that Allah wills—indeed Allah has always been All-Knowing, All-Wise” (Q 76:30). He thus made it clear that His willing is inseparably joined to wisdom and knowledge. How often a person loathes the occurrence of something, yet in the end it proves better for him, as Allah says: “It may be that you dislike a thing while it is good for you” (Q 2:216).

Many events have borne this out. Some years ago a plane took off from Riyadh bound for Jeddah carrying more than three hundred passengers. One of the registered passengers was in the departure lounge; drowsiness overcame him and he fell asleep. The boarding announcement was made, the passengers boarded, and the doors were closed. The man awoke only after the doors had been shut, and he was seized by intense remorse—how could he have missed the flight? Yet Allah, in His wisdom, decreed that the plane would burn together with its passengers. Glory be to Allah! How was that man saved? He hated missing the flight, but it turned out to be good for him.

Therefore, when you have done your utmost, sought Allah’s help, and the matter still turns out contrary to your wishes, do not regret it and do not say, “Had I done such-and-such, it would have been this way.” If you say that, the gates of whisperings, regrets, and sorrows will open upon you and disturb your tranquillity. The affair is finished and gone; you must hand it over to al-Jabbār (the Compeller) and say, “It is Allah’s decree, and whatever He wills, He does.”

By Allah, if we were to follow the guidance of this ḥadīth we would find great relief. Yet you see that one of us, first, does not strive for what benefits him; his days and nights pass without any gain and are squandered entirely. Second, if he should exert himself in something beneficial, and the matter then slips away and does not unfold as he had hoped, you find him regretting and saying, “If only…"