Praying that Allah will cause him misfortune and later regreting it
Fatwa No: 83089

Question

I have asked for your help before and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your efforts. My situation is that many times I get urges or feelings to ask Allah to cause me something bad, such as failing in my work, or losing my health, or becoming hideous. I try to resist these feelings but sometimes I give in and ask Allah for something bad. I feel very afraid after that, and worry that Allah answers these prayers and I keep praying that nothing bad happens. I understand that these are thoughts from Satan and I read verses of the Qur'an so that these feelings may go away. My questions are:1. Is there anything more that I can do.2. Is it a sin in Islam for a man or woman to want to be good looking?3. Is it alright to pray Allah that he would save me from anything that would cause me to be hideous, or is it wrong to make such a supplication or prayer? Thank you for your help and may Allah reward your efforts.

Answer

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
1. The matter mentioned in your question is devilish insinuation as you stated. You should not yield under those temptations to make Dua' from Allah to cause you harm. Your Dua' could be at a special time when Allah responds to supplications made to Him. Try your best to do good deeds as much as you can, avoid committing evils and sins, perform obligatory prayers and supererogatory prayers as well, engross yourself in reciting the Qur'an and supplicating Allah. Indeed this is the ideal way to keep one away from Satan and his tricks.
2. There is no harm to desire to be good looking and you may ask Allah to make you so. The Prophet said: "Allah is nice and He loves fineness". Implore Allah to perfect your character and your countenance.
3. The Prophet used to ask Allah for good manners and sought His refuge from bad manners. He used to supplicate, "O! Allah, Guide me to good character and keep me away from the bad" or, "O! Allah, I seek your refuge from bad character". This is a useful supplication containing what you want, i.e. to be good looking or you may ask Allah whatever you want. Allah knows best.

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