If We Must Follow the Prophet, Why Did He Once Not Say In sha’ Allah?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
If Allah tells us to follow and imitate the Prophet in everything, isn’t there an incident where he didn’t say In sha’ Allah for something? Don’t those contradict each other? I am having doubts.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.
May Allah remove your doubts and settle your heart.
There is no contradiction. We follow the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in what Allah taught him, and this incident is one of the ways Allah taught him, and us, to say In sha’ Allah.
What Happened
When the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was asked about the youths of the Cave, he replied, “I will tell you tomorrow,” but didn’t say “if Allah wills.” After that, the revelation stopped for fifteen nights. [Nasafi, al-Taysir fi al-Tafsir] Then Allah Most High revealed, “And never say of anything, ‘I will definitely do this tomorrow,’ without adding, ‘if Allah so wills!’” [Quran 18:23–24; Khattab, The Clear Quran]
A Lesson in Refinement
Shaykh Muhammad al-Amin al-Harari (Allah have mercy on him) explains that this is a prohibition meant to teach refinement (nahy taʾdib). [Harari, Hadaʾiq al-Rawh wa al-Rayhan] The Prophets (peace be upon them) are protected from sin. Saying In sha’ Allah is the better way, and Allah taught His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) this openly through revelation, so his community could learn it as well.
What We Follow
Allah Most High says, “Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.” [Quran 33:21; Khattab, The Clear Quran] The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) is our example as Allah guided and taught him, and this verse is part of that guidance. So this incident does not weaken the command to follow him.
When Doubts Come
When a doubt like this comes, ask, as you did, and don’t let it settle. May Allah make you firm in following His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace).
And Allah knows best.
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Related Answers
One. Are the Prophets Protected from Sin? — Shaykh Faraz Rabbani: Their “errors” were never deliberate disobedience.
Two. What Is the Concept of Infallibility (‘Isma) for Prophets? — Shaykh Bassem Itani: The Prophets are protected from sin.
النصوص · Source-Texts
[النسفي، التيسير في التفسير] «فقال: أخبركم غدا، ولم يقل: إن شاء الله؛ أي: لم يستثن، فمكث الوحي عن النبي ﷺ خمس عشرة ليلة»
[الهرري، حدائق الروح والريحان] «وقوله: ﴿ولا تقولن﴾ نهي تأديب؛ أي: ولا تقولن يا محمد ﴿لشيء﴾؛ أي: لأجل شيء تعزم عليه فيما يستقبل من الزمان»
