Asalamu aleykum,brothers and sisters.Since there is so much overuse and outright abuse of the “Inshallah” expression,let us go over its’ origins- at least the most important one.

A group of Quraysh came to the Prophet saws and asked him  a set of three questions given to them by the Jews.One of the questions about who the youth were who escaped  Prophet saws did not have the answer to so he told them he would answer their question the next day,hoping for a Revelation from his Lord.But Allah made him wait fifteen days and endure abuse from the Quraysh because he had not said “inshallah,I will give you the answer”,acknowledging that all knowledge comes from our Lord who endows it on us as He pleases.He was eventually vindicated by the revelation of surat al Kahf two weeks later.In that surat Inshallah and Mashallah are used for the first time.

What does this tell us about the use of the term “inshallah”? That we need ,all of us,to recognize our dependency on Allah for both our understanding and the results of our actions.This is NOT an excuse to put all our failings and our neglicence and laziness on the account of Allah Estagfirullah.So inshallah is for those issues over which we have limited control.Examples”I am working hard at school this term.Inshallah I will get an A average”or”I should apologize to my parents for my bad behavious.Inshallah they will accept my apologies”. On the other hand,”inshallah I will do the dishes tonight”or “Inshallah I will pray more regularly” is not an acceptable use of the term.These are things over which we have control.We should not “use the name of the Lord in vain” as the Old Testament teaches us.

As the Christians say”Render unto Cesar what is Cesar’s and render onto God what is God’s.”So we can say “render unto Ahmad( the generic Muslim lol) what is Ahmad’s and render unto Allah what is Allah’s” lol.Ahmad can do the dishes and respect his parents.That is the responsiblity of Ahmad not of God.I hope people can get the point! Salaams,Ibrahim