excerpt from Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani’s book “Ahkām wa Masā’il – In the Light of the Qur’an and Sunnah”:
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to say while making supplication to Allah: “O Allah! If You will, forgive me”? Please provide correct Sharʿi guidance.
❖ Answer:
While supplicating to Allah, one must ask with firm resolve and determination, because no one can compel Allah to do anything.
The authentic ḥadīth of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ states:
“None of you should say:
‘O Allah! Forgive me if You will.’
‘O Allah! Have mercy on me if You will.’
Rather, he should ask with certainty and resolve,
for no one can compel Allah.”
📚 Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tawḥīd, Chapter on Will and Desire: 7477
❖ Conclusion:
This authentic narration clearly proves that saying “if You will (in shi’ta)” in duʿāʾ is not correct.
❌ One should not say: “O Allah, if You will, forgive me.”
✅ Instead, duʿāʾ should be made with full certainty and firm determination.
