Bismillah.
Summary
- Saying Insha Allah.
- Islah of the Prophet and our islah
- Conclusion of the story of Ashaabul Kahf.
- Why does Allah mention some details and hide other details?
Nor say of anything, “I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow”. (23)
Except when adding “if Allah wills”. And remember your Rabb when you forget. And say, “perhaps my Rabb will guide me to what is nearer than this to right conduct”. (24)
Saying Insha Allah
Why is Allah ta’ala mentioning these ayaat in the middle of the story of Ashaabul Kahf? When the Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam told the Quraysh he would tell them about the Sleepers of the Cave, the Rooh and Dhul Qarnayn, he did not say “insha Allah“, and revelation did not come to him (full narration here). We take a lesson from this and say insha Allah when intending to do something.
This incident is one of the most amazing incidents in the seerah of the Prophet. Can you imagine what he must have felt like? The Quraysh were laughing and calling him a liar while Allah ta’ala withheld the revelation from him. But subhan Allah, there is wisdom in everything that Allah does. Those who were borderline on Islam (partially convinced of its truth) witnessed the reality that the Prophet was not making up the Quran, otherwise, why would he embarrass himself this way? It affirmed that the revelation was truly from Allah.
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ
And remember your Rabb when you forget (24).
This dhikr contains three aspects:
- Remember to say “insha Allah” when you intend or plan to do something.
- Remind yourself to do the dhikr of Allah when you forget.
- Generally if you forget anything, start to remember Allah ta’ala (for example, saying “SubhanAllah“, “Alhamdulillah“). We make the duaa from the last ayah of surah Baqarah, “do not take us to account for what we forget”, because forgetfulness is a shortcoming from Shaytan.