Inshallah (If Allah Wills): Difference between revisions
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In Ibn Ishaq's sira (biography of Muhammad), we can read that some people were sent to Jewish rabbis, to ask them how to determine whether Muhammad is a real prophet. They prepared 3 questions for Muhammad and if he answers them right, then he is a prophet. Muhammad said, he will give them the answers tomorrow, but after 15 days he was still without any answers. Supposedly because he didn't say "in sha' Allah": | In Ibn Ishaq's sira (biography of Muhammad), we can read that some people were sent to Jewish rabbis, to ask them how to determine whether Muhammad is a real prophet. They prepared 3 questions for Muhammad and if he answers them right, then he is a prophet. Muhammad said, he will give them the answers tomorrow, but after 15 days he was still without any answers. Supposedly because he didn't say "in sha' Allah": | ||
{{Quote | {{Quote|Sirat Rasul Allah, page 133|...they sent him and `Uqba b. Abu Mu`ayt to the Jewish rabbis in Medina and said to them, 'Ask them about Muhammad; describe him to them and tell them what he says, for they are the first people of the scriptures and have knowledge which we do not possess about the prophets.' They carried out their instructions, and said to the rabbis, 'You are the people of the Taurat, and we have come to you so that you can tell us how to deal with this tribesman of ours.' The rabbis said, 'Ask him about three things of which we will instruct you; if he gives you the right answer then he is an authentic prophet, but if he does not, then the man is a rogue, so form your own opinion about him. Ask him what happened to the young men who disappeared in ancient days, for they have a marvellous story. Ask him about the mighty traveller who reached the confines of both East and West. Ask him what the spirit is. If he can give you the answer, then follow him, for he is a prophet. If he cannot, then he is a forger and treat him as you will.' The two men returned to Quraysh at Mecca and told them that they had a decisive way of dealing with Muhammad, and they told them about the three questions. | ||
They came to the apostle and called upon him to answer these questions. ''He said to them, 'I will give you your answer tomorrow,' but he did not say, '<b>if God will</b>.' So they went away; and the apostle, so they say, waited for fifteen days without a revelation'' from God on the matter, nor did Gabriel come to him, so that the people of Mecca began to spread evil reports, saying, 'Muhammad promised us an answer on the morrow, and today is the fifteenth day we have remained without an answer.' This delay caused the apostle great sorrow, until Gabriel brought him the Chapter of The Cave, in which he reproaches him for his sadness, and told him the answers of their questions, the youths, the mighty traveller, and the spirit. | They came to the apostle and called upon him to answer these questions. ''He said to them, 'I will give you your answer tomorrow,' but he did not say, '<b>if God will</b>.' So they went away; and the apostle, so they say, waited for fifteen days without a revelation'' from God on the matter, nor did Gabriel come to him, so that the people of Mecca began to spread evil reports, saying, 'Muhammad promised us an answer on the morrow, and today is the fifteenth day we have remained without an answer.' This delay caused the apostle great sorrow, until Gabriel brought him the Chapter of The Cave, in which he reproaches him for his sadness, and told him the answers of their questions, the youths, the mighty traveller, and the spirit. | ||
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I was told that the apostle said to Gabriel when he came, 'You have shut yourself off from me, Gabriel, so that I became apprehensive'. He answered, '' 'We descend only by God's command, whose is what lies before us, behind us, and what lies between, and thy Lord does not forget. ''}} | I was told that the apostle said to Gabriel when he came, 'You have shut yourself off from me, Gabriel, so that I became apprehensive'. He answered, '' 'We descend only by God's command, whose is what lies before us, behind us, and what lies between, and thy Lord does not forget. ''}} | ||
The last sentence by Gabriel became a verse in the Qur'an: | The last sentence by Gabriel became a verse in the Qur'an: | ||
{{Quote | {{Quote|{{Quran|19|64}}|And we do not descend but by the command of your Lord; to Him belongs whatever is before us and whatever is behind us and whatever is between these, and your Lord is not forgetful.}} | ||
After 15 days Muhammad revealed vague answers to the questions. The revealed answers seem to be collected from rumors of the people and not from an all-knowing being, because they include phrases like "some people say" with a list of different rumors, instead of giving the exact number. They also include the "[[Allah knows best]]" excuse. This verse deals with the number of [[Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Quran|the sleepers of Ephesus]]: | After 15 days Muhammad revealed vague answers to the questions. The revealed answers seem to be collected from rumors of the people and not from an all-knowing being, because they include phrases like "some people say" with a list of different rumors, instead of giving the exact number. They also include the "[[Allah knows best]]" excuse. This verse deals with the number of [[Seven Sleepers of Ephesus in the Quran|the sleepers of Ephesus]]: | ||
{{Quote | {{Quote|{{Quran|18|22}}| | ||
18:22 '''(Some) say: (They are) three''', the fourth of them being their dog; '''and (others) say: Five''', the sixth of them being their dog, making conjectures at what is unknown; '''and (others yet) say: Seven''', and the eighth of them is their dog. Say: '''My Lord best knows''' their number, none knows them but a few; therefore contend not in the matter of them but with an outward contention, and do not question concerning them any of them.}} | 18:22 '''(Some) say: (They are) three''', the fourth of them being their dog; '''and (others) say: Five''', the sixth of them being their dog, making conjectures at what is unknown; '''and (others yet) say: Seven''', and the eighth of them is their dog. Say: '''My Lord best knows''' their number, none knows them but a few; therefore contend not in the matter of them but with an outward contention, and do not question concerning them any of them.}} | ||
Immediately after that verse (18:22), come the verses (18:23-24) about the necessity of saying ''in sha' Allah'': | Immediately after that verse (18:22), come the verses (18:23-24) about the necessity of saying ''in sha' Allah'': | ||
{{Quote | {{Quote|{{Quran|18|23-24}}|18:23 And never say of anything, "Indeed, I will do that tomorrow," | ||
18:24 Except [when adding], "If Allah wills." (أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ) And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct."}} | 18:24 Except [when adding], "If Allah wills." (أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ) And remember your Lord when you forget [it] and say, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct."}} | ||