The ruling on saying, "If time could turn back, I would have done such and such"

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Question:
May Allah bless you and reward you. A questioner says: I often occupy my mind with regret and sorrow over missing certain worldly and religious matters, so I say, "If time could turn back, I would have done such and such." What is the ruling on this statement? May Allah bless you.

Answer:
Did the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibit that? He said (peace and blessings be upon him)

Strive for what benefits you, and do not be helpless. If something happens to you, do not say, "If I had done such and such, then such and such would have happened." Rather, say, "It is the decree of Allah, and what He willed, He did."

احرص على ما ينفعك ولا تعجزن فان اصابك شيء فلا تقل لو اني فعلت كذا وكذا لكان كذا وكذا ولكن قل قدر الله او قدر الله وما شاء فعل

This is if it concerns a matter of this world. But if one is wishing for or regretting the loss of a righteous deed?

the Prophet (ﷺ) he said, "If I had formerly known

النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لَوِ اسْتَقْبَلْتُ مِنْ أَمْرِي مَا اسْتَدْبَرْتُ

Sahih al-Bukhari 1651

I would have made it an 'Umrah and not exited the state of ihram with you, as he (peace and blessings be upon him) said

If he says to him

فإذا كان يقول له

In the sense of wishing for good, there is no harm. But if one is blaming oneself for doing things that are not acts of worship, then that is prohibited. Yes.

Source قناة «إذاعة القرآن الكريم»، نور على الدرب مع معالي الشيخ صالح الفوزان ح7576 — youtube.com (4:45)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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