Surah Kahf Day: Saying InshaAllah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Many a times we forget to say InshaAllah ( إن شاء الله -- If Allah wills) before talking about doing something in future or expecting something to happen in future. And most of us mention this phrase as a mere ritual without reflecting upon the meaning, while many others abused it.

Despite it’s true meaning, in reality Inshallah is widely used to express something else altogether. InshaAllah is generally used to brush things off as unimportant or insignificant. When there are no intentions to actually perform a task, a plain ‘inshallah’ is the most common response. Inshallah is used as a sort ‘buffer’ to soften what the person really wants to say; “No” (very common in invitation when the person doesn't want accept). The saying can also be used when someone doesn’t take the person or question at hand seriously. Sometimes when people are just too busy, they say InshaAllah’ to take the responsibility off oneself. Sort of like saying, if they don’t have time to do the job, it was not their fault, because ‘God willed it” so to speak. Simply not knowing the answer to something is more often an inshallah than “I don’t know”. ‘Bukra inshallah’ is something you will hear every so often. In other words, ‘inshallah bukra’ means it’s not gonna happen. Inshallah has been abused to the point it has become something negative in some cultures.

The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, and his Ummah has been taught to say 'InshaAllah' ( إن شاء الله ) along with the promise or affirmation of doing something in the future. Because, who knows if one does or does not live, and even if one does, will one be able to do or not to do that?

لَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَا۟ىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا ﴿٢٣﴾ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّـهُ ۚ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّى لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَـٰذَا رَشَدًا ﴿٢٤

And never say of anything, "Indeed, I will do that tomorrow," (23) Except [when adding], "If Allah wills." And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct." (24)

[Qur'an Al-Kahf 18:23-24]

The background of the revelation of the first two verses has been reported in Lubab from Sayyidna 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas in the following manner. When the people of Makkah acting as coached by the Jews, asked the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, about the story of Ashab al-Kahf etc., he promised to answer that next day without having said InshaAllah. The least shortcoming issuing forth from the close ones brings some or the other notice of caution. Therefore, no revelation came for the next fifteen days. Naturally, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, was grieved and the Mushriks of Makkah had their opportunity to laugh and ridicule. After this interval of fifteen days, when the answer to the questions asked was revealed, these two verses were revealed along with it as a measure of guidance. They told him that, should he need to say something about what he was going to do the next day, he should invariably affirm it by saying InshaAllah, for everything depends on the intention and will of Allah Ta'ala.

No matter how carefully we plan something and how likely that plan may seem to materialize, ultimately it can only materialize if Allah wills. The final approval is always His for everything in life. Indeed, His approval may depend upon various aspects of our character, intent and behavior. But unless He ordains and permits a thing to happen for us, we cannot make it happen. A believer should be confident about it in his or her heart, and confess to it verbally as well that when making a commitment to do something next day, what will be said will be: 'If Allah Ta'ala wills, I shall do this thing tomorrow.' This is what the saying of InshaAllah means.

The purpose of saying this word is to invoke Divine blessing and to confess to one's slavehood and not to make a statement contingent or conditional or do something in the future that is haram or lead to one.

May Allah guide us and the Ummah. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakum Allahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam