Is saying, "O Allah, forgive me if You will," polytheism (shirk)?
This statement is not polytheism (shirk), but it is prohibited, as stated in theith: "When one of you supplicates, let him not say: 'O Allah, forgive me if You will.' Rather, let him be firm in his request and make his desire great, for Allah is not burdened by anything He gives." Scholars have differed regarding the ruling on this prohibition: some understood it as disliked (makrooh), while others considered it forbidden (haram), and this latter view is the stronger one. The hadith indicates the importance for the supplicant to strive diligently in his supplication, to show his neediness before Allah, and not to tie the answer to Allah's will as if making an exception. Rather, he should persist in supplication with certainty and hope.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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