Is the narration attributed to Ibn Mas'ud sound: "Indeed, a servant intends a matter of trade or leadership until it is facilitated for him, then Allah looks at him and says to the angels: Turn it away from him, for if I facilitate it for him, I would admit him to the Fire. So Allah turns it away from him, and he continues to feel superstitious, saying: So-and-so cursed me, and so-and-so insulted me, when it is nothing but the grace of Allah, the Mighty and Exalted"? And can it be explained?
This narration has an authentic chain of transmission according to some scholars, and it has been reported with different wordings. Its meaning is that Allah's choice for His servant is better than the servant's choice for himself. Allah may distance something a servant desires because Allah knows that it contains his ruin.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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