The Meaning of "If" in the Hadith: "If I Had Known What I Know Now..."
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Question:
How do you reconcile his statement (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih Muslim 2664, with his statement (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih al-Bukhari 7229?
Answer:
This is regarding wishing for good. He says: "If I had prayed with so-and-so," or "If I had known what I know now, I would have helped so-and-so with such-and-such." There is no contradiction here; this is wishing for good: "If I had known such-and-such, I would have done such-and-such." There is no harm in that.
As for the blameworthy kind: "If I had gone to the doctor, I would have been safe." "If I had traveled, I would have been safe." "If I had not traveled, I would have been safe." Or something similar to that.
(Lectures on the Explanation of Bulugh al-Maram, Book of the Comprehensive)
How do you reconcile his statement (peace and blessings be upon him):
your" if" opens the (gate) for the Satan
إن لو تفتح عمل الشيطانIf I had formerly known what I came to know recently, I would not have driven the Hadi with me
لو استقبلت من أمري ما استدبرت ما سقت الهديAnswer:
This is regarding wishing for good. He says: "If I had prayed with so-and-so," or "If I had known what I know now, I would have helped so-and-so with such-and-such." There is no contradiction here; this is wishing for good: "If I had known such-and-such, I would have done such-and-such." There is no harm in that.
As for the blameworthy kind: "If I had gone to the doctor, I would have been safe." "If I had traveled, I would have been safe." "If I had not traveled, I would have been safe." Or something similar to that.
(Lectures on the Explanation of Bulugh al-Maram, Book of the Comprehensive)
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.