Introducing Islam

says to God on behalf of his benefactor: “O God, help him as he has helped me, and give him more than he has given me,” this demonstrates an even higher form of regard. The phrase ‘May God reward you,’ is expressive of two virtues, one being gratitude and the other being the willingness to give as well as to take. Its utterance emphasizes the principle that one should be a giver as well as a taker. A man should always be at pains to benefit those who have benefited him. He should be so thankful to his benefactor that he starts praying for them. A genuinely heartfelt prayer is the best gift that a man can give to his fellow men. Insha Allah (God Willing) One of the teachings of Islam is that when we undertake a task, we should start by saying, ‘Insha Allah,’—God willing. According to the Quran, the owners of a certain orchard made it known that they intended to pluck its fruits as soon as they were ripe. But they added no reservation, such as: ‘If it be God’s will.’ When they reached their orchard the next morning, they found that a God-sent calamity had destroyed their entire crop. This was the result of their having omitted to say, ‘God willing.’ (68:18) God willing (Insha Allah) is a phrase of great significance. Islam teaches us that whenever a man is going to embark upon any venture, he should say, ‘if God wills’ before he begins. This is to acknowledge the reality that God alone is the Doer in this world. A person can achieve his ends successfully only when God’s blessings are with him. God alone has the power to make things happen, as everything functions according to His will. Man can only wish for certain happenings, but occurrence rests with God alone. When man thinks seriously of God’s all-powerfulness and his own total helplessness, such feelings find expression in the