Is it permissible to say "Masha'Allah" when witnessing forbidden acts or things?
It is said, "Masha'Allah" (what Allah willed) upon seeing something admirable from Allah's blessings, to ward off the evil eye or arrogance, based on His saying, the Most High: (And why did you not, when you entered your garden, say, 'What Allah willed! There is no power except with Allah'?) So, it is not legislated to say it upon seeing a sin. Rather, it is legislated to say "Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un" (Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we return), because sin is a calamity in religion, as the Salaf did when the conditions of people deteriorated and innovations appeared.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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