The Do's and Don'ts of "Insha'Allah"

The Islamic phrase "insha'Allah" is well known by Muslims and non-Muslims alike. But do we really understand what it means or when and how to say it? Why do we even say "insha'Allah"? And even as importantly: do we know when NOT to say it? Read on to find out and feel free to share the khayr so that it can benefit others, insha'Allah :)

 

What does "insha'Allah" mean and how do we write it?

 

The Islamic phrase "insha'Allah" is written إنْ شَاءَ ٱللَّٰهُ‎ in Arabic (pronounced [in shā'a Allāh]) and is generally translated as "if Allah (God) wills" or "God willing". When writing "insha'Allah" in Arabic, it is important to know that the phrase is made of three separate words, which gives the phrase its true meaning "if Allah wills". In Arabic, إِن [in] means "if", شَاءَ [shā'a] means "(He) willed", and الله [Allāh] means "God Almighty (the True and Only One)". By combining these three words together in Arabic, the phrase would carry a different meaning, which is important to avoid. When writing the transliteration of this phrase in other languages, it is acceptable to combine the words or keep them separate as long as the pronunciation is clear and understandable in that language. Mufti Menk has recorded a very useful video recently about a common misunderstanding around how we write it in transliteration.

 

For more visit studioarabiya.com/blog/the-dos-and-donts-of-inshaallah

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