48/77. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3497 — Be Firm When Making Dua
“None Of You Should Say, “Forgive Me If You Wish”
Be Firm in Dua When Asking Allah
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3497
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3497
حَدَّثَنَا الأَنْصَارِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " لاَ يَقُولُ أَحَدُكُمُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ " . قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: “None Of You Should Say: ‘O Allah Forgive Me If You Wish. O Allah Have Mercy On Me If You Wish.’ Let Him Be Firm In Asking, For There Is None That Can Compel Him To Do Things.”
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3497In-book reference : Book 48, Hadith 128English translation : Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3497
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3497
This Hadith teaches an adab of supplication: be firm when asking Allah. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said that none of you should say, “O Allah, forgive me if You wish” or “O Allah, have mercy on me if You wish.” Instead, a person should be firm in asking, because there is none that can compel Allah to do things. The teaching is not about forcing a result. Rather, it shows that when asking Allah, the believer should ask with need, hope, and clear request. Allah is not pressured by anyone, so there is no need to phrase the dua as if asking might burden Him. For people searching for how to make dua properly, this Hadith gives a clear rule about confident asking.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not attach “if You wish” to asking Allah for forgiveness or mercy.
- A believer should ask Allah with clear and firm wording.
- No one can compel Allah to do anything.
- The Hadith teaches respectful confidence in supplication.
