Two Friends and Inshallah! By Nigar I was not very conscious of the salience of the term Inshallah and the whole philosophy behind it in my younger years, but slowly the beauty of this word sank into my heart. Inshallah is an Arabic language expression, meaning, ‘If God wills’, or ‘God willing’. The phrase comes from a Quranic commandment which instructs Muslims to use it when speaking of proposed future actions. The Quran (18:23-24) says: Never say of something, "I shall do it tomorrow," without adding, "if God wills." The term Inshallah expresses the belief that nothing happens unless God wills it and that His will supersedes all human will. Perhaps words or phrases conveying the same message are to be found in other scriptures too, in other religious traditions as well. My Muslim friends and acquaintances would use the phrase Inshallah very often when talking about plans to do something in the future, be it calling up somebody, or attending a meeting, or finishing a task. I would also use the term when talking with them. But with my friends from other faith backgrounds, I refrained from using it. I didn’t want them to feel excluded or think that I was imposing an Arabic word on them while speaking to them in English or some other language. But, I actually discovered, with some such friends I didn’t have to feel this way. The fact that a happening can come to pass only if God wills it and that while man proposes, it is God who disposes—which is succinctly conveyed by the word Inshallah—is something that resonates with them too. Take my friend Sujata, whom I have known for years. She would often call me to share her personal anguish over a troubled marriage. She would insist that I say Inshallah whenever she spoke to me about her future plans—be it plans for her children, for her parents or for herself. I had explained to her the meaning of the term and she deeply appreciated it. And even now, after many years have passed, the term Inshallah comes up when we speak about future plans. Our different faith backgrounds have never come in the way of our friendship. Nor have the different names by which we may refer to God. In fact, the term Inshallah has been a very deep bonding factor between us. Take another friend of mine—Ramu. He has worked as a cook in different homes over the years. I have known him as a kind, jovial, sincere and God-conscious person. Recently, he dropped in to meet me, and as soon as he entered the house, he uttered the word Inshallah. I was really touched. Ramu is not highly educated, but he has seen life and its challenges from close quarters. Today, he is struggling to find a regular job amidst the chaos engendered in the wake of the virus pandemic. Yet, he bubbles with positivity and says that God will never leave his hand and will take care. Here is something beautiful that Ramu shared recently. It was perhaps during a recent spell of ‘lockdown’ in the wake of the virus pandemic. Ramu was travelling in a bus and happened to meet a Muslim co-passenger, who lamented that he could not go to the mosque for the Friday prayers. Ramu said to him something to this effect: Allah is everywhere. If one calls on Him with sincerity, He will listen to you even in a bus! Ramu and Sujata are beautiful souls I am lucky to have in my life. Their faith in God has made them very positive people, radiating goodness and joy. I have a lot to learn from them both: their Inshallah is, I think, a lot more sincere than my own, which I sometimes simple rattle off mechanically, without much attention. Ramu and Sujata have taught me that when one says Inshallah, one should sincerely believe that everything will happen as God wills. Have no doubt about it! .