Importance of InshaAllah

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Sulaymaan the son of Dawood (alaihim as-salaam) said, ‘Tonight I will go to one hundred women, everyone of whom will give birth to a male child who will fight in Allah’s Cause.’ On that an angel said to him, ‘Say, If Allah Wills.’ But Sulaymaan did not say it, he forgot to say it. Then he had relations with them but none of them gave birth to any child except one who gave birth to a half child.” The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “If Sulaymaan had said ‘Insha-Allah (If Allah Wills),’ Allah would have fulfilled his desire and that saying would have made him more hopeful.” [Bukhari]

This hadith holds many lessons for us:

1. We sometimes depend on our means and strength alone and overlook the Will of Allah. The intention and determination of man has no reality before the Perfect Power of Allah. Recognizing this, Ali (radi Allahu anhu) exclaimed, “I recognized my Lord in the failing of my resolves.”

2. Whenever we intend to do something we should verbally utter “Insha-Allah.” This will prevent us from being disappointed.

3. Whoever studies the Quran will see how passionately Sulaymaan (alaihis salaam) loved to fight in the Path of Allah. He was a Mujahid constantly engaged in Jihad fee Sabeel Allah. It was this love that kept his mind occupied on how to add to the number of warriors in His cause. He had prepared an army of birds, a force of beasts, and troops of human beings. This is what prompted him to want so many warriors to be born to him of one night. Thus, all believers should wish to serve through Jihad.

4. Believers should desire and try to have pious children who will serve the religion of Allah.

5. This hadith mentions a hundred, and in another version seventy, women. These were the wives or bondwomen of Sulaymaan (alaihis salaam). The Shariah of Musa (alaihis salaam) did not limit the number of wives to four as the Shariah of Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) has done. Those people could have innumerable wives. Sulaymaan (alaihis salaam) had bondwomen too since he was a warrior and warriors got them in addition to spoils of war.

6. This narrative shows that Sulaymaan (alaihis salaam) had extraordinary manly power. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) grants His Prophets strength equal to that of a male dweller of Jannah, who will possess seventy times the strength of a strong man of earth.

7. Sulaymaan (alaihis salaam) did not say that he would ‘have intercourse’ but that he would ‘go’ to seventy women. Not to use the exact words is the recommended and decent way. However, if a religious point has to be explained then it is allowed to use the exact words.

8. The birth of an abnormal child is a sign of Allah’s power and ability but it may also be the result of a wrong deed by the parents. So, instead of complaining, they should analyze themselves, renounce wrongdoing, and seek Allah’s forgiveness.

9. Just as the devil makes us forget many things and incites us to evil, the angels remind us of forgotten things and encourage us to do good deeds.