What is meant by the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), “Do not ask for anything by the Face of Allaah except Paradise”?
Praise be to Allah.There are two different opinions as to what this hadeeth
means:
The first view is that it means, Do not ask any created
being by the Face of Allaah. If you want to ask any created being for
something, do not ask by the Face of Allaah, because nothing may be
asked for by the Face of Allaah except Paradise, and people cannot give
Paradise, so created beings should not be asked for anything by the
Face of Allaah at all.
The second view is: if you ask of Allaah,
if you are asking for Paradise and the means to get there, then ask
by the Face of Allaah. If you are asking for some worldly thing, then
do not ask by the Face of Allaah. But matters of the Hereafter may be
asked for by the Face of Allaah, for example you could say, “I ask You
by Your Face to save me from Hell.” The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sought refuge in the Face
of Allaah when Allaah revealed the words (interpretation of the meaning):
“Say: ‘He has power to send torment on you from above”
[al-An’aam 6:65]
He (the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “A’oodhu
bi Wajhika (I seek refuge in Your Face).”
“or from under your feet,” [al-An’aam 6:65]
He (the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “A’oodhu
bi Wajhika (I seek refuge in Your Face).”
“or to cover you with confusion in party strife, and
make you to taste the violence of one another”[al-An’aam 6:65]
He (the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “This is less serious.”
If it is said that both opinions are correct, then that
is possible.