سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 24
إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۚ وَٱذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّى لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَـٰذَا رَشَدًا ﴿24﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Except (with the saying), "If Allâh will!" And remember your Lord when you forget and say: "It may be that my Lord guides me unto a nearer way of truth than this."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
إِلَّآ
illā
Except
أَن
an
If
يَشَآءَ
yashāa
Allah wills
ٱللَّهُ ۚ
l-lahu
Allah wills
وَٱذْكُر
wa-udh'kur
And remember
رَّبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
إِذَا
idhā
when
نَسِيتَ
nasīta
you forget
وَقُلْ
waqul
and say
عَسَىٰٓ
ʿasā
Perhaps
أَن
an
[that]
يَهْدِيَنِ
yahdiyani
will guide me
رَبِّى
rabbī
my Lord
لِأَقْرَبَ
li-aqraba
to a nearer (way)
مِنْ
min
than
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
this
رَشَدًۭا
rashadan
right way
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
24. Except if Allah wills [23]. And if you forget, then remember your Lord and say, "It may be that my Lord will guide me to what is nearer to right conduct [24] in this matter."
[23]
The Instruction to Say "Insha Allah" When Making a Promise:
What happened was that when the disbelievers of Makkah asked you about the People of the Cave and others, you replied that you would answer them the next day. You thought that perhaps in the meantime Jibreel would come, so you would ask him and inform them, or Allah Himself would inform you through revelation by the next day. However, neither of these things happened by the next day. Then, after a few days, Jibreel came with the verses of this Surah, and along with them, this instruction was revealed for you: that you should not make any definite promise to anyone that you will do such-and-such work by the next day. And if you must make a promise, then you must say "except if Allah wills" (i.e., if Allah wills, I will do such-and-such work by such-and-such time). And if you ever forget to say this, then whenever you remember, say it at that time. The meaning is that every action happens only under Allah’s will, so this should always be kept in mind. This instruction was given because no one can know whether he will be able to do a certain work by the next day or at a certain time, nor does anyone have knowledge of the unseen, nor is anyone independent in his actions so that he can do whatever he wishes. Therefore, even if a person makes a promise or speaks about the future with complete sincerity and true intention, he should definitely say "Insha Allah."
Using "Insha Allah" as a Shield:
But it is unfortunate that some ill-intentioned people have made this phrase of exception a shield to cover their ill intentions. For example, a person promises his creditor a month’s time for repayment of a previous loan or for a new loan, and also says "Insha Allah," but in his heart he thinks, "Let me get my work done, then whatever happens, I’ll see." And when, after the appointed time, the creditor demands his loan, he says, "Allah did not will that I should have enough money to pay you," and so on, making excuses. And ill-intentioned people have so maligned this phrase of exception that when someone says "Insha Allah" with his promise, the listener immediately understands that his intention is not good. This is the worst kind of mockery of Allah’s verses, which a true believer cannot even imagine.
[24] This phrase can have several meanings. For example, one is that in the future, may there never come a time when I forget to say "Insha Allah" or "Masha Allah." Another is that Allah may help me in an even more astonishing way than He helped the People of the Cave, as happened in the story of the Cave of Thawr. A third is that regarding the work you are saying you will do, you do not know whether this work is better or some other work is better than this, so while relying on Allah, say: "My Lord will guide me to the right matter or the right course of action in this affair."
[23]
The Instruction to Say "Insha Allah" When Making a Promise:
What happened was that when the disbelievers of Makkah asked you about the People of the Cave and others, you replied that you would answer them the next day. You thought that perhaps in the meantime Jibreel would come, so you would ask him and inform them, or Allah Himself would inform you through revelation by the next day. However, neither of these things happened by the next day. Then, after a few days, Jibreel came with the verses of this Surah, and along with them, this instruction was revealed for you: that you should not make any definite promise to anyone that you will do such-and-such work by the next day. And if you must make a promise, then you must say "except if Allah wills" (i.e., if Allah wills, I will do such-and-such work by such-and-such time). And if you ever forget to say this, then whenever you remember, say it at that time. The meaning is that every action happens only under Allah’s will, so this should always be kept in mind. This instruction was given because no one can know whether he will be able to do a certain work by the next day or at a certain time, nor does anyone have knowledge of the unseen, nor is anyone independent in his actions so that he can do whatever he wishes. Therefore, even if a person makes a promise or speaks about the future with complete sincerity and true intention, he should definitely say "Insha Allah."
Using "Insha Allah" as a Shield:
But it is unfortunate that some ill-intentioned people have made this phrase of exception a shield to cover their ill intentions. For example, a person promises his creditor a month’s time for repayment of a previous loan or for a new loan, and also says "Insha Allah," but in his heart he thinks, "Let me get my work done, then whatever happens, I’ll see." And when, after the appointed time, the creditor demands his loan, he says, "Allah did not will that I should have enough money to pay you," and so on, making excuses. And ill-intentioned people have so maligned this phrase of exception that when someone says "Insha Allah" with his promise, the listener immediately understands that his intention is not good. This is the worst kind of mockery of Allah’s verses, which a true believer cannot even imagine.
[24] This phrase can have several meanings. For example, one is that in the future, may there never come a time when I forget to say "Insha Allah" or "Masha Allah." Another is that Allah may help me in an even more astonishing way than He helped the People of the Cave, as happened in the story of the Cave of Thawr. A third is that regarding the work you are saying you will do, you do not know whether this work is better or some other work is better than this, so while relying on Allah, say: "My Lord will guide me to the right matter or the right course of action in this affair."
