ISA Misuse

Have you ever noticed how ISA (In Shaa Allah) is misused? Have you ever realized the gravity of ISA misuse? Have you ever considered how we transform the meaning of a sublime quote intentionally or unintentionally?

Actually, I did.

A year ago I was in a work trip at Qatar. I met different people from different countries, backgrounds, cultures and religions. Thanks to Allah, that I had the open mind to deal with these differences. I was working with a Singaporean team. We both were working at a Qatari organization. One day, the Singaporean Project Manager asked me a strange question:

PM: Shimaa, when you say God Willing, does it mean you will not do the job?

Me: No of course not. Why do you think so?

PM: Since it always happens that way. Whenever anyone here tells me God Willing, he or she says it in an ironic tone and usually they don’t do the job.

Of course I believed her, since I saw this myself.

Me: look Jeannie this is a misuse of the quote. God Willing or as we say it InshaaAllah and even write it ISA in mails doesn’t contradict with commitment. You know God ordered our prophet himself to say these words whenever he is about to do anything. The point is that we may want to do something and we are committed to doing it, however, we may not be able to since God doesn’t want that for us. This has nothing to with people who misuse this sublime quote.

PM: How come that you may want something and God wants to keep you from doing it?

Me: Sometimes you believe in something so much and want to do it so much, but something stops you. At this point you may get angry and upset, then later…

PM: Oh yes, you realize that it has been better this way, because it wasn’t actually the best for you.

Me: Exactly, that’s when God protects you from things you believed they are good.

PM: You know, you and your colleague always say these words, but you are always committed to finish your work.

Me: Yes, this is the right thing to do when you say InShaaAllah.

PM: I got it now some misuse these words and others use them correctly.

Do you see now how we may misrepresent our religion and sublime thoughts? This woman talked to me and discussed the matter to understand. Others may not do the same, and say the Muslims take God as an excuse for lack of commitment. Please, take care how we can use and represent our religion and culture.