Compiled by: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (Hafizahullah)
استعن بالله، ولا تعجز، وإن أصابك شيء فلا تقل: لو أني فعلت كذا لم يصبني كذا. ولكن قل : قدر الله، وما شاء فعل، فإن لو تفتح عمل الشيطان
"Seek help from Allah and do not be weak. If something harms you, do not say: ‘If I had done this, such-and-such would not have happened.’ Rather say: ‘It was Allah’s decree, and He does what He wills.’ For indeed, the word ‘if’ opens the door to the work of Shaytan."
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2664)
This serves as a reminder to maintain strong faith in Allah's divine will and wisdom.
Answer:
Yes, the use of the word "لو" (if) in certain contexts has been discouraged in Islam, as it can lead to actions influenced by Shaytan.Evidence from Hadith:
Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:استعن بالله، ولا تعجز، وإن أصابك شيء فلا تقل: لو أني فعلت كذا لم يصبني كذا. ولكن قل : قدر الله، وما شاء فعل، فإن لو تفتح عمل الشيطان
"Seek help from Allah and do not be weak. If something harms you, do not say: ‘If I had done this, such-and-such would not have happened.’ Rather say: ‘It was Allah’s decree, and He does what He wills.’ For indeed, the word ‘if’ opens the door to the work of Shaytan."
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2664)
Explanation:
- The use of "if" in regretful contexts, implying that things could have been different, is discouraged because it leads to dissatisfaction with Allah’s decree (قضاء وقدر).
- Saying "لو" in this context gives Shaytan an opportunity to sow doubt, anxiety, and regret in a person’s heart.
Conclusion:
A believer should rely on Allah, accept His decree, and avoid using phrases like "if" when reflecting on past events, as this may open the path for Shaytan's whispers. Instead, they should say, "قدر الله وما شاء فعل" (It was Allah’s decree, and He does what He wills).This serves as a reminder to maintain strong faith in Allah's divine will and wisdom.