and warding off harm. Since Allah, exalted is He, is the One intended—He alone is sought by the servants, to Him they flee, and upon Him they rely—it is therefore unfitting for a person to say, “Allahumma ighfir li in shi’ta (O Allah, forgive me if You will)” or “Allahumma irhamni in shi’ta (O Allah, have mercy on me if You will).” In fact, this is forbidden, because the phrase “if You will” sounds as though one were saying, “If You wish, forgive me, and if not, it does not matter to me,” as though he were declaring himself independent of Him—much like telling a companion, “If you wish, visit me,” meaning, “and if you do not wish, then do not visit me; I have no need of you.” For this reason the statement “Allahumma ighfir li in shi’ta” is unlawful. Hence, when the author speaks of “disliking” this wording, he means the dislike that amounts to prohibition (karāhat al-taḥrīm).
Likewise, one must not say, “Allahumma irhamni in shi’ta”; rather, he should be resolute, for he is appealing to the Generous, the Noble, the Self-Sufficient, the Praiseworthy—while he himself is utterly in need of Allah. Let him therefore be firm in his supplication and say simply, “Allahumma ighfir li; Allahumma irhamni,” without attaching “if You will.”
In the same vein, a person should not say, “ighfir li, in shā’ Allāh (forgive me, God willing),” nor should he say to someone else, “ghafara Allāhu laka, in shā’ Allāh (may Allah forgive you, God willing),” or “hadāka Allāh, in shā’ Allāh (may Allah guide you, God willing).” None of this is to be uttered; rather, one must speak with certainty and determination.
The Prophet ﷺ clarified this, for the wording involves two prohibitions. First, he said, “Let him be resolute in his request, for Allah cannot be compelled.” That is, if Allah forgives or shows mercy, it is solely by His will; no one can force Him. He does whatever He wills and chooses—there is no one to compel Him, so why say, “if You will”?
Second, when a person adds “if You will,” it is as though he deems the matter weighty and says, “If You wish, bring it, and if You wish, leave it.” Yet nothing He grants is weighty for Allah. However great the request, Allah is Rich and Generous; He bestows the plentiful and the mighty, and leaving aside the insignificant costs Him nothing.