The Subtle Influence of Enshallah
Fatalism is the belief that “what will be will be." This means we have no control over our actions, our fate, or our future. If this is the meaning - that we have no control, if it’s all up to Allah, then Christ-followers need to reject this meaning of “Enshallah.”
—Anna Hampton
In many places in the Islamic world, conversations and sentences are ended with a one-word phrase: Enshalla (also spelled Inshallah).
Enshalla - in one word, the phrase "If God wills it" encapsulates an entire Islamic-philosophical approach to life. I've heard missionaries use this word without thinking or qualification.
"Enshallah" is equivalent to saying "unfortunately," one of the most pagan words in the English language. Since when do we base our lives on fortune or ill-fortune!??? This was something the Greeks were concerned about due to the immoral and capricious behavior of the gods who they believed ruled life and nature.
No, when living and working in cross-cultural risk, engaging in Divine endeavors in dark and un-reached areas, we do not base our daily living and future on "Enshallah" or on fortune or "unfortunately." These words, and even more - this type of thinking - should be stricken from our speech and thinking.
When a Muslim says, Enshallah, "if God wills it, he or she is saying, "If Allah wills it." We do not base our lives...and our deaths... on the decisions of a god whom we do not follow or believe in, a god who did not die for us out of his justice, hesedness (kindness) and great mercy.
Yes, I believe in appropriate acculturation, but "Enshallah" crosses the line of what is acceptable, and I do not believe this phrase and type of thinking would be approved of by Jesus.
What does our Lord Jesus Christ teach?
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Matthew 6:10-13
His will in heaven to be done on earth. The supreme God outside of time, is in history past, present, and future. It means that His will on heaven is to be done here on earth, and we are to pray and live to that end. His will is for us to live abundant life.
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10
It means that when I end a conversation with my Muslim friend or colleague, I can say, "See you tomorrow!" I don't have to end it also with "Enshallah" because I already know God's will: God's will is that I live abundantly, which means he does will for me to still be around tomorrow.
"If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days." I Kings 3:14
"The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. I Peter 3:10
