Praying for unnecessary things......

[Spider Pig]

This thread is about when people ask god for things which I consider bonuses or not really important......

Before I continue can someone educate me on what the muslim term insh.... I can't spell it so I wont try to as it might offend people and its not my religion so I don't really want to be saying other religions help words, no disrespect, I am average on my knowledge on other religions but im Sikh and I know a bit about Muslims because most of my close mates are.


Is it a similar term to when sikhs' as the Guru to help them? because I see it a lot, what does it mean and how strong is the saying because it is used a lot.

My point is, whether your Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jew, Christian etc. we all say gods name or ask for his help for things we shouldn't for imo.


Examples such as......

When you want your team to win a football (or other sport) match
When you want to get a new car
When you want to go on a holiday

etc.


I'm not being a hypocrit, I used to be like that in my younger years, always praying things like that would happen but I started to realise that god's help should only be asked for serious stuff, which is why I only use his name or ask for help when my family or people I care about are suffering in some way, so I ask that he helps them out and makes them happy again. Which I do privately.


So why do you people do it? and if you think about it now, are you right in doing it?


I mean most of us are not even worthy for that kind of help imo because we aren't fully commited to the religion yet were asking for help on getting items which are a luxury or were asking for silly stuff, when god's name should only be used for when it's needed. As long as we understand this then it will be ok, I mean god will know if your hearts pure or just trying to use him but it still doesn't make it ok to ask for sily stuff, especially with all the sufferings going on, and what if you've been asking for these types of things and then there might come a time you need god's help for a family/friend reason (hopefully you wont) and you will just be saying the same thing but replacing "holiday" with "this persons health".....


I mean its ok if we ask for a little helping hand for maybe getting a good job and education so that we can provide our family's and with that if your able to treat yourself then great, but as long as you work hard.

Obviously things don't always go the way you want them to, there's people out there with things they don't deserve and people who deserve more with nothing etc. It depends on beliefs and how strong yours are but I would like to know people opinions please and what they think about theirs and others actions in asking for help for luxury/bonus items/things.



edit.

I don't mean we should only think of god when we need him, we should always be thinking of him but I meant we should only ask for his help when its required because surely if were asking him constantly then we are not using his name in the proper context.

[Axii]

inshallah simply means if allah(swt) wills it.

yeah people tend to use to use it very loosely at times..but the way i see it..regardless tho i think tis a good thing cos your aware its up to allah (swt) at the end of the day..so sayin it is good. havin said dat...alot of us forget dat its not god dat needs us but us dat need god..

i admit ive called upon allah in times of desperate need..and im really dissapointed in my self for it..but slowly alhamdulilah its becomin more regular..and well im tryin to correct my mistakes...hopefully ill be succesful in doin so..but yeahh i dn what im tryna say...

[Iroquois Pliskin]

edit: its irrelevent to what the thread is about sorry

[Cheeky_Princess]

interesting

cuz what your saying is right in some ways we do just turn to God when we need him.. let it be materlistic things or real personal problems...

and it should in a way be reserved for those actual problems

but we should always remember God and not just turn to him when we need him but also Remember him when things go right in out life...

[Spider Pig]

Oh right ok, so its not in the sense of asking for help but you just say it will happen if god wills.....

but still, there's way to show you are aware of god than saying 'if god wills I will get my tickets to a concert' etc.


I dont think we have a saying in that context though, altho I've heard people say "god willing" and I have used that term but again only for stuff when you feel like you need help for something or your asking for god to help someone else.

[Spider Pig]

Yeh I better edit that, I didnt mean we should only look for god when we need him, I meant we shouldnt be asking for his help for things that are not important i.e. materialistic as you say. That's just my opinion on it though.

[MiSs]

yepp ^ ur rite Axi

isnt there a story why muslims should say inshallah when they wanna do sumthin or willing to do somethin. I herd it ages agooo. duno If its propli correct

but basikli

der was dis farmer. who would go grow stuff (obviousli as farmers do )
1day he goes to his wife earli one mornin b4 he went out. im gna go out an do this in the fields today.(4got wat it was)

an his wife goes "inshallah"

an he goes. no. I dnt need to say that.cause he was so sure he'd finish all his work on time.an he'd be home in time for tea.

his wife waited an waited.was past time.then he came. but he neva finished his work. I think some otha bad stuff happened to him aswell. is like a story I think tellin muslims to be aware, only Allah knows an chooses wat will happen.

so we say. for example/ I hope I pass my exams.inshallah (if allah wills it to)

just like Axi sed

[Ranj]

I pray once in a while ...... yes I'm guilty of asking for selfish things at times, I won't lie.

Strangely enough, things always have a way of working themselves out.

[Spider Pig]

Yeh I thats ok in my opinion, afterall your hoping god will return your partner safely back to you or you will pass your exams because you want to get a good job to support your family, if not then you will fail but there will be a reason for that i.e. not trying hard enough or your path is different etc.


I mean why do they say god willing in terms of things that are not important.

This sounds as if im only talking about muslims, which im not, its just there aren't many other religions on here to discuss this with, so I only have the people who reply to talk to, don't want anyone taking this personally.

[Axii]

Originally Posted by Ranj I pray once in a while ...... yes I'm guilty of asking for selfish things at times, I won't lie. Strangely enough, things always have a way of working themselves out.

..everything

happens

for

a

reason..

[Lucy]

just pray for ppl the most,not thngs

[xxMINAxx]

Its similar to people making covenants?
one sided bargains with the Almighty for something they want..whilst in their hearts knowing its one sided like....if i pass my exam i will do x,y & z and then after the exam...the 'promise' is forgotten.

[Enchantress]

There are some people who are excessive. There's this girl at my uni, n I don't even thinks she realises she's saying it, but almost every sentence is ended with Insha'allah. For example "I'm going to hand in this assignment Inshallah then go n meet my friend Inshallah so I'll see you tomorrow Inshallah" Sounds exaggerated, but seriously, she does it all the time. It's almost a habit for her.

People do say it a lot, but then with anything, saying something and meaning something are entirely different things.

As for praying for random daft stuff... personally I'm not a materialistic person, and I do follow the whole "everything happens for a reason" malarky. So if I get something I get it, if not, its for the best. That's for material possessions.

There are people who pray for every darned little thing. Which I'm not saying is a bad thing, obviously God should be with your thoughts and whatnot. Depends on the extent to which you're praying to Him.

I mean, if you're laying your life down bargaining with God by saying stuff like "Oh I'll donate this n this much to charity or I'll do this if you just let me have this [insert luxury item here]. I no approve of that....

Have I gabbled enough yet? :$

[Guji-Ji]

At the end of the day it all comes down to Intention.

If your intention is selfish and you are asking Allah knowing full well you'll forget him after than you must work on that.

Also Allah does accept materialistic prayers but he does for a reason... so you remember him...

For example i may pray for a million and ask Allah to give me strength to get there and say Allah willing in 10 years im a millionaire I am sure Allah would expect me to give him the praise and not myself.

[Maya]

^^ I agree with what Guji-ji said.

One can say Insha'Allah anytime, but especially when discussing future plans, hopes, or intentions.

Why we say it is because we realise that the future, or the outcome of our plans isn't up to us. It is also said in the hope that God will favour our plans or intentions.

I personally don't tend to use it excessively, but some people do.