Question Summary:
When we hear the death message of Muslims, we say, Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. But what should we say on hearing the death news of non-Muslims?

Question Detail:

When we hear the death message of Muslims, we say, Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un.  But what should we say on hearing the death news of non-Muslims?

Answer :

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatoh
1)      Firstly it should be understood that the saying of Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un is not confined to uttering upon receiving news of a death. Rather it has been prescribed to be uttered at any occasion wherein one is put into some kind of distress or is afflicted by some calamity.      
2)      Imaam Muslim has recorded in his kitaab that Ummi Salama رضى الله عنها had stated that she heard Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) saying  “ No muslim is put into distress then he utters Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un allahuma ajirni fi museebatee wa akhlifli khairan minha except that ALLAH recompensates him for the distress he endured.
 
عن ام سلمة انها قالت سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول ما من مسلم تصيبه مصيبة فيقول ما امره الله انا ل لالله وانا اليه راجعون اللهم اجرنى فى مصيبتى و اخلفلى خيرا منها الا اخلف الله له خيرا منها.
(Sahih Muslim    Vol.  1   Pg.  300 – Qadeemi)
3)      Imaam al Qurtobi has recorded an incident in his tafseer relating that on one occasion the lantern of Rasulullah  صلى الله عليه و سلم went off. Upon this Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم uttered inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم was asked if this was also a affliction or distress, Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم commented that everything that causes a discomfort to a believer will be regarded as a distress or affliction.
 روى عكرمة ان مصباح رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم انطفأ ذات ليلة فقال (انا للله و انا اليه راجعون) فقيل أ مصيبة هى يا رسول الله؟ قال (نعم كل ما آذى المؤمن فهو مصيبة)
(Tafseer al Qurtobi     Vol.  1-2    Pg.    180 - Darul Hadith Cairo) 
4)      The fact that many people where stubborn on disbelief and many where passing away on disbelief, used to sadden and cause grief to Rasulullah صلى الله عليه و سلم , upon this ALLAH addressed him saying:
 
لا يحزنك الذين يسارعون فى الكفر
“ Those who are hastening in disbelief should not grieve you”
(Surah  Aali Imraan- Surah no. 3  Verse  no. 175)
5)      The death of  non muslims should grieve us or cause us distress, but rather than contemplating words of condolences and sympathy we should ponder as to what is the final abode of this non-muslim and how fickle is our imaan. We should rather on the occasion of hearing the death of a non-muslim beseech from ALLAH that he saves us from a similar fate. (Ameen)
And Allah knows best
Wassalam
Ml. Abdul Hameed,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In'aamiyyah