and if something befalls you, do not say, ‘Had I done such-and-such, it would have turned out this way or that.’ Rather say: qadar Allāh wa mā shāʾa faʿal (It is Allah’s decree, and He does whatever He wills), for the phrase ‘if only’ opens the door to Satan’s work.” Recorded by Muslim.

ʿAwf ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ judged between two men. When the one against whom the verdict was passed turned away, he said, ḥasbiy Allāh wa niʿma al-wakīl (Allah is sufficient for me, and He is the best Trustee). The Prophet ﷺ said, “Allah reproaches helplessness; you must act with prudence, and if a matter overwhelms you, then say: ḥasbiy Allāh wa niʿma al-wakīl.” Reported by Abū Dāwūd.

Blessings bestowed upon a person

Allah the Exalted says, in the story of the two men: “Why, when you entered your garden, did you not say, ‘Whatever Allah wills; there is no power except with Allah’?” (al-Kahf 18:39)

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Whenever Allah grants a servant a blessing in his family, wealth, or children, and he says: mā shāʾa Allāh, lā quwwata illā bi-llāh (Whatever Allah wills; there is no power except with Allah), no calamity will befall that blessing before death.”