May 3, 2011 17:40
13 yrs ago
14 viewers *
Arabic term

Discussion

Taghreed Mahmoud May 4, 2011:
I believe this expression has one meaning, either in Standard or Colloquial context.
Richard Vranch May 4, 2011:
Context needed As stated above, the context is important here as, even though the expression itself has established classical and religious significance, in a modern contxt it is also used in a more informal manner, for example - to express surprise. And that changes according to each country where Arabic is spoken:

This forum discusses such differences and is quite interesting:

http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=357669

Said Abouharia May 4, 2011:
??? The pot calling the kettle black!!!!!!!
Mohsin Alabdali May 3, 2011:
ما شاء الله عليكم أيها الزملاء! ستة أعطوا ترجمات متباينة، ومع ذلك كل واحد يقول أنه متأكد تماما أن ترجمته هي الصحيحة. قليلا من التواضع لن يضر بل يرفع الصدقية. أين نحن من علم أبو حنفية أو الشافعي حيث يقول مذهبي صواب يحتمل الخطأ ومذهب غيري خطأ يحتمل الصواب. ألا يسعنا ما وسع الأئمة الكبار ونعترف بامكانية 20% خطأ. مجرد ملاحظة من عجوز سهران فاض به الكيل وهو يرى الكل فرح ببضاعته وقديما قالوا القرد في عين أمه غزال. يا سيدي بلاش غزال، خليه سلوقي مثلا
Khalid W May 3, 2011:
Like Said said, it depends on context. If you're translating a literary text where the expression occurs repeatedly, it might often be left as "masha'allah", for the reader to hopefully figure out from context. If you're translating something shorter, you might need an explanatory footnote, since although the translations offered below are correct, they carry nowhere near the same cultural implications as ما شاء الله does in Arabic.
Said Abouharia May 3, 2011:
ما شاء الله This expression, ما شاء الله, has different meanings according to its usage in the context. The literal English translation is "whatever God (Allah) wills"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masha'Allah

Proposed translations

+2
6 mins
Selected

God has willed it

See link
Peer comment(s):

agree Ali Alsaqqa
1 day 13 hrs
agree Ahmed Ghaly (X)
1172 days
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
29 mins

God's blessing/God bless

The inference here is to praise /supplicate. Most people would say God bless
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35 mins

It is as Allah wills!


It is as Allah has pleased..
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Pride_and_Vanity

Another Translation:
It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: 'That which Allah wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allah '. If you see me less than you in wealth, and children.
ولولا إذ دخلت جنتك قلت ما شاء الله لا قوة إلا بالله إن ترن أنا أقل منك مالا وولدا
سورة الكهف - آية 39
Reference: http://www.dar-us-salam.com/TheNobleQuran/surah18.html
In French:
Telle est la volonté (et la grâce) d'Allah!
Reference: http://www.kl28.com/Quran.php?aea=39&sora=18
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+1
1 hr

God's will/God's wish

It is God's Will or God's wish
Peer comment(s):

agree Mohammad Gornas : I will go with Liliane`s "God`s will" it is indeed nearest
3 days 9 hrs
Thanks Mohammad:)
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1 hr

Gods Grace

expressing delight :
Gracious God!
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2 hrs

As Allah will

As Allah will
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16 hrs

Oh My God ! / Oh My goodness !

Ezpression (ezclamation of surprise) in English culture.

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Note added at 16 hrs (2011-05-04 10:07:13 GMT)
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Sorry for spelling mistake, expression (exclamation of surprise)
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16 hrs

It is as Allah (God) has pleased

Not to be confused with "if" God wills, which would be: إن شاء الله
This expression usually refers to something that has already ocurred whilst إن شاء الله refers to future events.
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17 hrs

Masha' Allah!

As one of our mates suggested, it will be wise to just transliterate the expression.
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1 day 2 hrs

"What has God wrought / brought about / caused"

Greetings.

That exclamation of wonderment, amazement, and praise equates to a somewhat-archaic saying rendered earlier in "Old English: "What has God wrought / created / caused" [and by implication, something manifest before our very eyes].

As Richard Vranch mentions in his post, the utterance refers to an occurrence that is already past and observed.

Very-colloquial equivalent: "Oh, my God [would you look at that!]"

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Stephen H. Franke
San Pedro, California
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649 days

Masha'Allah/as allah will

hello brother
check the link below:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masha'Allah
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