Bismillaah
Last week, I had to miss out on something really important to me due to a family commitment. I was really bothered by the sudden plans.
I had made the intention to increase myself in knowledge that weekend, so I figured finishing a long over due book in this journey would be helpful. I took Imam ibn al Qayyim’s summarized Zaad al Ma’ad (Provisions for the Hereafter) along. And I am grateful to Allaah azza wa jall that I did!
Ever had that time, when you are confused and you are looking for guidance? You open your mushaf randomly and the ayaat on that page directly speaks to your situation? SubhanAllaah. This is how I felt when I was reading this passage.
Prophet Muhammad salAllaahu alayhi wasallam forbade that a person should say, after missing something: “If only I had done such-and-such” and he said:
إنها تفتح عمل الشيطان
“Verily, it opens up (the door to) the deeds of Satan.”
Narrated by Muslim and ibn Majah
And he, salAllaahu alayhi wasallam, guided us to what is more beneficial than that, which is to say: “QadrAllaahu wa ma sha’a fa’ala” (Allaah has ordained and as He Willed, He has Done). Narrated by Muslim and ibn Majah.
This is because if one said: “If I had done such and such, I would not have lost the thing which I lost,” or: “I would have done that thing which I did,” does not benefit anything, for it does not change what has already occurred, nor does the word ‘Lauw’ (if) solve one’s problem.
Saying that basically implies a few things:
1) If the matter had been as one planned to him/herself, it would have been other than as Allaah subhanahu wa ta’ala decreed; and the occurrence of something other than what has been decreed is impossible, so one’s speech includes untruth, ignorance and impossibility.
2) And if it is free from denial of (Allaah’s) Qadar, it is not free from opposing it by saying “Lauw”. And if it is said: “But the things which one wished for are also part of Qadar;” it may be said: “That is true, but that is of benefit before something disliked which Allaah ordained occurs, and once it occurs, there is no way to avoid it or less it.”
Rather, what he should do in these circumstances is the following… which will be continued in part 2 inshaAllaah :)
Alhamdulillah…I can’t help but wonder sometimes what would my situation be if I did not know these narrations? Those that bring comfort and peace into my heart, reminding me that Allah azza wa jal is the Best of Planners and our feeble minds and hearts know nothing about what is best for us. la ilaha il Allah. Indeed the best hadiyy is the hadiyy of Rasul Allah sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam.