lillah

Lillah (Arabic: لِلّهِ, transliterated lillāh) is an Arabic phrase meaning "for God" or "belonging to God." It is formed from the preposition li- ("for" or "to") combined with Allah ("God") and is used to indicate that an action, gift, or attribution is intended solely for the divine.

In Islamic religious and legal contexts, lillah commonly appears in phrases describing charity, dedication, or ownership meant exclusively for God, for example sadaqah lillah (charity for God) and waqf lillah (an endowment dedicated to religious or public welfare). The expression also occurs in devotional formulas such as Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un ("Surely we belong to God and to Him we shall return"), which is recited upon hearing of death or loss.

Grammatically, lillah reflects the Arabic genitive construction combining a preposition with a proper name and is pronounced with a doubled consonant due to standard Arabic phonetics. Beyond formal legal and liturgical use, lillah appears in poetry, sermons, and everyday speech among Muslims to emphasize sincere intention (niyyah) and the spiritual purpose of actions.

As a religiously specific term, lillah carries cultural and theological significance in Muslim communities, where it functions both as an indicator of pious intent and as a descriptor in religious practice, jurisprudence, and charity.