patience) and submission to Allah’s will.
- The Prophet (ﷺ) promised that reciting this dua with sincerity will bring reward from Allah and something better in return (Sunan Abi Dawud 3119).
- It keeps the heart connected to the reality of this world that nothing here is permanent.
- It strengthens Iman (faith) by reminding the believer that everything belongs to Allah.
For the deceased:
- The dua made for the deceased after their Inteqal benefits their soul.
- Allah’s mercy and forgiveness are sought through these supplications.
- The grave can become a place of light and ease through sincere dua.
- These prayers continue as a form of Sadaqah Jariyah (ongoing charity) for the departed.
Reminder: The benefit of dua for the deceased is well-established in Islam. The Prophet (ﷺ) said that three things continue to benefit a person after death: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge, and a righteous child who prays for them. (Sahih Muslim)
Read Also: Ghar Se Nikalne Ki Dua in Hindi
How to Reply When Someone Says Inna Lillahi
When someone informs you of a death and says Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, an appropriate Islamic response is:
إِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا أَخَذَ وَلَهُ مَا أَعْطَى وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَهُ بِأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى
Inna lillahi ma akhadha wa lahu ma a’ta wa kullu shay’in ‘indahu bi-ajalin musamman
“To Allah belongs what He takes and to Him belongs what He gives, and everything with Him has an appointed time.” — Sahih al-Bukhari, 6602
You may also offer condolences by saying: “May Allah forgive [name of the deceased] and grant them Jannat-ul-Firdaws. May Allah grant the family patience and strength.”
Conclusion
Inteqal Ki Dua is one of the most important supplications in a Muslim’s life. Rooted in the words of Allah from Surah Al-Baqarah, it is a declaration that every soul belongs to its Creator and will return to Him.
When someone we love completes their journey in this world, Islam gives us a powerful way to respond not with despair, but with faith, patience, and prayer. Reciting Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un brings the heart back to its true purpose: remembrance of Allah and trust in His plan.
Whether read in Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, or Roman English, the Inteqal Ki Dua carries the same eternal truth: we came from Allah, and to Allah is our return.
May Allah (SWT) grant mercy to all those who have passed away, grant Jannah to the believers, and give their families the strength of Sabr. Ameen.
? FAQs About Inteqal Ki Dua
Q. What is Inteqal Ki Dua in simple words?
Inteqal Ki Dua is the supplication recited when someone passes away. The primary dua is from Surah Al-Baqarah (2:156): Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un “Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.”
Q: What does Inteqal mean in Urdu and Hindi?
Inteqal meaning in Urdu and Hindi is the respectful word used for the death or passing away of a person. It reflects the Islamic belief that death is a transition, not an end.
Q: Can Inteqal Ki Dua be said for non-Muslims?
According to some scholars, there is no specific restriction on saying Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un upon the death of a non-Muslim, as the phrase itself is a personal declaration of faith and submission. However, the specific duas asking for Allah’s forgiveness and Jannah are reserved for deceased Muslims.
Q: Is Inteqal Ki Dua only for death?
No. The Quran in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:155–156) instructs Muslims to recite this verse at any time of hardship, trial, or calamity not only when someone dies.
Q: What is the complete Inteqal Ki Dua after someone dies?
The complete dua begins with Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un and is followed by the dua of Allahumma ighfir lahu warhamhu (asking Allah for forgiveness and mercy for the deceased), which is narrated in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 963.
Q: How many times should Inteqal Ki Dua be recited?
There is no fixed number of times. It can be recited as often as needed. Making it part of daily Dhikr is encouraged, and there is no restriction on its recitation.
Q: What should I say when I hear about someone’s Inteqal?
Say: Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un then make dua for the deceased by asking Allah to forgive them, have mercy on them, and grant them Jannah.
Written by: Ahmad Raza
Credentials: Islamic Studies Content Writer
Read More duas for daily life at The Dua For You 