What is your opinion on the word "coincidence"?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to use the word "coincidence"?
The Shaykh : Yes, the word "coincidence" is not permissible with regard to the actions of Allah, because Allah the Exalted only does a thing while He is aware of it and willing it. As for with regard to a human being, yes. A thing may coincide with a person, meaning it happens without him knowing about it and without him preparing for it. You find a man saying, for example, "I went out of the house and coincidentally met so-and-so." Or he says, "I met him by coincidence," or he says, "By coincidence, such and such happened," meaning with regard to him. But as for with regard to the actions of Allah, it is not permissible, because Allah the Exalted knows what He wills and what He wills, Blessed and Exalted is He. Yes.
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : For example, if he says, "By coincidence, the rain fell." If he means "by coincidence" with regard to the action of Allah, it becomes forbidden, because Allah the Exalted sent it down with His knowledge and His will, Glorified and Exalted is He. But if he means it happened by coincidence, meaning the rain fell and he was not expecting it, then it is permissible, because the human being is limited in his knowledge and his perception.
The Shaykh : Yes, the word "coincidence" is not permissible with regard to the actions of Allah, because Allah the Exalted only does a thing while He is aware of it and willing it. As for with regard to a human being, yes. A thing may coincide with a person, meaning it happens without him knowing about it and without him preparing for it. You find a man saying, for example, "I went out of the house and coincidentally met so-and-so." Or he says, "I met him by coincidence," or he says, "By coincidence, such and such happened," meaning with regard to him. But as for with regard to the actions of Allah, it is not permissible, because Allah the Exalted knows what He wills and what He wills, Blessed and Exalted is He. Yes.
The questioner : Your Eminence, the Shaykh.
The Shaykh : For example, if he says, "By coincidence, the rain fell." If he means "by coincidence" with regard to the action of Allah, it becomes forbidden, because Allah the Exalted sent it down with His knowledge and His will, Glorified and Exalted is He. But if he means it happened by coincidence, meaning the rain fell and he was not expecting it, then it is permissible, because the human being is limited in his knowledge and his perception.