MashaAllah
مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ
Mā shāʾallāh
What Allah has willed.
Quran 18:39
MashaAllah, what Allah has willed.
MashaAllah means "what Allah has willed". Muslims say it on seeing something good, to credit it to Allah and to guard it from envy and the evil eye.
The full phrase
مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ
Mā shāʾallāhu lā quwwata illā billāh
What Allah willed. There is no power except in Allah.
Quran 18:39, Sahih International
Often said with it
تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ
Tabārakallāh
Blessed is Allah.
Said with mashaAllah
Quran 18:39In the Quran
وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًۭا وَوَلَدًۭا
Wa law laaa iz dakhalta jannataka qulta maa shaaa'al laahu laa quwwata illaa billaah; in tarani ana aqalla minka maalanw wa waladaa
And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allah willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allah '? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children,
Quran 18:39, Sahih International translation
Our teachers will check the Arabic and transliteration on this page before launch.
Guide
Meaning, use and source.
MashaAllah (مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ) means "what Allah has willed". You say it when you see or hear of something good: a healthy child, a beautiful home, someone's success. It says that this good happened because Allah willed it, not by anyone's own power.
Where it comes from
In Surah Al-Kahf, a man proud of his two gardens is told by his believing friend: "Why did you, when you entered your garden, not say: What Allah willed. There is no power except in Allah" (Quran 18:39). His gardens were later destroyed. So mashaAllah, said with humility, is the cure for pride in a blessing.
MashaAllah and the evil eye
The Prophet ﷺ said: "The evil eye is real" (Sahih Muslim 2188), and taught that when you see something you admire you should pray for blessing on it. That is why Muslims say mashaAllah together with allahumma barik ("O Allah, bless it") or tabarakallah ("blessed is Allah"). Saying mashaAllah while staying envious misses the point: say it and mean it.
Praising someone the right way
A man praised another in front of the Prophet ﷺ, who said: "You have cut your friend's neck." He then taught: "If one of you must praise his brother, let him say: I think he is so, and Allah is his reckoner, and I do not vouch for anyone before Allah" (Sahih al-Bukhari 2662, Sahih Muslim 3000). Saying mashaAllah when you praise someone keeps the praise humble and sends it back to Allah.
How to reply to mashaAllah
There is no fixed reply. Common replies are jazakallah khair, barakallahu fik ("may Allah bless you"), or simply alhamdulillah, returning the praise to Allah.
MashaAllah or inshaAllah?
MashaAllah is for what has already happened or what you see now. InshaAllah ("if Allah wills") is for the future.
Spellings
MashaAllah, mashallah, masha'Allah and ma sha Allah are all used. In Arabic it is written as separate words, مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ.
- Quran 18:39, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih Muslim 2188.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 2662; Sahih Muslim 3000.
Questions
Good to know.
What does mashaAllah mean?
What Allah has willed. It is said on seeing something good.
When do you say mashaAllah?
When you see or hear of something good, such as a baby, a success or a beautiful thing, and when praising someone, so the good is credited to Allah.
Does mashaAllah protect from the evil eye?
Saying it with a dua for blessing, such as allahumma barik or tabarakallah, is what the hadith teaches when you admire something.
What is the reply to mashaAllah?
Jazakallah khair, barakallahu fik, or alhamdulillah are all good replies.