Sikander Hashmi – Getting In Shaa Allah Right KMA Friday Message
AI: Summary ©
AI: Transcript ©
Respected elders,
dear brothers and sisters, my young friends,
We begin by praising Allah
the Lord of the universe,
our creator,
our sustainer,
our renourisher,
and we begin by sending peace and salutations
upon his beloved messenger,
Mohammed, the son of Abdullah
I hope, my brothers and sisters, that you
are all
doing well and are in the protection
of Allah
As you know, as Muslims,
there are
certain
words that are part of our vocabulary
and that many of us use regularly.
Words that are
usually
peculiar
to Muslims,
meaning they're not necessarily
used,
oftenly or used regularly by others. Although it
is possible that in Arab speaking countries,
these terms are even used by those who
are not Muslim, used by Christians as well.
Because, of course, there are many similarities in
terms of,
beliefs as well as major differences. So there
are certain words that are part of our
vocabulary many of us use irregularity.
Some of these words are even known even
in the Western world,
or outside of Muslim majority countries
are known to people who are not Muslim.
So the other day, I was,
hiking
on a trail nearby,
and a young man rode by on his
bike,
and, he says,
salaam alaykum. Wa alaykum. I've seen you. Right?
So,
that is one term that many people have
become familiar with. Of course, they know what
Ramadan is,
in terms of, you know, our celebrations,
Eid as well.
Allah of Akbar has also become known,
but sadly has been associated,
with violence even though it has nothing to
do with violence. But many times, when people
hear a lot of Akbar, they're not Muslim
or or they, you know, they they think
they read the term, they associate it with
violence, unfortunately.
And nothing could be further from the truth,
of course.
Now an Islamic term that has made headlines
this week
is
And
that's because it supposedly made it into the
presidential debate, south of the border.
But if you actually look at the context
in which it was supposedly uttered, I'm still
not sure if it was exactly the word,
but you'll take it for what it it
is said to be.
It wasn't used in the way that it's
supposed to be used or that it should
be used.
There seem to be actually many stories
of non Muslims
interacting with Muslims, especially in
some Muslim majority,
societies,
and
walking away and it doesn't have to be
there. It could be here as well.
People who are not Muslim, who are working
with Muslims perhaps,
and they're walking away with a completely skewed
understanding
about how the term is is supposed to
be used and what it actually means.
And it's not their fault.
Right? It's not their fault. It's because
the Muslims that they're interacting with
are using it disrespectfully,
are using it out of place, are using
it
in completely
the opposite sense or incorrect sense compared to
what it actually means and what it's actually
supposed to be used for. So let's talk
about that.
So where,
you know, does this term, insha'allah, come from
anyway?
In Surah Al Kahf, which of course is
a Surah that we are recommended, advised
to recite on, on Fridays today.
And if not fully, then at least the
first ten verses or the last ten verses
or both.
Never say of anything that I will do
it tomorrow or I will definitely do it
tomorrow or do this tomorrow
without adding if Allah so will.
Without qualifying with the will of Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala. Now this has to do with
the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam.
He was being asked questions
regarding the Ashab ul Kahf,
regarding the people of the cave, by the
people of Mecca who were being coached by
some of the people of the book, by
some of the
who knew about this story. So they knew
about the story of the people of the
cave of the
and they were telling the the this the,
polytheists,
the mushrikoon of Makkah, what to ask the
prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam regarding the story, sort
of like, you know, to quiz him and
to test him.
And the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam was
anticipating
revelation from Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam
was expecting that he would receive
revelation from Allah
which would guide him and tell him on
how to answer these questions.
So the prophet
promised to answer
those questions the next day without saying inshallah,
without saying, if Allah will. So he made
a promise. He said that he was gonna
give them the answer tomorrow, but he did
not use,
the term.
He did not qualify by the to the
will of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
And what happens is that no revelation comes.
So no wahid comes the next day
and the next day and the next day
until 15 days have passed.
Now, of course, the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam
was grieved,
and he was worried. The polytheists, the mushrikoon
of Mecca
got their opportunity
to laugh at the prophet to ridicule him
because, of course, that was something that they
were constantly looking to do.
Then finally, after these 15 days have passed,
the revelation finally came with the answers that,
that were needed
and, regarding what was being asked about the
how we can about the people of the
cave.
And then
those answers came with this guidance as well
that
And never say of anything that I will
definitely do this tomorrow without adding if Allah
so wills.
And but if you forget, then remember your
Lord.
If you forget to do so, because it
happens, because we're human beings, you may forget.
When you remember,
then remember your lord,
and say,
I trust my love. My lord will guide
me to what is more right than this.
K. So this is the guidance that came
the advice that came with
the, the answers that the prophet
was looking for. So this is one of
the etiquettes
we learn
regarding our promise or to someone or our
expectation of something happening in the future, our
decision to do something in the future, that
we should always qualify with the will of
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala.
And the reason for that is, you know,
we plan to do something, but how do
we actually know that we will be able
to do it for sure? How many times
have we planned something? We put it in
our calendar. We've, you know, promised someone that
we're gonna meet them. We're gonna do something.
Maybe our family was asking us to do
something. Maybe it was a work assignment. Whatever
it was, you know, we plan to do
something. How many times did it have to
happen that we have not been able to
live up to our promise?
Right? So when we promise something, how do
we know that we're actually gonna be able
to do it for sure? Right? What if
we're no longer alive?
Right? Or something else happens that is beyond
our control, right, that we do not know
about.
It will end up being a false statement
in that case, right, which is, of course,
perhaps unintentional,
but nonetheless, you know, a false statement,
you know, linked with lying, which is prohibited.
Unless we say, insha'Allah, that if Allah wills,
Then we are qualifying it with the will
of Allah
meaning, right, implying that not that I'm never
gonna do this or I don't wanna do
it, but implying that I will try to
do it. I will try to live up
to my promise with what I have said.
If Allah so wills, meaning if Allah facilitates
it for me and Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala,
decides for me or allows me to do
it, then I will go ahead and do
it. It also protects us from regret
that if we tried sincerely to do something
and it didn't happen,
then we can reassure ourselves, now that's the
key word there, that we try sincerely to
do something, that we had the intention, we
made the effort, but still it did not
happen, then we it protects us from regret
because we know that it was not the
will of Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala and so
it didn't happen.
And it's also, if you think about it,
a way of seeking permission from Allah Subhanahu
wa ta'ala. Meaning, recognizing
that we are not in control of our
matters
or that the control that we have is
have been given to us by Allah
and it is very little control. And indeed,
Allah
is the one who is controlling all matters
and we are subservient to him and we
are dependent on him and his facilitation
of our wishes
and our actions.
Now the scholars say have mentioned that this
is not a command
that conveys obligation because, you know, a lot
of times,
the the command is for for it's it's
it's it's it's obligatory.
But rather this is a recommendation.
And Sheikh Asadi says in his, in his
of this verse
that as for the mentioning of the will
of Allah.
That as for the mentioning of the will
of Allah, then from it is the ease
and facilitation of an affair
and receiving blessings in it, and the Abd,
the slave, the servant of Allah seeking aid
from his Lord. So when a person sincerely
uses this term, insha'Allah,
what is it, entail? What what does it
entail or what is it seeking?
Ease and facilitation
of that affair. So if we recognize
the will and the power of Allah,
then, insha'Allah, that is something that will
come as a result
of our recognition of the power, the superiority
of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and his will.
And that matter will be blessed,
And it is a form of seeking aid
from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, of seeking help
from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in that matter.
So essentially, it is a signal of humility
of a person.
If a person does this sincerely,
right, that you recognize that not everything is
in your control, That you do require the
blessings of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in order
to be successful in a matter of fact.
That you require, you know, toffee if you
require ease and facilitation from Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala and you're seeking help from Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala. So when we use the word
insha'allah, this is the type of attitude and
the intention, the mindset that we wanna have
as we use this term. Now in Surah
Al Insaan, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us,
And you do not will accept that Allah
wills. Indeed, Allah is ever knowing and wise.
You do not will accept that Allah wills.
K. So this tells us a very simple
but important concept that is a part of
our beliefs, that our will is subject
to the will of Allah subhanahu wa
ta'ala. Right? So, yes, we have
some, will or you could say desire, determination
to do something, but that is subject to
the will of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And
nothing will happen without his will. Now in
this context, it's referring to even something
as great as being guided. This is what
we learned, that even something as great as
being guided and coming closer to
Allah because the context of this verse is
before this, Allah says,
That indeed, this is a reminder,
so he who wills
may take to his Lord away.
He who wills, after hearing this reminder of
the surah of the Quran, of the reminder
that Allah has given us,
the one who wills after hearing that, after
reading it, may take to his Lord away.
Right? So Allah has referred to the will
of the human being. However, he has then
made it clear that
our will is subject to the will of
Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. So anything that we
plan to do, it needs to match with
the will of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Otherwise,
it's not gonna happen.
Even if it is something that's seemingly good,
and this is from the wisdom and the
knowledge of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala. Now we
find this term in the Quran being spoken
about 7 times or so,
spoken by different people. So say that Musa,
alayhis salaam, right, more than once.
So that you do need Insha'Allah.
Right? In one example. And then he is,
of course, speaking to, Khadil, and he, off
also offers, offers that, you know, insha'Allah,
you know, I'm gonna be so much those
who follow your orders and more efficient and
so on. Say that Isma'il alayhi salam, you
know, to his father, Sayna Ibrahim alayhi salam,
before the sacrifice.
So the in that case.
See the use of alaihis salam.
We're referring,
to, his parents, you know, his brothers, his
family coming,
to him,
and
talking about, you know, entering,
into a muscle and entering, with peace. So
he uses the word, Insha'Allah, there as well.
Now the prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and
there's, of course, other instances as well. The
prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam tells us
that
prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam
had said
that he was going to do something, and
the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam gave some details,
that had to do with his family, had
to do with his children for the sake
of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. So it was
a noble intention,
a noble act that Sayna, Suriman alayhi wasalam
was intending to do,
but he did not end up saying insha'allah.
He did not end up saying Misha'Allah when
he made that statement expressing his intention of
what he wanted to do.
And as a result, the matter did not
materialize as he had wished. Right? In fact,
if you look at it, it it would
appear to be one of those best words.
It would appear to be something that, you
know, really didn't materialize at all. Right? So
it was, it it was really not successful,
perhaps to be termed as a failure. The
prophet said
that
If he had said,
he would not have broken his oath his
oath and would have had more hope of
fulfilling his wish. Right? So this is the
guidance that we get, the hope we get
with regards to,
using the terms and using it sincerely.
Right?
But
the results,
we meaning being successful in something because we
have said inshallah,
that is not something which is guaranteed.
Right? It is not guaranteed. It's not like
we say inshallah and we know for sure
a 100% how we're gonna end up doing
this matter because it's not always the case
as we find in the story of Musa,
alayhis salam, as I mentioned. And he says,
so that you do need Insha'Allah when he
assures other and he says that you will
find me patient, Allah willing, and I will
not disobey any of your orders. As we
know, this is something that Sayidah Musa alayhi
salam was intending to do that he wanted
to do, but in the end, you know,
it was not meant to be and he
didn't stay,
very long after that,
with Khadib.
Now the prophet sallallahu alayhi wasallam
has also told us something else with regards
to this term, insha'Allah,
as it relates
to swearing an oath, making a vow. The
prophet says that
That whoever swears an oath and then says
if Allah wills,
that person is not held accountable
if they end up breaking that oath. Now
the meaning of this is that if a
person makes a vow
or swears an oath to do something and
says
immediately after,
then if that person, despite having the intention
in trying to live up to their oath,
is not able to, then there will be
no penalty due upon them,
which would we do otherwise.
K. So if an oath or a vow
is qualified with,
then that person will not be responsible,
if they ended up having to break that
oath. Now, of course, this goes back to,
you know, not making these statements
without the intention of not doing it. Right?
So
oftentimes, unfortunately, is used, you know, as,
we find today is used by, many Muslims
as a, as someone referred to as a
get out of jail part. When you don't
wanna say something or sorry. When you when
you don't wanna do something,
then you say inshallah.
Right? And,
unfortunately, it's to the point
where in some instances or perhaps many instances,
people even dread hearing inshallah.
I've been reading many stories of people, you
know, not so much here, but Muslim majority
in countries, societies. You go to the office.
You go to, you know, for a document.
You go to an officer or someone in,
you know, in power and charge, and they
tell you inshallah and it's like, you have
no hope left about this matter being resolved
because you heard insha'allah.
You know? So
and, of course, it's not specific only to
those types of situations.
But, unfortunately, what is happening is that people
take it to me
as the ultimate statement
that denotes
a complete lack of hope regarding something getting
done. Okay? So if you wanna tell someone
that, you know, you you you don't wanna
do something,
you just say inshallah. And they understand it
to mean that this matter is not gonna
get done. There's no hope in this. It's
not gonna happen.
If we use it in that way, my
brothers and sisters, to get away from doing
something,
not only are we making a false promise
that we don't intend to deliver upon, which
is wrong in the first place.
Right? To to give a false impression or
to make a false promise that that you
don't intend to fulfill.
But we're then also on top of I
mean, that's bad enough. But then on top
of that, we're also associating
that false promise with the name of Allah.
Right?
I mean, this is the extent to which,
you know, we are degrading this noble and
sacred term in the name of Allah. Right?
We should not be afraid
to say no if we don't intend to
do something. It's hard to say no. If
someone's in writing or someone's asking you to
do something, you know it's difficult for you.
You don't wanna say no. You're saying. Right?
And, you know, I may also be guilty
of this, Mila. Forgive me, and this may
be something that we often do. Perhaps we
don't realize it. You know, perhaps it's in
matters that we don't think are very, very
serious, but we end up using this term
in that safe
in that way. So, you know, we should
not be afraid to say no if we
don't intend to do something or if it's
difficult for us to do something
or at least say no or explain the
situation in a nice way if you don't
wanna be rude without invoking the name of
Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, right, without using it
in this way. Now there's often I wanna
mention something. Now there's often much discussion in
some circles sometimes. You'll see this online as
well. About how,
insha'Allah, should be written in English and other
languages.
The concern being that if
insha
Allah, right, which is 3 words, Arabic,
if will to Allah if Allah wills, is
written as one word, it may change the
meaning to suggest
that
is created or something along those lines. Now
you will find, of course, different views just
like any other issue,
but, honestly, when we write
words
in the way that they were spoken in
another language
Okay? So you're taking the words of one
language, which is Arabic, in which it is
3 words,
in, shah, and Allah, and you're writing it
in another language. Whenever you do that, that's
called transliteration.
K. What is it called? It's called
doing transliteration.
And transliteration
are are words or is a process of
writing according to how words sound and not
their meaning.
The process of transliteration
is to write how words sound in another
language.
It's not based on what they actually mean
in the other language. Okay? So you can
write it as you will as long as
when a person reads it, they're reading it
in the way that it should be it
should be read in the original language.
So if you write
in English as one word, 2 words, 3
words, it doesn't really matter as long as
your intention and the context
are clear on its meaning that it is,
that you intend is what if Allah will.
That's what you're trying to say. When a
person is making a statement
about the future and they're right, Insha'Allah, has
one word or two words,
in English, you know, clearly, they're not, you
know, intending to say something about Allah Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala being creative.
Okay? So that is not their intention. So
it depends on your intention and, of course,
the context of as well. Now, of course,
we're writing in Arabic. We should try to
spell it correctly. But even if a person
makes a mistake, a genuine mistake, you know,
it won't be a major sin, even a
minor sin, but we should try to write
it as it is meant to be. This
should be our effort,
when we're writing it in Arabic.
Now, finally,
is
to be used
when we intend to do something
or regarding something in the future that we
cannot be sure about whether it will happen
or not.
But it should not be used when making
dua for something that we know that is
definitely good for us.
It should not be used when we are
making dua to Allah especially
regarding something which we know is beneficial to
us and is good for us.
So when the matter is uncertain so let's
say you're trying to, you know, make a
decision whether it's regarding marriage or, you know,
a big purchase, a job, a promotion,
travel, whatever it is. Right? You may try
to make a decision. It doesn't have to
be big. It could be small as well,
and the matter is uncertain. You're not sure
as in as it is the case in
almost every decision that we make,
that, or at least I should say, really
decision or decision regarding really matters. We're not
sure whether it's gonna be good for us
or not. We don't know if it's gonna
be harmful for us or not, but for
that, we have the the dua of istikhara.
Right? We turn to Allah and
we make the dua of istikhara and the
Sahama
will say that the prophet would teach them
this dua as he would teach a surah
of the Quran with the same importance, although
it is not part of the Quran. Right?
So for matters in which we are unsure,
we have the dua. It's a hada where
we're qualifying that, oh, Allah, you know, if
you know that this matter if this matter
is determined or destined for me to be
good for me in this world and the
hereafter and so on, then make it happen.
If it is not, then turn it away
from me. So that is from the dua
and mister Kharram. But for that matters which
are certainly good for us, like the forgiveness
and the mercy of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala,
his protection and so on, we should not
qualify on
Allah's will. And this is from the prophet
who
instructed us saying
That none of you should say that, oh,
Allah, forgive me if you wish, or Allah
be merciful to me if you wish, but
he should always appeal to Allah with determination
for nobody can force Allah to do something
against his will. Okay? So when you make
dua for Maghdarah, for forgiveness, for mercy of
Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, other matters which are
definitely good for you and for us, then
do not qualify with, oh, Allah, if you
will. Alright? Like, nobody's gonna force Allah subhanahu
wa ta'ala anyways. So ask him with determination
and with, you know, with with strong hope
and don't, you know, leave it hanging, like
that. Now,
always protect us and guide us to do
that, which is good. Allah
protect us all from all types of mistakes
and evils.
Oh, Allah, please protect us and forgive us.
Oh, Allah, please protect us from all types
of evils and from committing all types of
emails. Evils. Oh, Allah, please forgive us for
all of our shortcomings and mistakes that we
have committed, that we are committing, and that
we will commit in the future. Oh, Allah,
please forgive us.
Oh, Allah, please cure all of our brothers
and sisters who are ill. Oh, Allah, all
of our brothers and sisters in our families,
in our communities,
Allah, around the world who are ill, especially
our elder sister who are suffering from illnesses
and pain, our brother and sister who are
suffering from long term pain and injuries, our
brothers and sisters recovering,
brothers and sisters recovering from major surgeries and
medical procedures. Our sister was suffering from cancer.
Our brother with unexplained symptoms. Our friends, relatives
who are diagnosed with COVID 19. All of
those who are ill, who are at risk
of becoming ill. Ola, you are the protector
and the healer. Ola, please grant them all
the speedy recovery. Ola, please protect them from
all types of illnesses and pain and suffering
and grant them a state of peace. Ola,
please grant relief to all of those who
are in pain and grief, stress and anxiety,
mental pain, physical pain. Oh, love. Please replace
all of that pain and that stress and
that anxiety
with happiness and and peace and joy.
For those who are at home, please offer
for a cause of a dua prayer. For
those who are joining us,
please come.
Those who are joining us for Friday prayer,
who are registered, please come at your allotted
times,
and tonight, inshallah, we'll be having an important
discussion,
on self harm.
This is a phenomena that exists,
perhaps, not a lot protect us, but in
some of our families as well, in society
in general,
they're you know, they ask the question, are
you harming yourself? You have a family member
who is harming themselves, perhaps, you know, cutting
themselves or or harming themselves in other ways
or thinking of harming themselves. So inshallah, we'll
be having an important discussion on this topic.
We'll have 2 Muslim psychotherapists inshallah.
One of whom is a inshallah Islamic scholar
will be joining us this evening inshallah at
9 PM. And join the discussion online and
watch the discussion online, Insha'Allah, and comment as
well. Atkanadamustlans.calive.
Insha'Allah. I look forward to seeing you there.