When do you say inshaAllah regarding things of the future?

Posted Aug 18, 2009 by Aboo Thaabit with No Comments

On the authority of Aboo Hurairah radiyaAllahu ‘anhu that the Messenger of Allah said on the day of Khaybar:

I will surely hand over the flag [of battle] to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, Allah will give victory through his hands…[Reported by Muslim, Kitaab Fadhaa'il al-Sahaabah no. 2405]

Shaykh ibn ‘Uthaymeen – may Allah have mercy upon him – said adding [explanation] to this hadeeth:

In this hadeeth there is evidence that it is allowed for a person to say, I will surely do such and such in the future, even if he does not say inshaAllah [with it]. But it is important to know the difference between a person who is informing us about his [personal] desires [and hopes for the future] and a person informing you that he has intended to do something. As for the first then there is no problem with not saying inshaAllah along with it, because this person is [only] informing us about his hopes and wishes, but as for the second person who has intended firmly upon doing the deed then this person has to say inshaAllah, connecting his will with the will of Allah.

Allah the Most High says:

And do not say about a matter, I will surely do it tomorrow, except inshaAllah [if Allah wills] [Suurah al-Kahf Aayah 23-24]

So there is a difference between a person who is informing us about his hopes and wishes and another informing us that he will surely do such and such tomorrow, because tomorrow is not yours, perhaps you will die before tomorrow or perhaps you will remain until tomorrow but due to circumstances you will not be able to do what you said or even Allah Himself might remove your will from that particular deed [i.e so that you will not do it] as often happens, how often does not a person want to do a particular deed only to be left with no will for it at the end of the day by the will of Allah.

Because of this we say, that in this hadeeth there is evidence for a man to say I will do such and such informing about his hopes and desires not with a firm intention of doing, because his future belongs to Allah, however if your informing about your hopes then there is no problem.