I have often been asked as to why I keep repeating words like “Insha Allah” and “Bismillah” which are Islamic as well as quotations from the Psalms in the New Testament. This could, arguably, be a valid objection and a reminder that I claim to be a Hindu by religion. While it cannot be denied that my faith is rooted in the Vedic tenets, I have never claimed that I owe any allegiance to rituals and dogma, if any, of Hinduism. My conception of God and perception of a relationship with That Supreme Being is such that it is incapable of being confined within the dogma of any single religion, be it Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, or any other belief system. I have, therefore, endeavored to adopt the best practices in ALL religions and to adhere to them in the true spirit in which they were first propounded.
In this sense, Insha Allah, is an acceptance that the future is a closed book, the pages of which, only the Omniscient one could have seen. The last line of Alexander Dumas’ novel, “The Count of Monte Christo” clearly articulates our absolute lack of control over the future and total ignorance about it:
“Until the day, God deigns to reveal the future to mankind, the sum of all human wisdom is contained in these two words…Wait and Hope.”
Similarly, Bismillah is a surrender of ego before beginning anything. We dedicate the act to the Supreme and take away all expectations. We will be able to dedicate to Him only those acts that are worthy of Him. So every Act is examined for its suitability as an offering to God. Thereafter we perform action in His name and to His Glory.
This is quite similar to the concept of Nish Kaamya Karma that is extolled in the Bhagvad Gita.
The Goal of all religions should be to spread the need for
- Surrender of Ego and submission to the divine will.
- Cheerful Acceptance of the Divine Will.
- Performing acts without concern or worry about the fruits or results.
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