Is it permissible to ask Allaah to change His decree?

How correct is this phrase which some people say in their du’aa’ – “O Allaah, I do not ask You to change Your decree but I do ask for Your help when it comes to pass”?

Praise be to Allaah. 

This du’aa’ is recited by many people, but it is not an appropriate du’aa’, because it has been prescribed for us to ask Allaah to change His decree if there is something bad in it.

 Hence Imaam al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy on him) entitled a chapter in his Saheeh “Whoever seeks refuge with Allaah from having an evil end to this worldly life and from having a bad fate, and the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Say: I seek refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what He has created’ [al-Falaq 113:1-2].” Then he quoted the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Seek refuge with Allaah from the difficulties of severe calamities, from having a bad end and bad fate.” (al-Bukhaari, 7/215, Kitaab al-Qadar).