QUESTION

What is the ruling on al-istithnaa' [1] in one's supplications, like, "May Allaah reward you in shaa' Allaah," in light of the hadeeth:

"When one of you supplicates, then let him ask firmly and not say, 'O Allaah give me (such-and-such) if you want...'" [2]

ANSWER by Shaykh Muhammad 'Umar Baazmool, instructor at Umm Al-Quraa University in Makkah

The ruling comes from this very hadeeth. We say, if a person says when supplicating, "in shaa' Allaah," intending al-istithnaa' in his supplication, intending by it the literal meaning of it, then this is what the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) was discouraging us from when he ordered the Muslim to be firm when he supplicates, and not to make the supplication dependent upon the Will of Allaah. For verily there is no one who can act against Allaah's Order. And verily Allaah gives, and this does not ever take anything away from what He has.

However, if this phrase ("in shaa' Allaah") comes off of someone's tongue without intending al-istithnaa', like what some people say, "I am doing, in shaa' Allaah..." or, "I am going in shaa' Allaah..." The phrase "in shaa' Allaah" is being used to confirm their (current) actions [3], not to mean "if Allaah wills."

He only intends by this to seek blessings from Allaah, the Glorified and Exalted, by mentioning His Name, and to not act as if he is acting by other than Allaah's Order. Then we should be easy on this kind of usage, but we still say, from the etiquettes of supplication, that a person should not say it even if it comes with this meaning. It was not narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) or the Companions used the phrase "in shaa' Allaah" in their supplications, even with this meaning.

So then we say, if this phrase is uttered with the meaning of confirmation, then it is permissible, but it goes against that which is more proper, since the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) did not do it [4]. Therefore, if someone utters "in shaa' Allaah" in their supplication, intending al-istithnaa', then this is a violation of the hadeeth mentioned in the question. Rather what is sought from the Muslim is that he be firm in his supplications.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Al-istithnaa' means (literally) to exempt something. We have been ordered to make istithnaa' (to say "in shaa' Allaah") in our speech when talking about what we plan to do in the future. See Soorah Al-Kahf (18):23-24. Al-istithnaa' in one's supplication means to say "in shaa' Allaah," leaving the affair up to Allaah's Will, instead of being firm in asking for what is needed.

[2] Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree #6338 (11/164 of Fat-hul-Baaree)

[3] An example of the phrase "in shaa' Allaah" used to decisively confirm something is found in Allaah's Statement [48:27]:

( Verily you all will surely enter Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, in shaa' Allaah, safely )

[4] The shaykh later mentioned that he recalled a supplication of the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) that includes the phrase "in shaa' Allaah" with the meaning of confirmation, not al-istithnaa'. It is the hadeeth of Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said, "The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) visited a (sick) bedouin, and said, 'Laa ba's (No problem), purification, in shaa' Allaah...'" [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree #5656].

Ibn Hajr said, "As for his statement, 'purification', then its full meaning is 'May it be a purification for you from your sins...' and his statement 'in shaa' Allaah' shows that what is meant by 'purification' is a supplication (for the man), not simply informing him that it is purification." [Fat-hul-Baaree 19/146]

So then the shaykh's conclusion was: "This shows that the phrase 'in shaa' Allaah' is permissible in supplications, so long as al-istithnaa' is not intended, and Allaah knows best."

SOURCE

This was translated exclusively for www.bakkah.net from a cassette recording with the knowledge and permission of the shaykh, file no. AAMB018, dated 1423/6/25.

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