CULTURAL differences sometimes bring some misunderstandings between peoples of different races and nationalities. However, direct contacts and communication between members of different societies brings understanding and even friendship between the diverse members of our human race. The Egyptian culture is a kind of mix between the Islamic, Arab, Coptic and even Pharaonic civilisation. So it is very singular and might not be fully understood by some foreigners even if they happened to live in another Arab or Muslim country. One of the many misconceptions the foreign visitor first faces in Egypt concerns the Arabic phrase ‘in sha'Allah' that people continue to reiterate whenever promising to do something or respond to a request of the visitor. The foreigner, especially the Westerner, expects to hear the words ‘Yes, I'll do it.' or ‘No, I won't be able to do it.' However, in Egypt they will always find the response in sha'Allah. So what is the story of this adage the Egyptians continue to say? Actually, it has a religious and social background. Religiously, Muslims are requested to say insha'Allah (If Allah so wills) whenever they intend to doing anything, that is to confirm all the time that it is not in one's will to do whatever one likes. There is always the will of Allah that might agree or disagree with the person's desire or intention to do that thing. Actually the first Divine command made to the Muslims to reiterate this word was directed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) himself. The story is that a group of the infidels headed to the Prophet at the advice of some Jews to question him about the story of the Companions of the Cave. It was not known to the Arabs of Mecca other than to the people of the Book, that is the Jews, at the time. The aim was to test if Mohammed was a real Prophet or not. The Prophet (PBUH) asked them to return to him the following day to give them the answer, wishing that the Archangel Gabriel would come to him with a new revelation about this story. However, it was the occasion for the Creator to teach his messenger and all Muslims the lesson of never giving a promise of doing something except after saying insha'Allah. The revelation was so late that the infidels were mocking the Prophet who suffered this sudden suspension of the revelation. However, Allah the Merciful eventually sent his angel with the revelation of Surat Al-Kahf, (the Cave), which includes narration of the story of the Companions of the Cave with a verse instructing the Prophet to express Allah's will whenever seek doing something in the future. “Nor say of anything, “I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow" except “If Allah so wills". (Verse 23 or Surat Al-Kahf) Therefore, it is a religious duty for all Muslims never to say I'm going to do so and so tomorrow except if Allah so wills – the phrase in sha'Allah in Arabic. If one forgets to say this so he or she would find the others reminding him or her: “Say insha'Allah first!" and they immediately comply. Of course for a non-Muslim doing things depends on one's truthful will to do so and to be a civilised person you have to be very precise in giving your word to do something otherwise don't promise to do so. Thus, Egyptians are expected to do the same and to be specific in confirming doing something at the time agreed upon. The problem is that no Muslim can make this confirmation without mentioning the phrase in advance, out of strong faith that not everything is in our hands and we might die or have an unexpected accident preventing us from doing what we promised to do. Some Egyptians even see it a bad omen to promise to do something without saying insha'Allah as this would trigger God's anger and punishment. The other important point that should not be neglected here is the fact that many Egyptians say insha'Allah when asked to do something that they don't actually intend to do. This, of course, causes confusion for foreigners who do not yet understand part of the Egyptian character and culture. Many Egyptians do not like to say no to any request. They might feel shy to say ‘I cannot do it' or feel it inappropriate to turn down a request of a foreigner, which they cannot actually fulfil. So they escape the situation by saying insha'Allah, which makes them think they are not actually making a commitment to doing that thing. Of course this is a very negative side of the Egyptian character and is very confusing for a foreigner to deal with. However, with the passing of time as newcomers get to know Egyptians more and more, they realise when an Egyptian is actually intending to do something and when avoiding doing it. So how many times have you, our esteemed readers, experienced this trouble while dealing with an Egyptian worker or employee or even a friend saying this phrase and getting the wrong message, expecting something to be done but finding nothing? This corner, as you see from its headline, is designed to create a kind of debate between you and The Gazette writer over different religious and cultural misunderstandings you have suffered on coming to live in Egypt. We hope that it will enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Egyptians and other peoples of the world So you are kindly invited to comment on this topic and the others to come and even suggests the themes of coming episodes of Forum. You can send your comments and suggestions to this email: [email protected]
