THE RELIGION OF HUMANITY: Islam’s Ethical and Spiritual Outlook

A person should express gratitude when they see someone who has less. And when they see someone who has more, they should strive to move forward with a spirit of healthy competition. GOD WILLING (IN SHA ALLAH) One of the teachings of Islam is that when expressing an intention about doing something in the future, a person should say “In sha Allah”—meaning “if God wills.” For example, if someone is planning to travel from Delhi to Mumbai, they should not simply say, “I will go to Mumbai tomorrow.” Instead, they should say, “In sha Allah, I will go to Mumbai tomorrow.” This phrase reflects a recognition of a deeper truth—that one’s personal will can only come to fruition if it aligns with the will of God. It means joining one’s own intention with God’s intention, merging human planning with divine will. The reality is that while a person can make a decision and put in effort, the success of any effort is only possible when God’s approval is also present. In Arabic, this is expressed as: “The effort is mine, but the completion comes from God.” (al-saʿy minni wa-l-itmam min Allah) In this sense, the relationship between God and human beings can be likened to interlocking cogwheels. One cog belongs to God, and the other belongs to the human being.