Conclusion
The Qur'an teaches that every person comes from Allah and goes back to Him: He gives life, causes death, brings people back to life, and they are returned to Him. Believers say this when trials strike ('to Him we are bound to return'), and the contented soul is told to 'come back to your Lord, well-pleased, well-pleasing'. Alongside this final return, Allah calls people to turn back to Him now in repentance, before punishment comes and the chance is gone.
The verses on the soul's return use the words 'come back' (irji'i). Mufti Muhammad Shafi says this shows the soul's first home was with its Lord and that it is now going back to Him. Q4T3
The verses call the reader to see that life and death both come from Allah, so denying Him makes no sense. The faithful soul is told to return 'well-pleased, well-pleasing', and Al-Jalalayn explain the call to turn to Him as returning in penitence and doing deeds sincerely before punishment arrives. T2T4T5
The Prophet turned back to Allah in repentance throughout the day. He taught that loving the meeting with Allah is met by Allah's love. H9H11
Mufti Muhammad Shafi says the words 'to Him we return' bring a great reward, lift the weight of grief and comfort the heart. He also says the contented soul is the one at peace through remembering and obeying Allah. Al-Mubarakfuri ties the istirja' to the reward of the House of Praise. T1T3C2
Sources
Qur'an & Tafsir
Summary
The Qur'an speaks of return to Allah in two ways. Every life comes from Him and goes back to Him after death and resurrection, which believers affirm when hardship strikes. People are also called to turn back to Him in repentance while there is still time. Q2Q1Q5
Key points
- Allah gave life to people who were 'lifeless', will cause them to die, will bring them back to life, and then 'to Him you will be returned'. Q2
- When suffering comes, the patient say: 'We certainly belong to Allah, and to Him we are bound to return.' Q1
- 'Turn passionately towards your Lord' comes with a warning: do it 'before the punishment comes', after which no help will come. Q5
References
- Q1Al-Baqarah 2:156 · The Cow
- Q2Al-Baqarah 2:28 · The Cow
- Q5Az-Zumar 39:54 · The Troops
Sunnah
Summary
The Prophet told people to turn to Allah in repentance and said he himself sought repentance a hundred times a day. He also taught that whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him. H9H11
Key points
- Repentance (tawbah, turning back to Allah) is meant to be a constant daily habit, as the Prophet's own example of a hundred times a day shows (Sahih Muslim). H9
- How a person feels about meeting Allah is matched by how Allah feels about meeting them: 'whoever hates to meet Allah, Allah hates to meet him' (Sahih al-Bukhari). H11
References
- H9Sahih Muslim 6859 · The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness Authenticity
- Sahih — the whole collection is accepted as authentic (Sahih Muslim)
- H11Sahih al Bukhari 6508 · To make the Heart Tender (Ar-Riqaq)Authenticity
- Sahih — the whole collection is accepted as authentic (Sahih al-Bukhari)
Hadith Commentaries
Summary
The commentators explain istirja' (saying 'To Allah we belong and to Him we return') as something said when a loss strikes, and they describe its reward. They define inaba as turning back to Allah in repentance, and say a believer who has died has no wish to return to this world. C2C5C4
Key points
References