Is it permissible to make supplications such as "O Allah, forgive Muslim men and women" and "O Allah, forgive us all," even though their realization might contravene the will of Allah? And how do we respond to those who cast doubts upon them at the time of their answering?

Supplicating for forgiveness for Muslim men and women in general is legally permissible, and this is supported by several proofs from the Qur’an and Sunnah: 1. Allah the Almighty commanded seeking forgiveness for believing men and women in His saying: (And ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women) [Muhammad/19]. 2. The Prophet's supplication in the funeral prayer: "O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our young and our old, our males and our females, those present and those absent." 3. The angels' seeking forgiveness for those on earth, as stated in His saying: (And the angels exalt [Allah] with praise of their Lord and ask forgiveness for those on earth) [Ash-Shura/5]. 4. The supplications of prophets like Noah and Abraham, and the actions of the Companions, Tabi'un (followers), and scholars, such as Umar ibn al-Khattab's supplication in Qunut: "O Allah, forgive the believing men and women, and the Muslim men and women."

The argument against this supplication, claiming that Allah has decreed that a group of Muslims will enter Hellfire, is refuted by stating that this is a confusion between divine decree (Qadar) and divine law (Shar'). A Muslim is required to supplicate according to the legislative will, not the cosmic will. Furthermore, supplicating for forgiveness for everyone does not necessitate that every individual among them will be granted forgiveness, for Allah knows best who will have their sins forgiven and who will not.