The ruling on saying, “O Allah, I do not ask You to reverse the decree, but I ask You for gentleness in it”

Question : The questioner says: What is the meaning of, “O Allah, I do not ask You to reverse the decree, but I ask You for gentleness in it”?

Answer : This supplication is not permissible. If it is not permissible, then there is no need to know its meaning. Glory be to Allah, “I do not ask You to reverse the decree.” Who says that anyone asks Allah to reverse the decree, and then says, “but I ask You for gentleness in it,” is as if he is saying, “I am the one asking; do what you want, but be gentle.” This is wrong.
It is as if you are saying, “O Allah, make me sick, but make me clean,” which is inappropriate. Rather, we say that supplication reverses the decree, as came in the hadith: The decree is a cause, and supplication is a cause. So this supplication in this form is forbidden, and it is not permissible for a person to supplicate to Allah with it. It is not among the supplications of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and its meaning is defective and invalid. If you ask Allah, say, “O Allah, I ask You to cure me of my illness, to provide for me in my poverty, and the like of that.” Yes.