Insha’Allah, No, Maybe So by Rhonda Roumani, Nadia Roumani illustrated by Olivia Aserr
Not every funny thing a child says can be copied and pasted into a children’s book. And while I have no doubt that this book was edited and revised numerous times, it sure feels like a conversation or 20 that I’ve had as a mom, a teacher and a librarian over the years. Well, I take that back, the mom in this book, is very articulate, and not nearly as exasperated as I’m sure I always am. It is so on point that it makes me truly wonder, are you even a Muslim parent if you haven’t been asked what Insha’Allah means? The backmatter articulates that Muslims and Arabs of all faiths use Insha’Allah. The text and illustrations themselves are not Islam specific, but the authors are Muslim, and the term always on the tip of our tongues. It is very relatable and impossible to read without smiling, I can’t wait to share it, insha’Allah. (See what I did there? ya.)
The book starts simple enough, a little girl asks her mom if they can go to the park as they walk near one, and mom says, “Insha’Allah,” and keeps on walking. Ranya gets upset asking why she said no, and the mom explains that insha’Allah doesn’t mean no, it means God willing.
Ranya doesn’t just accept the answer and move on, she tells her mom it always feels like no, until her mother explains that we can want something to happen, but sometimes Allah has other plans. Ranya presses her mother a little more trying to understand if insha’Allah means, maybe. A few more examples are shared, and the definition is expanded to also mean, hopes and dreams.
Ranya wants to pin down her mom on some of the insha’Allahs, making cookies, a sleepover, a trip to Disneyland. Mom does her best, but Ranya is spunky and makes sure she gets the last word in.
I love the note at the end that ties it all together and shows the universal appeal of the word.