The Difference Between the Supplication “O Allah, suffice me with what You will” and the Prohibition of “Forgive me if You will”
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The questioner : The questioner says: It was reported in a hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): “O Allah, guide me to what You will, however You will.” And what we said previously regarding the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was: Do not say, “O Allah, guide me to what You will.”
The Shaykh : You say.
The questioner : She says: What came before it in the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is: “O Allah, forgive me with what You will, and the best of what You will.” And what I said previously regarding the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was: Do not say, “O Allah, forgive me without what You will.”
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the hadith he referred to, “O Allah, suffice me with what You will, and suffice me however You will,” I do not know it. However, assuming it is a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him), it does not contradict what is established in the authentic hadith regarding the prohibition by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) of the one who says:Sunan Ibn Majah 3854Sahih (Darussalam) For this hadith is established from the Prophet (may Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him), who said: The difference between them is apparent, because the phrase “O Allah, suffice me with what You will” — thank you — “with what You will, and however You will” means that you determine what suffices me with what
The Shaykh : You say.
The questioner : She says: What came before it in the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) is: “O Allah, forgive me with what You will, and the best of what You will.” And what I said previously regarding the hadith of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was: Do not say, “O Allah, forgive me without what You will.”
The Shaykh : Yes. As for the hadith he referred to, “O Allah, suffice me with what You will, and suffice me however You will,” I do not know it. However, assuming it is a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s prayer and peace be upon him), it does not contradict what is established in the authentic hadith regarding the prohibition by the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) of the one who says:
O Allah, forgive me if You will.
اللهم اغفر لي إن شئتLet none of you say, “O Allah, forgive me if You will, O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.” Rather, let him be resolute in his request and magnify the matter, for Allah is not compelled to do anything
لا يقل أحدكم اللهم اغفر لي إن شئت اللهم ارحمني إن شئت ولكن ليعزم المأسلة وليعظم الرابح فإن الله لا مكره له
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 19 - 22 - دروس وفتاوى المسجد الحرام للعام 1408 هـ - الدرس التاسع عشر - الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين — youtube.com (45:10)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.