We Belong to God: إِنَّا لِلَّٰهِ وَإِنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ
Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him, we return.
This phrase from the 2nd Chapter of the Quran carries a message far deeper than its common usage in Muslim societies during times of death. It serves as a reminder of life’s impermanence, but its significance expands beyond physical existence, reaching into the realms of thought, consciousness, and the soul’s journey.
When understood through a mystic lens, this verse reveals profound truths about the origin and return of all things. Every thought and emotion begins from the divine source and inevitably returns to it. The Quran affirms this in the verse: “And Allah is the ˙sole˙ inheritor of the heavens and the earth” (Al Imran: 180). Here, the “heavens and earth” can be interpreted beyond their physical meaning, reflecting higher and lower states of consciousness—Lashoor (higher consciousness) and Shaoor (lower consciousness).
In Sufi thought, this verse unveils the cyclical process of existence and dissolution—a journey of emanation and return. All that emerges from the divine must eventually dissolve into it. This applies not only to the physical world but also to the unseen dimensions of our being.
Thoughts themselves pass through four mystical stages: Tajali (divinity), Noor (soul/light), Roshani (illumination), and Rang (manifestation in life). To observe this cycle, one must practice mindfulness by sitting quietly and witnessing the evolution of a single thought. Initially, pure and divine, thoughts often become entangled in lower consciousness, resulting in distorted actions. This corruption, however, can be undone by returning to the origin—recognizing and preserving the inherent divinity within each thought.
Through this practice, we begin to cleanse our inner world, aligning our thoughts and emotions with their divine source. Such awareness draws us closer to Allah, fostering a deeper connection to the eternal truth that everything—from our fleeting thoughts to the vast cosmos—originates and dissolves in the divine.
Conclusion: The phrase “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him, we return” serves as a gateway to profound spiritual insight. It invites us to reflect on the divine nature of existence, reinforcing acceptance, humility, and the eternal cycle of return to the Beloved.