Is it permissible to say the words "inshallah" and "mashallah" in Kazakh?

Question: When are the words "inshallah", "mashallah", and "subhanallah" used? Is it permissible to say their meanings in Kazakh?

Answer: "Inshallah" means "if Allah wills" or "God willing" and is used by a believer when speaking about something they intend to do in the future, expressing reliance on Allah. "Subhanallah" means "Glory be to Allah" or "Allah is free from all imperfections" and is said when one is amazed or fearful.

"Mashallah" means "what Allah has willed" and is used when expressing admiration or appreciation for something good.

These words are forms of dhikr (remembrance and glorification of Allah). Their virtues and the occasions for saying them are mentioned in the Qur'an and hadith.

Abu Lays as-Samarqandi said: "Whoever regularly says these seven phrases will have a high status before Allah and the angels; even if his sins are as much as the foam of the sea, Allah will forgive him, he will taste the sweetness of worship, and his life and death will be filled with goodness:

• When starting any action, say بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ;

• When finishing any action, say اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ;

• If you say something idle or make a mistake, say اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ;

• If you intend to do something in the future, say اِنْ شَاءَ اللّٰهُ;

• If you encounter something bad, say لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ;

• If you lose a loved one or property, say اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّا اِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ;

• Frequently say لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ day and night." [1]

However, outside of acts of worship that must be performed in Arabic (such as the adhan or prayer), it is permissible to say the meanings of dhikr and tasbih in Kazakh or any other language. But it is better to say them in Arabic.

According to Ibn Qudamah: "It is permissible to remember Allah in a language other than Arabic, because the main purpose is to mention Allah's name, and this can be done in any language. However, the takbirs in prayer must be said in Arabic" [2].

Words like subhanallah, astaghfirullah, inshallah, and others have been used in the works of Kazakh poets and writers such as Abu Bakr Kerderi, Magzhan Zhumabayev, S. Mukanov, Mirzhakyp Dulatuly, and others. For example:

"The feast was different from before, The coward came from the race, the brave remained. The old words are like past oaths, The citizen took the law as a proverb: If I say this word too much, subhanallah! Friends, we have come close to the goal." (Abu Bakr Kerderi, "Qazagym")

"Frightened by his words, everyone in the house said 'astaghfirullah' and held their chests." (S. Mukanov, "School of Life")

Inshallah, it will have a great effect on the people, Your voices are heard in many places. If you die, you are a martyr; if you live, you are a ghazi, Service will bring you honor, by Allah's power." (M. Dulatuly, Works)

Therefore, words like inshallah, subhanallah, and mashallah should be seen not just as Arabic expressions, but as devotional words common to all Muslims. Outside of ritual worship like prayer and adhan, it is permissible to say them in Arabic or in their meaning in another language. However, since they are devotional words, it is preferable to say them in Arabic.

Bauyrzhan Abduali

Specialist, Department of Sharia and Fatwa

[1] Tabyih al-Ghafilin, p. 284.

[2] Al-Mughni, 13/260.