A Level Insh’allah

Today I'm holding an internal vigil for two young people. My niece in north Wales and my asylum seeker friend from Iran, who now lives in Cardiff, are both awaiting their A level results. Both are very gifted and I trust that they will do well. Tonight, they aren't so certain. All I can do is make encouraging noises and, as a Christian, pray for them both.

Muslims and Christians can and should pray for each other under such circumstances. My Muslim friends have a phrase which they use to indicate God's sovreignty in a given situation Insh’allah. Yesterday, one of these friends was late for a meeting. He sent me a text to say that, Insh’allah, he would be arriving soon. It's always nice to be able to blame God for things that go wrong or just for being late.

Since I don't believe in a God who constructs everything that happens, all that I can ask in prayer is that he in his great love and generosity will be in everything - even examination results.