from al-Hudaybiyyah. They had gone to perform the lesser pilgrimage that year and had striven to enter, but the polytheists prevented them. They returned in anguish whose extent Allah alone knew. They had expected this promise to be fulfilled that year, since the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had given them a promise without specifying a time. It is also reported:

“He saw in a dream someone saying, ‘You will surely enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills.’ The next morning, he told the people about his dream and instructed them to set out for the lesser pilgrimage. They were unable to perform it that year, so this verse was revealed.”

The verse promised them what the Messenger had promised them—the very thing they had thought would happen that year.

His words, “If Allah wills,” here served to affirm that the entry would take place and that Allah would bring it about for them. Similarly, someone firmly resolved to do something says, “By Allah, I shall certainly do such-and-such, if Allah wills.” He does not say this because he doubts his own intention or resolve, but to secure its fulfilment. He fears that, if he does not say, “If Allah wills,” Allah may overturn his resolve and what he seeks may not come about. Thus, the two Sahīh collections relate:

“Solomon, peace be upon him, said, ‘By Allah, tonight I shall go to a hundred women, each of whom will bear a horseman who will fight in Allah’s cause.’ His companion told him, ‘Say: “If Allah wills.”’ But he did not say it, and none of them conceived except one woman, who gave birth to half a human being.

“The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘By Him in Whose hand is my soul, had he said, “If Allah wills,” they would all have fought as horsemen in Allah’s cause.’”

Thus, when someone says, “If Allah wills,” it is not because he doubts his own desire and intention, but so that Allah may bring it about for him, since nothing happens except by Allah’s will. If a servant swears presumptuously concerning Him without making his oath conditional upon His will, his purpose will not be fulfilled. For Allah proves wrong whoever swears presumptuously concerning Him. Hence the reported saying: “I shall not bring a planner’s purpose to completion.”