Do not attach a condition to your request
A correction of a habit people fall into when they feel unworthy.
لاَ يَقُولَنَّ أَحَدُكُمُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْنِي، إِنْ شِئْتَ. لِيَعْزِمِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ، فَإِنَّهُ لاَ مُكْرِهَ لَهُ
None of you should say: O Allah forgive me if You wish, O Allah have mercy on me if You wish. Let him be firm in his asking, for no one compels Him.
The full narration
Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah's Messenger (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
Source
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī · 6339
Ṣaḥīḥ
- Agreed upon as authentic (al-Bukhārī / Muslim)