"and never say such of anything, " I shall do such and such thing tomorrow."
"except (with the saying) " InshaAllah (If Allah wills) ." And remember your Lord when you forget and say: "It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this."
(The Holy Quran, al-Kahfi 18:23-24)
Salamualaikum WRH
To those who don't know, that's the verse containing Allah's warning and guide to whatever we plan to do in the future.
Alhamdulillah, I still remember the asbab-un-nuzul of the verse which is as follows:
Once a man came to the Apostle Muhammad SAW to ask a question, so the Apostle said, "I will give the answer in three days time (as usually Allah will send a revelation in that period of time to answer)". So the Apostle waited for three days time and no revelation was revealed to him. After a while, Allah revealed to him the verse in al-Kahfi to correct him of his actions.
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Can you imagine that? Allah corrected Nabi Muhammad SAW for not saying "InshaAllah" at the end of his promise. What is now seen as something little, minor and of little importance is actually big and important enough for Allah Himself to correct our Apostle.
"InshaAllah" is a powerful word to remind ourselves that we are weak and in need of Him in everything we do. We don't have power to control the future, be it ours or others. When we omit "InshaAllah", we submit that we will try to do our best to have something fulfilled but in the end everything is dependant on His call.
Hold on to that phrase - "try to do our best". That's why 'InshaAllah' isn't something to be taken lightly. Saying "InshaAllah, I'll do it tomorrow" or "InshaAllah, I will go" doesn't make us ineligible to fault when we 'forget' it purposely nor is it an excuse to wiggle out of a chore. Personally, I dislike (not hate) when people do that. If you don't want to do it, then tell, say something instead of giving false hopes!
Malay ethics have made Arabic words like; "Salamualaikum", "InshaAllah" and "Alhamdulillah" a part of the normal conversations of a Malay. Sadly, there are many that don't realise the actual usage of the words.
"Salamualaikum" isn't just a greeting, it's a prayer.
"Alhamdulillah" isn't just to exclaim so
mething nice, but it's also a measurement of gratitude.
"InshaAllah" isn't a normal word to become a suffix to a phrase, it's a reminder.
From the above verse, Allah mentioned in the verse 24: " And remember your Lord when you forget and say: "It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this."
How many will accept shortcomings should a plan fail? How many will hold back tears when a life's work is ruined?
Only the ones who tadabbur the verse - living the verse in their lives.
Accept that everything is laid out and planned by the One Almighty. What can be changed and remain is subject to His conditions - after praying that is.
So next time when we say/promise something in the future lest not forget to say InshaAllah. It isn't something small and minor, but it's of great importance and measurement of faith.
Wallahua'lam.
