Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
suyuti:1786a

When one of you makes a supplication (to his Lord) one should not say: O Allah, grant me pardon, if Thou so likest, but one should beg one's (Lord) with a will and full devotion, for there is nothing so great in the eye of Allah which He cannot grant. (Using translation from Muslim 2679a)   

السيوطي:١٧٨٦a

"إِذا دَعَا أحَدُكمْ فلا يقلْ: اللهمّ اغفرْ لي إنْ شئتَ وليعَزِمْ المسألةَ وليُعظمْ الرغبةَ فإِن اللهَ لَا يعظمُ عليه شيءٌ أعطاهُ".  

[خ] البخاري في الأدب عن أبي سعيد. [م] مسلم عن أبي هريرة

See similar narrations below:

Collected by Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Mājah, Mālik, Aḥmad, Ibn Ḥibbān, Nasāʾī's Kubrá, Suyūṭī
bukhari:6338Musaddad > Ismāʿīl > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz > Anas

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When anyone of you appeal to Allah for something, he should ask with determination and should not say, 'O Allah, if You wish, give me.', for nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will.  

البخاري:٦٣٣٨حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ ؓ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَلاَ يَقُولَنَّ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَعْطِنِي فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مُسْتَكْرِهَ لَهُ  

bukhari:6339ʿAbdullāh b. Maslamah > Mālik > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "None of you should say: 'O Allah, forgive me if You wish; O Allah, be merciful to me if You wish,' but he should always appeal to Allah with determination, for nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will."  

البخاري:٦٣٣٩حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ؓ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ  

muslim:2678Abū Bakr b. Abū Shaybah And Zuhayr b. Ḥarb > Ibn ʿUlayyah > Abū Bakr > Ismāʿīl Ibn ʿUlayyah > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Ṣuhayb > Anas

When one of you makes supplication, he should supplicate with a will and should not say: O Allah, confer upon me if Thou likest, for there is none to coerce Allah.  

مسلم:٢٦٧٨حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ جَمِيعًا عَنِ ابْنِ عُلَيَّةَ قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَعْزِمْ فِي الدُّعَاءِ وَلاَ يَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَعْطِنِي فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ مُسْتَكْرِهَ لَهُ  

muslim:2679aYaḥyá b. Ayyūb And Qutaybah And Ibn Ḥujr > Ismāʿīl Yaʿnūn Ibn Jaʿfar > al-ʿAlāʾ from his father > Abū Hurayrah

When one of you makes a supplication (to his Lord) one should not say: O Allah, grant me pardon, if Thou so likest, but one should beg one's (Lord) with a will and full devotion, for there is nothing so great in the eye of Allah which He cannot grant.  

مسلم:٢٦٧٩aحَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ وَقُتَيْبَةُ وَابْنُ حُجْرٍ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ يَعْنُونَ ابْنَ جَعْفَرٍ عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلاَ يَقُلِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلَكِنْ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَلْيُعَظِّمِ الرَّغْبَةَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَتَعَاظَمُهُ شَىْءٌ أَعْطَاهُ  

abudawud:1483al-Qaʿnabī > Mālik > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

"One of you should not say (in his supplication): O Allah, forgive me if You please, show mercy to me if You please.' Rather, be firm in your asking, for no one can force Him."  

أبو داود:١٤٨٣حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ  

ibnmajah:3854Abū Bakr > ʿAbdullāh b. Idrīs > Ibn ʿAjlān > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "No one among you should say: "O Allah, forgive me if You will.' Let him be definite in his asking, and no one can compel Allah."  

ابن ماجة:٣٨٥٤حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلاَنَ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلْيَعْزِمْ فِي الْمَسْأَلَةِ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ  

malik:15-30Mālik > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abu'z Zinad from al-Araj from Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ''When you are making dua do not say; 'O Allah, forgive me if You wish. O Allah, forgive me if you wish.' You should be firm in your asking, for there is no compelling Him."  

مالك:١٥-٣٠وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ لاَ يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمْ إِذَا دَعَا اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ  

ahmad:9900Muḥammad b. Jaʿfar > Shuʿbah > al-ʿAlāʾ from his father > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] The Prophet ﷺ said, "When one of you supplicates to Allah, let him not say, 'O Allah, if You will' rather, let him emphasize his desire, for indeed, Allah does not feel any reluctance in giving what He has promised."  

أحمد:٩٩٠٠حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الْعَلَاءَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَقُولَنَّ اللهُمَّ إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلَكِنْ لِيُعْظِمْ رَغْبَتَهُ فَإِنَّ اللهَ ﷻ لَا يَتَعَاظَمُ عَلَيْهِ شَيْءٌ أَعْطَاهُ  

ahmad:9968Wakīʿ > Sufyān > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

"One of you should not say (in his supplication): O Allah, forgive me if You please, show mercy to me if You please.' Rather, be firm in your asking, for no one can force Him." (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1483)  

أحمد:٩٩٦٨حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ اللهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلَكِنْ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا مُكْرِهَ لَهُ  

ahmad:7314Sufyān > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah Yablugh Bih

Messenger of Allah (saas) said: "No one among you should say: "O Allah, forgive me if You will.' Let him be definite in his asking, and no one can compel Allah." (Using translation from Ibn Mājah 3854)   

أحمد:٧٣١٤حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ يَبْلُغُ بِهِ

النَّبِيَّ ﷺ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَقُلْ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلَكِنْ لِيَعْزِمْ بِالْمَسْأَلَةِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا مُكْرِهَ لَهُ  

ahmad:11980Ismāʿīl > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz > Anas

When one of you makes supplication, he should supplicate with a will and should not say: O Allah, confer upon me if Thou likest, for there is none to coerce Allah. (Using translation from Muslim 2678)  

أحمد:١١٩٨٠حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَعْزِمْ فِي الدُّعَاءِ وَلَا يَقُلْ اللهُمَّ إِنْ شِئْتَ فَأَعْطِنِي فَإِنَّ اللهَ لَا مُسْتَكْرِهَ لَهُ  

ahmad:10867ʿAlī > And Rqāʾ > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

"One of you should not say (in his supplication): O Allah, forgive me if You please, show mercy to me if You please.' Rather, be firm in your asking, for no one can force Him." (Using translation from Abū Dāʾūd 1483)  

أحمد:١٠٨٦٧حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيٌّ أَخْبَرَنَا وَرْقَاءُ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ لَا يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمْ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ اللهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا مُكْرِهَ لَهُ  

ذِكْرُ الْعِلَّةِ الَّتِي مِنْ أَجْلِهَا أَمَرَ بِهَذَا الْأَمْرِ

ibnhibban:896ʿUmar b. Muḥammad al-Hamdānī > Muḥammad b. Ismāʿīl al-Bukhārī > Ismāʿīl b. Abū Ūways > Khālī Mālik > al-ʿAlāʾ b. ʿAbd al-Raḥman from his father > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] The translation of the given phrase in English is: "Indeed the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, 'When one of you supplicates, let him have great desire and hope, for indeed there is nothing too great for Allah.'"  

ابن حبّان:٨٩٦أَخْبَرَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْبُخَارِيُّ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي خَالِي مَالِكٌ عَنِ الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيُعْظِمِ الرَّغْبَةَ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَتَعَاظَمُ عَلَى اللَّهِ شَيْءٌ»  

nasai-kubra:10344Muḥammad b. Bashhār > ʿAbd al-Raḥman > Sufyān > Abū al-Zinād > al-Aʿraj > Abū Hurayrah

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "None of you should say: 'O Allah, forgive me if You wish; O Allah, be merciful to me if You wish,' but he should always appeal to Allah with determination, for nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will." (Using translation from Bukhārī 6339)   

الكبرى للنسائي:١٠٣٤٤أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ عَنِ الْأَعْرَجِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ لَا يَقُلْ أَحَدُكُمُ اللهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي إِنْ شِئْتَ وَلَكِنْ لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ فَإِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى لَا مُسْتَكْرِهَ لَهُ  

nasai-kubra:10345Isḥāq b. Ibrāhīm > Ismāʿīl > ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Ṣuhayb > Anas

Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "When anyone of you appeal to Allah for something, he should ask with determination and should not say, 'O Allah, if You wish, give me.', for nobody can force Allah to do something against His Will. (Using translation from Bukhārī 6338)   

الكبرى للنسائي:١٠٣٤٥أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ بْنِ صُهَيْبٍ عَنْ أَنَسٍ

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللهِ ﷺ قَالَ إِذَا دَعَا أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ وَلَا يَقُلْ أَعْطِنِي إِنْ شِئْتَ فَإِنَّ اللهَ لَا مُسْتَكْرِهَ لَهُ