What is the meaning of 'Ina-lilahi-wa-ina-rajiun'?

Question

In the Bangladeshi community when one hears of some tragedy they recite 'Ina-lilahi-wa-ina-rajiun' (I'm not sure that I've transcribed that correctly.) Where does this phrase come from, and what does it mean, and how is it written in Arabic?

Answer 1

From Wikipedia:

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un (إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ) is a verse of the Quran which means Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return.

This phrase is recited by Muslims when a person is struck by calamity in life, and is also recited upon hearing the death news of a Muslim. This can also be recited in any situation involving risk of any sort.

It is taken directly from the following ayah of the Qur'an:

الذين إذا أصابتهم مصيبة قالوا إنا لله وإنا إليه راجعون
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return."
^{—Al-Baqarah 156—}