Allah

What is the Best English Transliteration of the Arabic for "If Allah Wills"?


Hanafi Fiqh

Answered by Ustadh Salman Younas
Question: Recently, I was forwarded a text which, you may be familiar with, was about the correct spelling of the word “if Allah wills”. The poster claims that the correct spelling is “In-Sha-Allah” versus “InshAllah” or “inshallah”.
I am just wondering, is their any authentic proof to this, like in the sunnah or Quran? And to what extent is this true? Does the english spelling of an arabic word change the meaning? Does it stay the same regardless of spelling?
Answer: wa `alaykum assalam
This is not an issue that deserves controversy. English transliterations of Arabic words and phrases will naturally differ. A correct diacritic form of the term would look like “in shā’ Allāh”, but readers of English tend to pronounce and understand it in the same manner when written as “inshallah” or “insha’Allah”. Thus, there should be no harm in writing it in any of the ways mentioned in your question.
Salman
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani