‘I’ll Come and Fix it Today, Insha Allah!’

The technician said, “I’ll come and fix the problem sometime today, Insha Allah.

The expression, ‘Insha Allah’, is used by people of different cultures and faiths around the world but one hears it many times a day in the UAE.

Translated, ‘God willing’ or ‘if it pleases God’, the term is a helpful reminder of the many factors in our decision making and planning that are outside our control. For the believer it is an expression of hope that submits personal plans to the One who knows whether such schemes and schedules will be beneficial for us and the common good.

The down side of ‘Insha Allah’ is when it is used as an excuse for laziness and procrastination. It gives us an out and the stamp of divine approval makes it harder for others to challenge our slackness and inefficiency.

The technician didn’t turn up yesterday.

Did God have better plans for him? Did Allah think it was character building for me to spend more time with faulty equipment? Or did the guy simply not get around to the task because he was tired and apathetic?

Hopefully the technician will come today, Insha Allah.

Geoff Pound

More news and photos of Fujairah are posted on the Fujairah in Focus Facebook Page.

Image: The Arabic phrase, ‘Insha Allah’.