Is Saying Ma Sha Allah to Something Haram Sinful?
Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
Question
Is it sinful to say Ma Sha Allah when seeing something prohibited?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
Generally, the invocation Ma Sha Allah (As Allah willed) is used when seeing pleasing things. [al-Nawawi, Kitab al-Adhkar]
If one saw something forbidden and disturbing, one would say La Hawla wa La Quwwata Illa bi’Llah
There is no might (to abstain from sin) or power (to obey) except through Allah
Is It Sinful?
Saying Ma sha Allah when seeing something prohibited is not inherently sinful as long as one is not saying Ma sha Allah out of a sense of approval for the prohibited thing. It is the orthodox Islamic belief that all good and evil exist by the will of Allah – so even the forbidden is As Allah Willed.
A Blessed Supplication
If the forbidden thing was a sinful action from another person, this falls under the tribulation for which the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) taught the following supplication:
The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever sees someone in tribulation they should say – (supplication below) – except that they will be relieved from that tribulation as long as they live whatever the tribulation may be.” [Tirmidhi]
الْحَمْدُ لِلهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي مِمَّا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ، وَفَضَّلَنِي عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقَ تَفضِيلاً
“All praise is due to Allah for relieving me from that which you have been tested and has preferred me over many of His creation”
Imam Nawawi’s Comment
Many scholars of our school and others said, “One should say this invocation to themselves such that they not hear it and be hurt by it – that is unless the tribulation involved is an act of disobedience from them. In such cases, it is permitted to say it loud enough for them to hear unless one fears greater harm therefrom. Allah knows best. [al-Nawawi; Kitab al-Adhkar]
Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he went on to study at Darul Uloom Seminary in New York and completed his studies in Darul Mustafa in Tarim, Yemen. There he completed the memorization of the Qur’an and his study of the Islamic Sciences. Throughout his years of study he was blessed to learn from many great scholars: al-Habib Umar bin Hafiz, al-Habib Kazhim al-Saqqaf, al-Shaykh Umar bin Husayn al-Khatib, and others. Upon returning, he joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.
