Islamic Pearls of Inspiration

✨The Power of In Sha Allah ✨

1. When Allah's Messenger (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) declared Allah's Oneness and proclaimed to be the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) and revelation of Divine Message. The disbelievers of Makkah sent some men to Jewish rabbis in al-Medina and said: "Ask them (the rabbis) about Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam), and describe him to them, and tell them what he is saying.

They are the people of the first Book, and they have more knowledge of the Prophets than we do.' So they set out for al-Medina, they asked the Jewish rabbis about the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam). They described him to them and told them some of his teachings.

The rabbis said: 'Ask him about three things which we will tell you to ask, if he answers them then he is a Prophet who has been sent (by Allah); if he does not, then he is saying things that are not true, in which case how you will deal with him will be up to you. Ask him about some young men in ancient times, what was their story? For there is a strange and wondrous tale. Ask him about a man who traveled a great deal and reached the east and the west of the earth. What was his story? And ask him about he Ruh (soul or spirit) what is it?

If he tells you about these things, then he is a Prophet, so follow him, but if he does not tell you, then he is a man who is making things up, so deal with him as you see fit.' So, the men came back to Makkah and said: 'O people! We have come to you with a decisive solution which will put an end to the problem between you and Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam). The Jewish rabbis told us to ask him about some matters,' and they told them what they were. Then they came to the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) and said: 'O Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) tell us,' and they asked him about the things they had been told to ask.

The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "I will tell you tomorrow about what you have asked me." But he (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) did not say, 'If Allah Wills.'

Allah Messenger (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) never spoke anything except with revelation. So, he waited for the revelation from Allah but fifteen days passed away without any revelation concerning those matter which the disbelievers asked, neither did Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) come to him. The people of Makkah started to doubt him and said: 'Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) promised to tell us the next day and now fifteen days have gone by and he has not told us anything in response to the questions we asked.'

The Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) felt sad because of the delay in revelation and was grieved by what the people of Makkah were saying about him.

Then Jibreel (alaihis-salaam) came with the revelation of Surah al-Kahf, which contained answers to the questions and also the above mentioned verse explaining the correct etiquette when determining to do something in the future.

2.Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every day, Gog and Magog try to dig a way out through the barrier. When they begin to see sunlight through it, the one who is in charge of them says, 'Go back; you can carry on digging tomorrow,' and when they come back, the barrier becomes stronger than it was before. This will continue until their time comes and Allah wishes to send them forth. They will dig until they begin to see sunlight, then the one who is in charge of them will say, 'Go back; you can carry on digging tomorrow, In sha Allah.' In this case, he will make an exception by saying In sha Allah, thus relating the matter to the Will of Allah. They will return on the following day, and find the hole exactly as they left it. They will carry on digging and come out against the people. They will drink all the water, and find the hole exactly as they left it, and the people will entrench themselves in their fortresses...." (Reported by At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad)

I want to highlight the importance of saying In sha Allah;it is not just a word that we say by habit or ritual, it has a greater meaning to it.By saying In sha Allah, we acknowledge that only God has the authority to make IT happen.No matter how prepared we might be or no matter how much we plan, if Allah doesn't want it to be then it can never happen.The final approval is always His for everything in life;we should think about the purpose/meaning when we use the term.

So, if one determines to do something in the future or even takes an oath, he should say, 'If Allah Wills' or 'In sha Allah.' If one forgets to say, Insha'Allah then he should say when he remembers it even if it is a year later, as Ibn Abbas (radhiallahu anhu) explained.