Chapter: The Undesirability of Saying in Supplication, “O Allah, forgive me if You will,” for one must ask with certainty.

1743 – Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “None of you should say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will; O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.’ Let him make his request with resolve, for there is no one who can compel Him.” Agreed upon. In another narration recorded by Muslim: “Rather, let him ask decisively and widen his desire, for nothing that He grants is too great for Allah Most High.”

1744 – Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When any of you supplicates, let him be resolute in his request, and let him not say, ‘O Allah, if You will, then give me,’ for no one can compel Him.” Agreed upon.

[Commentary]

The author, may Allah have mercy on him, says in his book Riyad al-Salihin: “Chapter on the dislike of a person saying, ‘O Allah, forgive me if You will; O Allah, have mercy on me if You will.’ It is well known that a human being has no refuge but Allah, exalted is He, when seeking good…"