Chapter: The reprehensibility of saying, “Whatever Allah wills and whatever so-and-so wills”

1745 – Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān reports that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not say, ‘Whatever Allah wills and whatever so-and-so wills.’ Instead say, ‘Whatever Allah wills, and then whatever so-and-so wills.’” Recorded by Abū Dāwūd with a sound chain of transmission.

Explanation

The author—may Allah have mercy on him—states in his work Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn: “Chapter on the dislike of a person saying, ‘Whatever Allah wills and whatever so-and-so wills.’” Here the term “dislike” (karāha) should be understood as prohibition. Thus, if you say, “Whatever Allah wills and whatever so-and-so wills,” or, “Whatever Allah wills and whatever you will,” or any similar phrasing, it is forbidden, because the conjunction wāw (“and”) implies equality. Saying, “Whatever Allah wills and whatever so-and-so wills,” effectively places that person on the same footing as Allah in determining the outcome, whereas perfect will belongs to Allah alone; He does whatever He wills.

After prohibiting this wording, the Prophet ﷺ directed us to a permissible alternative: “Rather say, ‘Whatever Allah wills, and then whatever so-and-so wills,’” for the particle thumma (“then”) conveys succession with an interval, indicating that Allah’s will is above and prior to anyone else’s.

The same ruling applies to the phrase, “Whatever Allah wills and whatever you will.” A man once said to the Prophet ﷺ, “Whatever Allah wills and whatever you will.” The Prophet rebuked him, asking, “Have you made me a rival to Allah? Rather say, ‘Whatever Allah wills.’”