Insha'Allah

This is a response to a student who talked about use of the phrase "God willing" in Kuwait.

You mentioned several great points. I will comment on one, which I find interesting. I have noticed that many US soldiers come back from Iraq using the phrase “insha'Allah,” which I am sure makes a lot of sense to a soldier who may have seen the guy next to him die, while he lived. For those in the class who may not be familiar with the phrase, insha'Allah it is usually translated as "God willing." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insha%27Allah

However, it also represents a perspective on the world, which has dominated the world for thousands of years. The Chinese Empire rose to heights unknown by other civilizations at a time when my ancestors in northern Europe were hiding in caves. They were the first to have gun power and rockets, but never took these inventions beyond the amusement stage. I read one author who speculated that this was because the Chinese lived in an insha'Allah (my word) world. In other words, ancient civilizations saw the world as cyclical. Things went up and things went down, but just as one season follows the next, there was never any real progress in the world. Progress was not something that people could cause. Rather, human beings existed at the whims of the Gods and depending on how they felt, things could go well or they could go bad. People were basically powerless over this process in this divine process.

It was only recently in the West that there was any thought that people could actually create progress or exercise any real any control over their own lives. In fact, in most ancient societies that thought would have been blasphemous. In would be like comparing yourself to God.

The development of science demonstrates a major change in thought. It is also no surprise that there has historically been was so much conflict between science and religion. If you do not believe that people can really better their lives then following the scientific method makes little sense. If it is developing ideas that challenge the status quo, then it is a very dangerous thing.

Today, acceptance of the concept of progress is widespread, but it has not totally replaced the insha'Allah perspective. In many places the two perspectives exist together and may even simultaneously exist within the same person. I think it is important to study history and cultures. W can often think that our own perspective is how people have viewed things since the dawn of time. The fact that all of you are in this class demonstrates that you believe in progress. You see the world as a place in which you can improve your own lot. However, you are historically unique. For most of human history our world has been an Insha'Allah world.

		April 5, 2007 *An "Insha'Allah" World*
	This is a response to a student who talked about use of the phrase "God willing" in Kuwait. You mentioned several great points. I will comment on one, which I find interesting. I have noticed that many US soldiers come back from Iraq using the phrase “insha'Allah,” which I am sure makes a lot of sense to a soldier who may have seen the guy next to him die, while he lived. For those in the class who may not be familiar with the phrase, insha'Allah it is usually translated as "God willing." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insha%27Allah However, it also represents a perspective on the world, which has dominated the world for thousands of years. The Chinese Empire rose to heights unknown by other civilizations at a time when my ancestors in northern Europe were hiding in caves. They were the first to have gun power and rockets, but never took these inventions beyond the amusement stage. I read one author who speculated that this was because the Chinese lived in an insha'Allah (my word) world. In other words, ancient civilizations saw the world as cyclical. Things went up and things went down, but just as one season follows the next, there was never any real progress in the world. Progress was not something that people could cause. Rather, human beings existed at the whims of the Gods and depending on how they felt, things could go well or they could go bad. People were basically powerless over this process in this divine process. It was only recently in the West that there was any thought that people could actually create progress or exercise any real any control over their own lives. In fact, in most ancient societies that thought would have been blasphemous. In would be like comparing yourself to God. The development of science demonstrates a major change in thought. It is also no surprise that there has historically been was so much conflict between science and religion. If you do not believe that people can really better their lives then following the scientific method makes little sense. If it is developing ideas that challenge the status quo, then it is a very dangerous thing. Today, acceptance of the concept of progress is widespread, but it has not totally replaced the insha'Allah perspective. In many places the two perspectives exist together and may even simultaneously exist within the same person. I think it is important to study history and cultures. W can often think that our own perspective is how people have viewed things since the dawn of time. The fact that all of you are in this class demonstrates that you believe in progress. You see the world as a place in which you can improve your own lot. However, you are historically unique. For most of human history our world has been an Insha'Allah world.