Bismillâhi-r-Rahmâni-r-Rahîm Al-Hamdulillâhi Was-Salâtu Was-Salâmu 'Alâ Rasûlillâh, Wa Ba'd: As-Salâmu 'Alaikum Wa Rahmatullâhi Wa Barakâtuh
What Has Come Concerning The Statement, "If Only Such And Such..."
Text from Kitaabut Tawheed:
Allaah said:
يَقُولُونَ لَوْ كَانَ لَنَا مِنَ الأمْرِ شَيْءٌ مَا قُتِلْنَا هَا هُنَا
“They say: ‘If we had anything to do with the affair, none of us would have been killed here.’” - [Aali Imraan (3):154]
And Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) said:
الَّذِينَ قَالُوا لإخْوَانِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا
“(They are) the ones who said about their killed brethren while they themselves sat (at home): ‘If only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed.’” - [Aali Imraan (3):168]
It is recorded in the Saheeh (of Imaam Muslim) from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:
“Seek carefully what benefits you in the Hereafter and seek help only from Allaah and do not lose heart. If any adversity comes to you, do no say: ‘If only I did such and such, it would have been such and such.’ but instead say: ‘Allaah has decreed it and what He willed has occurred.’ Verily (the statement) ‘If only…’ opens the way for the work of Shaytaan.”
Lessons derived from this chapter:
Explanation of the two verses in (Soorah) Aali Imraan (3):154 and (3):168.
The clear prohibition of saying ‘if’ when an adversity occurs.
The reason being that to do so opens the way for the work of Shaytaan.
Guidance to the best speech.
The exhortation to do good deeds that are beneficial (in the Hereafter) while seeking help only from Allaah.
Doing the opposite (seeking help from other than Allaah) is prohibited and is weakness.
Explanation:
The author included this chapter because many (people) oppose the Qadr (Divine pre-decree) by their actions thinking that if they did certain things, they would have changed the situation. But Allaah has decreed acts and their outcomes so all of it is in accordance with His Wisdom (سبحانه وتعالى).
Saying ‘if only…’ about an affair that happened in the past is not permissible. And the proof for that is that using ‘if only…’ is among the characteristics of the hypocrites.
His (صلى الله عليه وسلم) statement, “If any adversity comes to you, do not say: ‘If only I did such and such” is a clear prohibition and using (such an _expression) weakens the heart. But the prohibition is for using (the statements) ‘if’ or ‘if only’ in regret for (what transpired in) the past.
As for using ‘if’ for the future concerning something good, with the hope that Allaah may aid the means to attain good, then this is permissible.
Whereas, if it is used out of haughtiness or arrogance, then it is not permissible because in it is showing obstinance toward the Qadr.