Lesson 5 of 6 · What feeds it
Four. The night spent on if only
The report below is the best single text in this course. Three separate things sit inside it. An instruction to pursue what benefits you. An instruction to seek help. And an explicit refusal of the if only I had started earlier loop, which is what eats the night before an exam.
Two wordings carry it and the first one says it outright: if anything befalls you, do not say if only I had done such and such, rather say Allah has decreed and what He wills He does, because if opens the door to the deeds of Satan. The second wording is the higher graded one and it holds a clause that tends to get dropped when this report is quoted at people, that there is good in everyone.
Notice what is offered instead of the if. Not a scolding, and not a demand to feel better about it. A sentence to say.
Qur’an and Sunnah
The best single text here, and three things sit inside it. Pursue what benefits you, seek help, and an explicit refusal of the if only I had started earlier loop. This is the wording that says the last part outright.
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'The strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than the weak believer, although both are good. Strive for that which will benefit you, seek the help of Allah, and do not feel helpless. If anything befalls you, do not say, "if only I had done such and such" rather say "Qaddara Allahu wa ma sha'a fa'ala (Allah has decreed and whatever he wills, He does)." For (saying) 'If' opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan
Sunan Ibn Majah 79graded sound, albanithe Arabic and its grading
The second wording, the higher graded one, and it holds a clause that tends to get dropped when this is quoted at people. That there is good in everyone.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say: If I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your" if" opens the (gate) for the Satan
Sahih Muslim 2664graded sound, sahihaynthe Arabic and its grading