Is it permissible to ask by the Face of Allah for anything other than Paradise, and what is the authenticity of the hadith: "Cursed is the one who asks by the Face of Allah, and cursed is the one who is asked by the Face of Allah and does not give"?

The questioner : Is it permissible to ask by the Face of Allah the Exalted for anything other than Paradise, given that a hadith verified by Al-Albani has been reported, which states: Is this hadith authentic?

The Shaykh : I do not currently recall the ruling on the authenticity of this hadith. What I see is that a student of knowledge should, if a scholar of hadith verifies a hadith that is not in the famous books of authentic hadiths accepted by the scholars, investigate the hadith and its chain of narration himself until its authenticity becomes clear to him. A person is human and may err, just as he may hit the mark. However, I do not currently recall the ruling on this hadith regarding its authenticity or otherwise. If this hadith is authentic, its meaning is that since the Face of Allah the Exalted is described with majesty and honor, one should not ask by it for anything other than the greatest of things, which is Paradise. As for things less than that, one should not ask by it. Similarly, if a person is asked by the Face of Allah, which is the great Face described with majesty and honor, he should not refuse the one who asked by it; rather, it is obligatory for him to respond to him. All of this that I am saying is conditional on the hadith being authentic. And Allah knows best. Perhaps, if Allah wills, we will investigate it and be able to speak about it in another place.

The questioner : May Allah bless you.