The Shaykh wished he had finished writing his book *Sahih al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah*, after some students had assumed he had.

The Shaykh : I wish you had read that. What does this statement mean?
The student : It means I have not read it!

The Shaykh : No, that is understood. I am saying: "I wish." There is a difference between my saying to you, "I wish you had read it," and if I had said to you, "I have not read it."
The student : Okay, what is the phrase, our Shaykh, may Allah bless you?

The Shaykh : Do not advise one who is eager.
The student : Good, if Allah wills.

The Shaykh : I told you: "I wish you had read it," meaning: I wished that I had finished writing "Sahih al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah." So I said: "I wish," because I have not finished. What I read was: that I had started writing "Sahih al-Sirah" and finished a quarter of the project.
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : I finished a quarter of the project, not all of it. So you gave us a fictional good news: that you read that I had finished. I have not finished. That is why I said to you: "I wish." And in reality, I wish that I would be given the opportunity to return to completing "Sahih al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah." So, your prayers, if Allah wills.
The student : May Allah bless your life, O Shaykh.