I’m in an intro to religion class here at school. We just finished the section on Islam. It’s been a very eye-opening and rewarding experience. I took another class in Islam this Spring and liked it as well. It is very interesting to learn about religions previously unknown to me. I’ve actually gained insight into my own faith as a result of some of the beliefs of these other religions.
Today’s thought comes from the Arabic term used by Muslims, إن شاء الله (insha’Allah), or “God-willing.” My professor told us that Muslims will use this phrase after almost any sentence involving some sort of action. “I’m going to graduate in December insha’Allah,” “I’m going to Charleston next weekend insha’Allah,” “I’ll see you after class insha’Allah.”
He said that this is their way of recognizing the dependence on God for everything. It made me think, our next breath is not guaranteed, it is only by the will of God that we gasp it. This might be shocking to some of my readers, but I think we should take a cue from these Muslims. Don’t forget your dependence on God for everything in life.
My grandfather, in his old age, would do something very similar to this. Anytime we would say "see ya next time," he would say the same phrase but tact on "…if the Lord wills" or "God-willing"
I use that phrase all the time now since I learned it in Arabic. We say that a lot in Nica too: "si Dios quiere." I'm a fan.