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Hey Guys tis Ausipeet, Is it ok for a non Muslim to use the term Insha' allah. Posts: 121 | From: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: May 2009
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I don't know if it's ok or not, but I know many who do it all the time. Does not seem to offend anyone.
Posts: 1626 | From: whatever, wherever | Registered: Jul 2008
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Apparently member 'newcomer' did mind at one point that I used 'inshaallah' as a non-Muslim. Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Tigerlily: Apparently member 'newcomer' did mind at one point that I used 'inshaallah' as a non-Muslim.
Tiger, I think her objection was because of the fact that you're an atheist, not because you're not a Muslim.
Posts: 2803 | Registered: Feb 2007
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I am agnostic and I say it... I have Egyptian women insist I say it instead of yimkin!!! Yimkin annoys them lol
tbh, when you have been here long enough it becomes more of a habit in speech. Just like going to the UK and saying mashy, aiwa and masalama Posts: 11097 | From: Cairo | Registered: May 2008
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Non-Muslim Arabs use it all the time. It's the same language regardless of religion.
I agree, Dalia, it was most likely because of the atheist thing. No offense, but it's kinda silly for an atheist to say God willing if they don't believe in God.
Posts: 2735 | From: my desk | Registered: Jul 2005
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I say 'Jesus on a bike' and I don't believe in him either. I say Oh God when I drop things as well...
I say fecking nora and Gordon Bennett.. I am not so sure they exist either but I still use the lingo.
It is just lingo to me... habitual grammar.
And Muslims say it flippantly as a get out clause to do late work so it is used in a bad way by believers!!!
Posts: 11097 | From: Cairo | Registered: May 2008
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quote:Originally posted by Elegantly Wasted: Non-Muslim Arabs use it all the time. It's the same language regardless of religion.
I agree, Dalia, it was most likely because of the atheist thing. No offense, but it's kinda silly for an atheist to say God willing if they don't believe in God.
You hear people say many times "good lord", "oh my god", "holy crap" etc. and they are not necessarily religious. Is that silly too? Am I allowed to say this after all?? Now I have to wonder.... Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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Saying it flippantly because it's a normal part of daily talk and it's in your native tongue is one thing. Saying it just to say it is another. If it's not your native language, why use it? I hear "inshallah" all the time but I don't use it cuz my native language isn't Arabic.
Aren't atheists pretty adamantly opposed to god, in general? Regardless, I don't care if an atheist or agnostic or whomever uses the terms God, Jesus, Jehovah, etc. I can see why it would bother some though. Especially if they're religious.
Besides, inshallah is just an excuse to flake out most of the time, isn't it?
Posts: 2735 | From: my desk | Registered: Jul 2005
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I kinda figured you'd take high offense. This is why I said, "no offense", since honestly none was meant. It's not a big deal, it was just an observation. I'm not gonna debate this. However, using inshallah when it's not part of your native language or a language routinely spoken in your household or by people you encounter daily, etc. is, indeed, silly. But that's my opinion. I'm not here to stop anyone, I'm here to voice my own individual opinion just like everyone else.
quote:Originally posted by Tigerlily:
quote:Originally posted by Elegantly Wasted: Non-Muslim Arabs use it all the time. It's the same language regardless of religion.
I agree, Dalia, it was most likely because of the atheist thing. No offense, but it's kinda silly for an atheist to say God willing if they don't believe in God.
You hear people say many times "good lord", "oh my god", "holy crap" etc. and they are not necessarily religious. Is that silly too? Am I allowed to say this after all?? Now I have to wonder....
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wow a simple question turned into another debate LOL this is why i love comming here and sitting and reading honestly i spend hours a week reading the comments here and almost always find something to smile about, but thats only because i tend to look at the lighter side of life. I as a rule do not read all the depressing stuff that gets posted here and yes i have seen some of that here to i dont want to read that as i read and hear about it enough in real life here at home. And no i wont start about what happens here at home.
Thank you for bringing smiles to my face and keep up all these great debates its wonderfull to know that debate is still the greatest weapon we have
Peter
Posts: 121 | From: Adelaide, South Australia | Registered: May 2009
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quote:Originally posted by Elegantly Wasted: I kinda figured you'd take high offense. This is why I said, "no offense", since honestly none was meant. It's not a big deal, it was just an observation. I'm not gonna debate this. However, using inshallah when it's not part of your native language or a language routinely spoken in your household or by people you encounter daily, etc. is, indeed, silly. But that's my opinion. I'm not here to stop anyone, I'm here to voice my own individual opinion just like everyone else.
quote:Originally posted by Tigerlily:
quote:Originally posted by Elegantly Wasted: Non-Muslim Arabs use it all the time. It's the same language regardless of religion.
I agree, Dalia, it was most likely because of the atheist thing. No offense, but it's kinda silly for an atheist to say God willing if they don't believe in God.
You hear people say many times "good lord", "oh my god", "holy crap" etc. and they are not necessarily religious. Is that silly too? Am I allowed to say this after all?? Now I have to wonder....
Totally agree, I dont know ANY english speaking atheists that say 'God willing'. Most would say 'hopefully'
Posts: 431 | From: England | Registered: Dec 2008
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INSHAALLAH is used by all Egyptians on a daily base as a simple empty phrase , no real meaning, no sincerity behind it. If you as a foreigner live there long enough you pick up certain slang.
Now you need to stop reading too much into people. Get over it. Next thing you will accuse me of making fun of your god and your believes..... wrong section though lol. Silly. Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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English speaking Expats here say mumkin or yimkin... many a time in place of God Inshallah!!!. Never heard 'hopefully' in my 17 years history here.
I must be either lying or imagining all the non religious expats saying Inshallah! Perhaps they are all actually secretly religious
I will be in the British Club tonight, I shall count the 'Inshallahs' I hear from the English speaking Atheists in just a few short hours.
Posts: 11097 | From: Cairo | Registered: May 2008
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Have a beer for me, please! Ah what I am saying.... make it two!!
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Tigerlily: INSHAALLAH is used by all Egyptians on a daily base as a simple empty phrase , no real meaning, no sincerity behind it. If you as a foreigner live there long enough you pick up certain slang.
Now you need to stop reading too much into people. Get over it. Next thing you will accuse me of making fun of your god and your believes..... wrong section though lol. Silly.
Why is he MY God? Grow up Tigerlilly.
Posts: 431 | From: England | Registered: Dec 2008
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quote: I will be in the British Club tonight, I shall count the 'Inshallahs' I hear from the English speaking Atheists in just a few short hours.
*gasp* I used it too when I was in egypt! You hear it soo bloody often, you naturally pick it up. If pretty much every one in England started using "god willing" in nearly every sentence, I would likely pick that up too. It was just a phrase, just like when I say "go to hell", I'm not literally meaning someone to go to the hell I do not believe in.
And side comment: No, atheists are not usually "against" the whole god thing, any more than a religious person is "against" something they disbelieve in, such as santa, or the easter bunny. If "spaghetti monster willing" was a common phrase, I would probably use that too!
Posts: 2573 | From: England | Registered: Jun 2008
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I said that WK, it is just linguistics. And if you live here and hear it at the end of every sentence you are bound to pick it up habitually. It is just ridiculous to say atheists don't say it!!! Clearly some folk don't live in Egypt!
I have taught Egyptians and Americans here the term 'bloody hell'... I think it is hilarious when they say it as the accents are so cute
I couldn't keep up with the count of Inshallahs last night tbh... the bar was very busy
And you know, of all the Inshallahs not once did an Egyptian have an issue. I guess that is the difference between ES and Egypt. Real people aren't sh1t stirring, drama queen fuckwits Posts: 11097 | From: Cairo | Registered: May 2008
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I have not picked up the habit. I go out of my way not to say it because I think it is an overused phrase. Instead I always say maybe or we'll see or I'll try to make it. Because that is what I mean. If I would be speaking to an Egyptian they would always say it for me. Instead I've had to take to saying "I will see you tomorrow unless I'm dead then".
Posts: 1626 | From: whatever, wherever | Registered: Jul 2008
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quote:Originally posted by The Ministry of Common Sense: I have not picked up the habit. I go out of my way not to say it because I think it is an overused phrase. Instead I always say maybe or we'll see or I'll try to make it. Because that is what I mean. If I would be speaking to an Egyptian they would always say it for me. Instead I've had to take to saying "I will see you tomorrow unless I'm dead then".
When I first came to Egypt (I was in Saudi Arabia)I did not use that phrase,but When i told somebody"I will come" he replies to be and say "and how do you know that you will come ?,you must say Insha'Allh" the phrase means that "Nothing happens unless Allah wishes ,which is in the core of the Islamic philosophy"since then I use that phrase as even my parents told me it would be polite to use it.
Posts: 2417 | From: Cairo | Registered: Jun 2009
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quote:Originally posted by Makbeta: So it's all right to say 'Inshallah' by a non-Egyptian? Ok, I wasn't sure...
I say both when im there from so much hearing it from Egyptian friends.They are muslims and im not and they know it,but never got any offended looks from them.I would say they even liked it. Posts: 3833 | From: here,there,everywhere | Registered: Nov 2007
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my ex's family loved me speaking any arabic, esspecially Inshallah and... erm... can't remember the words to say thanks god.. or something like that. (people say it whenever someone asks then how they are, even if they're good or bad.)
Posts: 1248 | From: my sex is on fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | Registered: Aug 2008
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quote: my ex's family loved me speaking any arabic, esspecially Inshallah and... erm... can't remember the words to say thanks god.. or something like that. (people say it whenever someone asks then how they are, even if they're good or bad.)
Alhamdulillah, or however it's spelt. Yep, I used that too whenever someone asked how I was. People just seemed happy for me to speak arabic, didn't matter what exactly I was saying lol.
Posts: 2573 | From: England | Registered: Jun 2008
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it means thank God, if its something bad they thank God, if it something good they thank God. Alhamdulillah tamam is thank God all is ok.
-------------------- If you don't learn from your mistakes, there's no sense making them. Posts: 15090 | From: http://www.egyptalk.com/forum/ | Registered: Jul 2004
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quote: my ex's family loved me speaking any arabic, esspecially Inshallah and... erm... can't remember the words to say thanks god.. or something like that. (people say it whenever someone asks then how they are, even if they're good or bad.)
Alhamdulillah, or however it's spelt. Yep, I used that too whenever someone asked how I was. People just seemed happy for me to speak arabic, didn't matter what exactly I was saying lol.
Yes,they always truly appreciate that one tries to speak it,and get a kick of fun out of our accent Posts: 3833 | From: here,there,everywhere | Registered: Nov 2007
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I just wish... at the end of saying Alhamdulillah he'd have said good or bad. if the shop was going tits up, I would have liked abit of warning. Posts: 1248 | From: my sex is on fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | Registered: Aug 2008
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quote:Originally posted by The Ministry of Common Sense: I have not picked up the habit. I go out of my way not to say it because I think it is an overused phrase. Instead I always say maybe or we'll see or I'll try to make it. Because that is what I mean. If I would be speaking to an Egyptian they would always say it for me. Instead I've had to take to saying "I will see you tomorrow unless I'm dead then".
I think 'hopefully' is also used quite often by English-speaking folk? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Posts: 2807 | From: Europe | Registered: Nov 2007
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quote:Originally posted by The Ministry of Common Sense: I have not picked up the habit. I go out of my way not to say it because I think it is an overused phrase. Instead I always say maybe or we'll see or I'll try to make it. Because that is what I mean. If I would be speaking to an Egyptian they would always say it for me. Instead I've had to take to saying "I will see you tomorrow unless I'm dead then".
I think 'hopefully' is also used quite often by English-speaking folk? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Yes. I use hopefully when I am talking aboout something that is out of my control. For example - Hopefully they will have the phone fixed by tomorrow.
But when I am talking about something in my control I use maybe or we'll see. "Maybe I will go, maybe I won't." Funny enough - it drives my husband crazy when I say "we'll see" in response to something he asks me. He feels I should give a definitive answer. But Insha'Allah is not definitive at all. Fortunately, he is not one of those Egyptians that uses the phrase in every sentence.
Posts: 1626 | From: whatever, wherever | Registered: Jul 2008
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