Question:
What is the proper usage of in shaa Allah? For example some people may use it for every situation, similar to the usage of wallahi by some people.
Answer:
As for the usage of the word ‘in shaa Allah’, then it is usually expressed for one of the following reasons:
- For التبرك meaning to seek the blessings of Allah in that which you are embarking upon
- For الشك meaning to show that one is doubtful regarding something occurring or not
- For الترجي meaning to show that one is optimistic regarding the occurrence of action and likewise it can be used for the past tense in some cases, as been stated below
Ash-Shaykh Bin Baaz rahimahullah, said:
هذا فيه تفصيل، أما في العبادات فلا مانع أن يقول: إن شاء الله صليت، إن شاء الله صمت؛ لأنه لا يدري هل كملها وقبلت منه أم لا. وكان المؤمنون يستثنون في إيمانهم وفي صومهم؛ لأنهم لا يدرون هل أكملوا أم لا، فيقول الواحد منهم: صمت إن شاء الله، ويقول: أنا مؤمن إن شاء الله.
أما الشيء الذي لا يحتاج إلى ذكر المشيئة مثل أن يقول: بعت إن شاء الله- فهذا لا يحتاج إلى ذلك، أو يقول: تغديت أو تعشيت إن شاء الله، فهذا لا يحتاج أن يقول كلمة إن شاء الله؟ لأن هذه الأمور لا تحتاج إلى المشيئة في الخبر عنها؛ لأنها أمور عادية قد فعلها وانتهى منها، بخلاف أمور العبادات التي لا يدري هل وفاها أم بخسها حقها، فإذا قال: إن شاء الله فهو للتبرك باسمه سبحانه والحذر من دعوى شيء لم يكن قد أكمله ولا أداه حقه.
This [matter] has details to it. As for the acts of worship, then there is no sin that he says, ‘in shaa Allah I prayed, in shaa Allah I fasted’ since he doesn’t know if he perfected it and if it was accepted from him or not. And the believers [of the past] used to say ‘in shaa Allah’for stating that they have eeman and pertaining to their fast, the reason being that they did not know if they perfected it or not. Therefore, one of them would say,’ I fasted in shaa Allah,’ and he would say, ‘I’m a believer in shaa Allah’.
As for things which doesn’t require to say in shaa Allah for such as saying,’ I sold [it] in shaa Allah’ then this isn’t needed. Or [another example of one] to say, ‘I had lunch in shaa Allah’ or ‘I had dinner in shaa Allah’. This [scenario] doesn’t need him to utter the word ‘in shaa Allah’ because these matters do not require one to mention the will of Allah when speaking regarding them. [This is] since they are regular affairs which he has already performed and completed. [And this is] contrary to the matters of ibadah for which he doesn’t know if he gave it [i. e. the act of worship] its due right or fell short in fulfilling it. Therefore, if he says, ‘in shaa Allah’ then it is for tabarruk [i.e. seeking blessings] through His Name – glory to Him – and to be cautious from claiming something which he hasn’t perfected or gave it [i. e. the act of worship] its due right.
Ash-Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen, rahimahullah, said in his Sharh of Riyadh as-Saaliheen:
: دليل على أنه يجوز للإنسان أن يقول: لأفعلن كذا في المستقبل وإن لم يقل: إن شاء الله ولكن يجب أن نعلم الفرق بين شخص يخبر عما في نفسه وشخص يخبر أنه سيفعل يعني يريد الفعل أما الأول فلا بأس أن يقول: سأفعل بدون إن شاء الله لأنه إنما يخبر عما في نفسه وأما الثاني الذي يريد أنه يفعل أي يوقع الفعل فعلا فهذا لا يقل إلا مقيدا بالمشيئة قال تعالى { ولا تقولن لشيء إني فاعل ذلك غدا إلا أن يشاء الله }
… A proof that it is permissible for a person to say, ‘I will do such and such thing in the future’ even though he didn’t say ‘in shaa Allah’ . However, it is compulsory we know the difference between a person informing about what he intends in his inner self and a person informing that he will will do [something], meaning he intends the action. As for the first one, then there is no harm if he were to say, ‘I will do [such and such thing] without mentioning “in shaa Allah” since he is merely informing about what is in his inner self. As for the second one then he intends that he will [actually] perform it, meaning the action will really take place. Therefore this [person] would not utter it unless mentioned along with the word “in shaa Allah”. Allah, The Most High, said:
وَلاَ تَقْولَنَّ لِشَىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌ ذلِكَ غَداً إِلاَّ أَن يَشَآءَ اللَّهُ
And never say of anything, “I shall do such and such thing tomorrow.”) (24. Except (with the saying), “If Allah wills!”
[18:23-24]
Ibn Katheer, rahimahullah, commented on the aforementioned verse by saying:
Here Allah, may He be glorified, shows His Messenger the correct etiquette when determining to do something in the future; this should always be referred to the will of Allah, the Knower of the Unseen, Who knows what was and what is yet to be and what is not to be, and how it will be if it is to be…
[An excerpt from the english abridged version of tafseer ibn Katheer]
Al-Imaam an-Nawawi, rahimahullah, said in his Sharh of Saheeh Muslim:
يستحب للإنسان إذا قال سأفعل كذا أن يقول: إن شاء الله تعالى على جهة التبرك والامتثال لقول الله تعالى: ولا تقولن لشيء إني فاعل ذلك غدا إلا أن يشاء الله.
It is recommended for a person that if he says, ‘I will do such and such thing’ that he utters ‘in shaa Allah ta’alaa’, as a method of seeking blessings and to carry out the statement of Allah, The Most High:
وَلاَ تَقْولَنَّ لِشَىْءٍ إِنِّى فَاعِلٌ ذلِكَ غَداً إِلاَّ أَن يَشَآءَ اللَّهُ
And never say of anything, “I shall do such and such thing tomorrow.”) Except (with the saying)
[18:23-24]
Here are some examples on the usage of the word ‘in shaa Allah’ in the Quran :
إِنَّ الْبَقَرَ تَشَابَهَ عَلَيْنَا وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَمُهْتَدُونَ ﴿٧٠ البقرة﴾
Indeed, [all] cows look alike to us. And indeed we, if Allah wills, will be guided.”
قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا ﴿٦٩ الكهف﴾
He said: Allah willing, you shall find me patient and will not disobey your command.
لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ ﴿٢٧ الفتح﴾
You shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, with minds secure, heads shaved, hair cut short, and without fear.
Translated and Answered by
AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
