The Extent of the Legitimacy of the Supplication: “O Allah, I do not ask You to change the decree, but I ask You for kindness in it”

Question:
The questioner says: What is the ruling on this phrase in supplication: “O Allah, I do not ask You to change the decree, but I ask You for kindness in it”?

Answer:
No, it is not a prescribed supplication. Rather, one asks Allah for good and seeks refuge in Him from the evil of what He has decreed, as came in the supplication of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) where he said: “I ask my Lord to protect you from all evil.” Everything is by divine decree and destiny, and both good and evil are by divine decree and destiny. One asks his Lord for good and seeks refuge in Allah from shirk (associating partners with Allah). It is all acceptable. This is a gift, but supplication is among the causes of excellence and among the causes of protection. Supplication and righteous deeds are among the causes of protection.