I will visit each one of them every night, and every one of them will become pregnant and give birth to a male child who will be a horseman and fight in the cause of Allah. But (it so happened) that none of them became pregnant except one, but she gave birth to an incomplete child. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: Had he said Insha' Allah (if God so wills), then every one of them would have given birth to a child who would have been a horseman and fought in the cause of Allah
The Book of Oaths - Sahih Muslim 1654a
This narration from Sahih Muslim recounts the story of a man who made an absolute declaration about future events without including the essential phrase "Insha'Allah" (if Allah wills). The man claimed he would visit women who would all bear male children who would become horsemen fighting in Allah's cause.
Scholarly Commentary on Divine Will
Classical scholars explain that this hadith establishes the fundamental Islamic principle that all future events are subject to Allah's divine will. No human being possesses independent power to determine outcomes, regardless of their intentions or capabilities.
The phrase "Insha'Allah" serves as both an acknowledgment of human limitation and an expression of complete reliance upon Allah. Its omission constitutes a form of arrogance by speaking about the future as if one has certain knowledge of the unseen.
Theological Implications
Scholars emphasize that the failure to say "Insha'Allah" did not cause Allah to prevent the births out of punishment, but rather demonstrated that the man's statement was inherently flawed from the beginning since it claimed certainty about matters belonging exclusively to divine knowledge.
The single birth that occurred—resulting in an incomplete child—further illustrates that even when events partially manifest, they do so according to Allah's perfect wisdom, not human expectation.
Practical Application in Muslim Life
This teaching instructs Muslims to condition all statements about future plans with "Insha'Allah," following the Quranic injunction: "And never say of anything, 'Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,' except [when adding], 'If Allah wills'" (Quran 18:23-24).
The practice cultivates humility, recognizes divine sovereignty, and aligns human speech with theological truth. It serves as constant reminder that success and outcomes ultimately depend on Allah's permission and decree.