Meaning of the Phrase "lillah"

In Arabic the phrase "lillah" is composed of the preposition, "li", and proper noun "Allah".

The preposition li can take one of three different meanings based on the construction of a sentence and the context in which the phrase appears. The proper noun "Allah" literally stands for "The God" and is meant to address the One and the Only God in which Muslims believe.

As a result, the phrase lillah can have these three meanings:

• to God: For instance, in Quran 2:112 the phrase "مَنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلّهِ - man aslama wajha hu lillahi" would mean "Whoever submits his face (i.e. his whole self) to God".
• for God: For instance, in Quran 2:196 "وَأَتِمُّواْ الْحَجَّ وَالْعُمْرَةَ لِلّهِ - wa atimmul hajja wal 'umrata lillahi" would mean "And complete the Hajj and Umrah for God". Both Hajj and Umrah are different forms of pilgrimage.
• denoting possession of God: For instance, in 2:115 the phrase "وَلِلّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ - wa lillahi-lmashriqu wa-lmaghribu" would mean "To God belong the East and the West".