Question:
Muslims?... Can you explain "inshallah"?
anonymous
1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Muslims?... Can you explain "inshallah"?
23 answers:
anonymous
2006-12-25 15:39:29 UTC
very nice question, I'd be pleased to answer it



Insha'Allah, an Arabic phrase meaning "God willing" traditionally invoked by Muslims when referring to the future.





So when we say we are going to do something in the future we should say this, for instance. I am going to get an A on my exam (Inshallah) if God wills or God willing.



No, you are allowed to grieve for your person who passes away. But no longer than 3 days. (This is because in pre-islamic times the women would mourn for a full year and not come out of her house) And it is God's will that the person died when he/she did.



And God knows best.



Peace Be Unto You
Antares
2006-12-25 15:46:28 UTC
Youve misinterpreted the meaning.



Insha' Allah stands for; if God wills.



This is said as an invocation when people wish for things in the future, or plan for the future.



Its an invocation that leaves it all upto God, as He is the one that provides for us.



So during future planning, the simple act of saying 'if God wills', will please God and most of the time guarantee your plans success.



In other words, its just another way of leaving things in His hands.
Kitty
2006-12-25 15:39:59 UTC
Hi there! Inshallah is not " God's will" in this context. The correct context for this word is:

E.g. You wanna buy a house next year. You tell someone about it. The other one will tell ya " Inshallah, you'll get it".
robedzombiesoul
2006-12-25 16:57:49 UTC
Yes if someone dies it is ALLAH'S will that the person dies. If they were a good Muslim and kept to the Shariah and Qur'an then they have nothing to worry about and they will go to Jinnah(Heaven). If they were bad and didn't keep the prayers or left Islam they will go to Jahannam(Hell).
Mr Stick
2006-12-25 16:06:28 UTC
Insha'Allaah means If Allaah Wills, yes..... And when someone dies, whether close or not, it was the Will of Allaah yes.



“And no moving (living) creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allaah” [Hood 11:6 – interpretation of the meaning].



Nothing exists except by the will and decree of Allaah, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):



“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (Al Lawh Al Mahfooz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah”



[al-Hadeed 57:22]



And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” Narrated and classed as saheeh by al-Tirmidhi (2516), from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas.



Al-Mubaarakfoori said:



“The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried” means, What has been decreed has been written in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz (the Book of Decrees), and nothing else will be written after that is finished.



Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi, 7/186



The writing is of two types: one kind which cannot be altered or changed, which is what is in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz, and a type which may be altered or changed, which is in the hands of the angels. And the ultimate outcome is what is written in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz. This is one of the meanings of the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):



“Allaah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of the Book (Al Lawh Al Mahfooz)”



[al-Ra’d 13:39]



Hence we can understand what was narrated in the Sunnah, that upholding family ties increases one’s lifespan or increases one’s provision; or that du’aa’ can alter the divine decree. For Allaah knows whether His slave will uphold the ties of kinship or make du’aa’, so He writes in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz that this person will have more provision or a longer life span.



Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah was asked:



Can provision increase or decrease? Is provision what a person eats or possesses?



He replied:



Provision is of two types:



1 – That which Allaah knows He will provide, which cannot be changed.



2 – That which He has prescribed and told to the angels. This may increase or decrease depending on causes. If Allaah commands the angels to write provision for a person if he upholds the ties of kinship, Allaah will increase his provision because of that. It was proven in al-Saheeh that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his life span to be extended, let him uphold the ties of kinship.” Similarly the life span of Dawood was extended by sixty years and Allaah made it one hundred years, after it was originally forty. This is as ‘Umar said: “O Allaah, if you have decreed that I am to be doomed, then erase that and make me one of those who are to be blessed, because You blot out whatever You will and confirm whatever You will.” Similarly Allaah said of Nooh (interpretation of the meaning):



“That you should worship Allaah (Alone), fear (be dutiful to) Him, and obey me,



He (Allaah) will forgive you of your sins and respite you to an appointed term”



[Nooh 71:3-4]



And there is a great deal of corroborating evidence. The means of acquiring provision comes under the heading of that which Allaah has decreed. If it has been decreed that a person will earn his provision by means of his work and efforts, then Allaah will cause him to work and strive, and that which is decreed for him by means of his work will not come to him without him working to earn it. And what has been decreed for him without his having to earn it, such as an inheritance, will come to him without him working for it.



Work or striving is of two types: striving in work for the sake of earning a living, such as industry, farming and business; and striving in du’a’, putting one's trust in Allaah, treating others kindly, and so on. Allaah will help His slave so long as His slave helps his brother.



Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 8/540, 541 .



Is it permissible to ask Allaah to change His decree?

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=11522&ln=eng

Why do people die of hunger if their provision has been decreed by Allaah?

http://islamqa.com/index.php?ref=3699&ln=eng
anonymous
2006-12-25 16:05:38 UTC
Inshallah means "if Allah wishes", so its for future events.
fs
2006-12-25 15:47:25 UTC
If God wills, not God's will.

There is a big difference.

You say inshallah when you hope that something happens
Zifikos
2006-12-25 15:45:11 UTC
To cry over a death is not recommended in Islam because its God's will. Our lives are just deposits so why would we be upset when He takes it back? We will all meet at the same place "inshAllah"...
Allen L
2006-12-25 15:37:34 UTC
God be with you
shaybani_yusuf
2006-12-25 15:57:15 UTC
the phrase in sha Allah means as follows



in = if

sha= wishes

Allah=God



Basically it means "If Allah wishes" or "God willing" it is said after talking about some future event in recognition that everything happens only if Allah wills it and He has total power over our lives e.g "Im going to visit my family next week inshAllah"



Insha'Allah (إن شاء الله) is an Arabic term evoked by Muslims to indicate hope for an aforementioned event to occur in the future. The phrase translates into English as "If it is God's will".



The term is also related to another Arabic term, Masha'Allah (ما شاء الله), which means "God has willed it".



This word is often used to indicate a desire to do something that may not actually occur. In Judaism, B'ezrat Hashem (בעזרת השם) and Im Irtze Hashem (אם ירצה השם) are used for the same reason.



Usage of Insha'Allah derives from Islamic scripture, Surat Al Kahf (18):24 : "And never say of anything, 'I shall do such and such thing tomorrow. Except (with the saying): 'If Allah wills!' And remember your lord when you forget..."





[edit] Historical reference

Muslim scholar Ibn Abbas stated that it is in fact obligatory for a Muslim to say Insha'Allah when referring to something he or she intends to do in the future. If carelessness leads to the omission of the phrase, it may be said at a later time upon the realization of the omission.



The Spanish word ojalá and the Portuguese word oxalá (I hope, I wish) are derived from law šá lláh, a similar phrase meaning "God willing." They are an example of the many words borrowed from Arabic due to the Muslim occupation of Iberian peninsula from the eighth to fifteenth centuries.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insha'Allah



With regards weeping over the dead - it is a sign of mercy in the heart - what is prohibited in Islam is wailing beating yourseves or being angry with God (God forbid)



WEEPING FOR THE DEAD







1. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) wept on the death of his son Ibrahim.

The following narration has been mentioned in Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan Abi Dawood and Sunan Ibne Majah:



Anas bin Malik reported that: The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) entered the room and we accompanied him... And Ibrahim breathed his last. The eyes of Allah's Messenger (S.A.W.) were filled with tears. Abdur Rehman Ibne Auf said: 'you are weeping, O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.)'. He (S.A.W.) replied: "Ibne Auf, This is mercy". Then he (S.A.W.) said: "Our eyes shed tears and our hearts are filled with grief, but we do not say anything except that by which Allah is pleased. O, Ibrahim we are sorrowful due to your separation."



And it is mentioned in Sunan Ibne Majah that: Anas Ibne Malik says: When Ibrahim the son of the Prophet (S.A.W.) died, he (S.A.W.) said: "Do not shroud him till I have looked at him." Then he came forward in misery and wept.



In Sunan Tirmizi it is recorded from Jabir Ibne Abdulla Ansari that:



The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) held the hand of Abdur Rehman Ibne Auf and took him to Ibrahim, his son, when Ibrahim was in his last moments. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) took him in his lap and began to weep. Abdur Rehman Ibne Auf said: 'you are weeping? And you had yourself prohibited weeping?' The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) replied: 'No, but I had prohibited two kinds of cries of foolish and sinful people: The cry at the time of a calamity, and tearing at the face and the collar. And the second is crying like Shaitan. And there is more in this narration. Abu Isa says that this hadith is good.



2. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) wept for his Uncle Hamza (R.A.).

The books Tabaqat Ibne Saad, Maghazi of Waqidi and Musnad Ahmed Hanbal mention the following tradition:



After the Battle of Uhud, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) passed by a house of Ansars. He heard the wailing of the people for their martyred family members. The eyes of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) filled with tears and he began to weep. Then he (S.A.W.) said: "But there is no one to weep for Hamza." When the ladies of the family of Sa'ad bin Muadh and Usayd bin Huzayr al-Ashhal returned they told them to go and weep for Hamza, the uncle of the Prophet (S.A.W.). Then from that time to date none of the women of Ansar have wept for their dead ones before weeping upon Hamza (R.A.).



3. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) wept for Jafar bin Abi Talib (R.A.).



Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day and remembers Allah much.



- Holy Qur'an (33:21)



A narration recorded in the books of Al-Istiab, Usud al-Ghaba, Al-Isabah and Ibne Athir etc that: When Jafar was killed with his companions, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) came to his house and summoned his children. Then he consoled them up and there were tears in his eyes. Asma, the wife of Jafar said: May my parents sacrificed for you, you are crying? Shall I tell you about Jafar and his companions?



"Yes", he replied the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), "I am very sorrowful today."



Then Asma called and the women gathered, and Fatima (S.A.) entered weeping and wailing, "O Uncle!".



The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: "A brave one like Jafar deserves to be wept upon."



4. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) wept for his mother at her grave.

Many books of traditions like Sahih Muslim, Musnad Ahmed Hanbal, Sunan Abi Dawood, Sunan Nasai and Sunan Ibne Majah mentioned the following tradition:



Abu Huraira says: "The Prophet (S.A.W.) visited the grave of his mother and wept and made others weep too."



5. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) wept for his grandson, Hussain (A.S.) on various occasions.

(i) Tradition of Ummul Fazl.



The first narration quoted by us is recorded in Mustadrakul Sahihayn, History of Ibne Asakir and Maqtal of Khwarizmi, other books also mention this incident.



Ummul Fazl the daughter of Harith came to the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) and said: "O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), I had a dream in which I saw that a piece of your flesh flew off and fell into my lap. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) told her, "You have seen something good, by the will of Allah, Fatima will give birth to a child and you will be present in the house."



Later Fatima (S.A.) gave birth to Hussain (A.S.) and Ummul Fazl was present, as the Prophet (S.A.W.) had predicted. She placed Hussain (A.S.) in the lap of the Prophet (S.A.W.), She said:



"Thus when I saw the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) that his eyes were filled with tears. I said, 'O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), may my parents be sacrificed for you, why are you weeping?'.



He (S.A.W.) replied, 'Jibraeel came to me and informed me that my people will soon murder this son of mine.'



I asked, 'This son?'



'Yes', he (S.A.W.) replied, 'And he gave me the red dust of his grave.'



Al-Hakim says, "This is an authentic hadith according to the standards of Bukhari and Muslim, but they have not included it in their collections."



(ii) Tradition of Zainab Binte Jahash

A similar type of narration has been presented in the books: Tarikh Ibne Asakir, Majmauz Zawaed, Tarikh Ibne Kathir etc:



Zainab says: One day while Hussain (A.S.) was in my house and near me at the staircase, and then I became thoughtless. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) entered.... He (S.A.W.) said, "Let him be (as he is). The Prophet (S.A.W.) stretched out his hands while he was performing the prayers and took Hussain (A.S.) to him. I said, "O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.), I have never seen you do this before?"



He (S.A.W.) said, "Jibraeel came to me and informed me that this (Hussain) will be killed by my Ummat." I requested him, "Then show me the dust of the land, where he will be killed." And he gave me some red earth.



(iii) Tradition of Ayesha (R.A.)

Abi Salma has been recorded in Tarikh Ibne Asakir, Maqtal Khwarizmi and Majmauz Zawaid to say:



Ayesha (R.A.) said: The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) had seated Hussain (A.S.) upon his thigh when Jibraeel came and asked, "Is this your son?"



"Yes", he replied.



Jibraeel said, "But your Ummat will soon kill him after your demise."



The eyes of the Prophet filled with tears.



Jibraeel said, "Would you like to see the land where he shall be killed?"



"Yes", he replied.



Then Jibraeel showed him the fine dust of his grave.



In another narration there is a variation where Jibraeel is reported to have indicated towards Iraq and took some red dust from it and showed it to him and said, "This is the dust from his fatal battleground."



(iv) Tradition of Umm-e-Salma (R.A.)

Mustadrakul Sahihayn, Tabaqaat Ibne Saad, Tarikh Ibne Asakir and other books have mentioned the following tradition from Umm-e-Salma (R.A.):



The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) was sleeping one night when he awoke with a start. He was in a state of terror. Then again he went to sleep and once more woke up with a start. This time he was more worried. Again he went to sleep and woke up. In his hands was some red dust. He was turning it around in his hands.



She said, "What is this dust, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Jibraeel informed me that this Hussain will be killed in the land of Iraq. I asked Jibraeel to show me the dust of the land where he will be killed. And this is that dust."



The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) told Umar not to prohibit weeping.

The books of Sunan Nasai, Sunan Ibne Majah and Musnad Ibne Hanbal record the following narration:



Salma binte Azraq reports that Abu Huraira said: Someone of the family of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) died. The women gathered and began to weep upon the death. Umar stood up and refrained them from weeping. The Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said: Do not stop them, Umar, because the eyes weep and the heart is sorrowful and it has been only a short while (since the calamity).



And in Musnad Ahmed Hanbal:



From Wahab bin kaysani, from Muhammad bin Umar that he informed him: Salma Ibne Azrak was sitting with Abdullah Ibne Umar in the market place when a bier passed and people were weeping on it. When Abdullah Ibne Umar restrained them from weeping, Salma Ibne Azraq told him; do not say that, because I have witnessed my father say that he heard from Abu Huraira that a woman from the family of Marwan died and Marwan told his women not to weep upon her. Abu Huraira told him not to restrain them as he himself had witnessed the incident when the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) told Umar not to send away the women who were weeping upon the dead. Moreover, the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) had said: "Call them back, son of Khattab, for surely the soul is sorrowful and the eyes weep and it is a fresh incident."



He said, "Did you not hear him say that?".



"Yes", he replied, "The Almighty and His Messenger are more knowledgeable."
anonymous
2016-05-23 10:24:23 UTC
Nothing in the Qur'an describes anything scientific in detail. All it has are vague verses which could mean various things. And that's not all. In some cases it's outright fraud. Like the famous Big Bang verse. Did you know that that verse was only translated as such after the Big Bang theory was discovered by science? Here's what an older translation from 1930 looks like: Qur'an 51:47: - Pickthal: "We have built the heaven with might, and We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof)." - Qaribullah: "We built the heaven with might, and We widely extended it." - H/K/Saheeh: "And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander." - Maulana Ali: "And the heaven, We raised it high with power, and We are Makers of the vast extent." - Sarwar: "We have made the heavens with Our own hands and We expanded it." - Malik: "We have built the heavens with Our hands, for We have the power to do so." - Arberry: "And heaven -- We built it with might, and We extend it wide." - Yusuf Ali: "With power and skill did We construct the Firmament: for it is We Who create the vastness of pace." Edit: Serene Soul - Fair enough, I am talking about the expanding Universe verse. It's a case in point of the dishonesty that is Koranic translation. Edit 2: Serene Soul - If you read my answer, you will notice I am not claiming to speak Arabic. I am claiming the Qur'an is translated dishonestly, as evidenced by the willingness of Muslims to change the translations of the Qur'an to fit new scientific findings and then claim it described them all along when clearly that was not the case. In the 1930's nobody had any problem with the above translations. But then suddenly when they don't square with science anymore they have to be altered. That is plain dishonesty. Edit 3: Serene Soul - Thank you for proving my point. Your 1955 translation talks about an expanding Universe and your 1734 translation does not. That's exactly what I claimed.
alternative_be
2006-12-25 15:41:10 UTC
Well, I work with Muslims on a daily basis. Many use inshallah at a time they want to see their wishes granted. More like, inshallah, I hope at one time in my life my problems will be solved.
anonymous
2006-12-25 15:44:55 UTC
inshallah means hopefully in english.

You can do nothing if Allah doesn't want . To use that word kinda showing your inability according to Allah. and Muslims even don't think to breathe without saying inshallah. we pray Allah to have a wise which can fathom to say insallah

happy holidays inshallah ;)
E.T.01
2006-12-25 15:47:03 UTC
I think it means if Allah pleases. and its not used the way you are saying. Its used most of the time for the future as in 'i will come to see you InshAllah.'



I agree with what 'revenge is sweet' just said :)
anonymous
2006-12-25 15:41:23 UTC
Not at all true. It's just like anyone else. If there is no logical explanation for the death of someone dear, don't we all ascribe it to god's will. Don't we say that god works in mysterious ways?



Besides, I think that term really means, If it is god's will" I have only heard it in that context. Any Arabic speakers please feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
gokusanone
2006-12-25 15:38:37 UTC
God has POWER over every living entity therefore Inshallah means "with the WIll of God Almighty"



cause eveything happens because of HIM
Isuck,Usuck,Weallsuck
2006-12-25 15:55:49 UTC
inshallah means god willing. it has come to mean something else as well now in muslim families: "maybe"
anonymous
2006-12-25 18:03:16 UTC
WE AS MUSLIMS ARE NEVER TO QUESTION THE DECREED OF ALLAH(SWT) IF WE DID JUST A THING THEN WE WOULD BE LIKE THE JEWS OF THE TIME OF MOSES(PBUH).AND WHO SAYS THAT WE CANT CRY FOR A LOVED ONE THAT DIES.AND NO WE DONT USE THE WORD INSHA'ALLAH WHEN SOMEONE DIES. INSHA'ALLAH IS TO BE USED FOR A FUTURE ACTION.INSHA'ALLAH(IF ALLAH(SWT) WILLS.
namso141
2006-12-25 18:08:59 UTC
it means according to God's will if something bad or good happens
anonymous
2006-12-25 15:39:36 UTC
it is God's will when a person dies. and it's disliked that people cry over death.
UltraNational
2006-12-25 15:40:22 UTC
It means "with God's will we will triumph over the infidels, the sons of apes and pigs, the Jews and Christians" (sura 7:21)
♡♥ sHaNu ♥♡
2006-12-25 15:52:13 UTC
Peace be upon all readers!

I'm not really sure exactly what you're asking, but if you're asking what say we have in God's will and whether we can cry over dead people (yes we can; answer is below), here's the answer to the best of my ability, in the name of Allah (God):



In the Quran, we're told not to plan anything but to say "InshaAllah" with it for nothing can happen unless God wills for it to happen, and everyone who believes in God believes that nothing happens without God's will. You say "InshaAllah" for future events, and for anything else you plan to do/say/think, etc. Of course, we Muslims know that nothing is possible without God's will, but it's still best to say "InshaAllah" with it. If you've noticed, perhaps, most of the general sayings (including greetings, wishing someone luck, etc.) are mostly PRAYERS and some even have God's name in them (like when you say "MashaAllah" to something beautiful, and MashaAllah means "As God wills"). "InshaAllah" = if God wills.

You're more than welcome to have personal opinion so long as they do not contradict the true Islamic beliefs. Yes, God has plans for all of us, and God's Will prevails all over, but aren't we humans the ones making the decisions for ourselves? Does God stand over your head and say, "Do THIS!!! NOW! You CANNOT do this or I'll kill you!" No, He gave you the right to choose and to make your own decisions, so I don't find it logical and accurate when people go about saying, "If I'm meant to go to hell, I'll go to hell and I can't do anything about it since it's in God's hands." Yes, it's in God's hands, but who said you can't do anything about it?? YOU make the decision of going to hell; if you make wrong decisions in this world, then it's only fair that you be sent to hell, right?



Going back to "InshaAllah", NOT saying "InshaAllah" will NOT change anything. We Muslims are told to remember Allah (God) in all that we do, say, think, plan, etc. so that we remember not to go against God's rules. But personally speaking, it's been proven to me from personal experiences and from observations that when I say "InshaAllah" for something I plan/wish to do or say or plan, then it all turns out pretty well, and I'm satisfied with it. There have been times when I yearned to do something and planned for something without saying "InshaAllah", and things didn't go as I had planned.... Things will not ALWAYS go as you plan them just because you say "InshaAllah", but it never hurts to do what God says to do since we dont know what's good/bad for us, but God knows what's good/bad for us.



As for crying over the dead, Muslims are told that they CAN cry for the dead as long as they do not lose control. If you may know, some people scream when someone dies and lose total control of themselves. Islam doesn't permit that; screaming and crying so loudly over the dead will NOT bring the dead back. Weep over them silently (since humans tend to express their pain and sorrows through tears at times) IS permitted, but do not lose control while crying.



Peace be upon us all, and may we all be guided to the Right Path.
m c
2006-12-25 15:44:35 UTC
I do care to learn their religion. These would like to kill every American regardess of age, race or gender. I will not even type the name M------, so guess you see where I stand.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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