Welcome to F.I.E.L.D.- the First Ismaili Electronic Library and Database.

INSHA'ALLAH

Encyclopaedia of Ismailism by Mumtaz Ali Tajddin

It means if God wills (43:23), a phrase, in the Islamic terminology is called istisna, which is taken from the Koran: "Say not thou of a thing: `I will surely do it tomorrow’ – except (istisna) if God so wills” (18:23). The phrase is uttered when talking about the future. It recognizes the supreme power of God, who alone decides the events of the future. It refers to the future and expresses man’s confidence in God’s Will and the realization that nothing can be achieved without His Will. One repeats this phrase about events in the future, which despite all human effort cannot be realized with certainty except with Divine succour and consent. No matter how much we plan we do not know whether tomorrow we shall be here or elsewhere, or whether we shall be in the same state as now, and so we plan and act but fully conscious of the dependence of this action on the Divine Will, that Will which infinitely transcends ours.


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