ما شاء الله

09:10 May 4, 2011 

I believe this expression has one meaning, either in Standard or Colloquial context.

08:56 May 4, 2011 

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

00:16 May 4, 2011 

The pot calling the kettle black!!!!!!!

23:34 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

21:34 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.

18:31 May 3, 2011 

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