La ‘Hawla Wala Quwata illa Billah (There is No Power Nor Strength except with God)

Ibn Majah reported: It was narrated that Abu-Dharr

said: The Messenger of God (God’s blessings upon

him) said to me: “Shall I not guide you to one of the

treasures of Paradise?” I answered: Yes, O Messenger

of God. He said: “That is to confirm: La hawla wa

la quwata illa billah = There is no power nor

strength except with God”.

Why is that the Prophet (God’s blessings upon him) said that this confirmation (that there is no power nor strength except with God) is one of the treasures of Paradise?

If we ponder upon the creation of human being, which is so sensitive and complicated, from the embryo in the womb, till it becomes a child and grows forth until the end of his life of this world, we can imagine that indeed all our life depends on God: “It is He who created you out of dust, and then out of a drop of sperm, and then out of a germ-cell; and then He brings you forth as children; and then (He ordains) that you reach maturity, and then, that you grow old – though some of you (He causes to) die earlier – and (all this He ordains) so that you might reach a term set (by Him), and that you might (learn to) use your reason” (40:67).

In fact human’s existence, human’s thoughts and actions, and human’s condition, all depend on God and are under His complete watch and observation: “All that is in the heavens and the earth implore Him; every time He is (in the state of action) upon some matter (of His creation)”  (55:29).

All human’s thoughts, conditions and actions are watched and witnessed by the Almighty, for His knowledge comprehends all things at all times, while we may be deeply engrossed in some particular issue, and at the same time we are oblivious to other things. Nothing is hidden from Him. His knowledge is not like human’s knowledge. Human’s knowledge is subject to time and can be wiped out by time, while God’s knowledge endures forever. In the Qur’an God addressed His Messenger and addressing all of us:

“And in whatever condition you may find yourself (O Prophet), and whatever discourse of this (divine writ) you may be reciting, and whatever work you (all, o men,) may do – (remember that) We are your witness (from the moment) when you enter upon it: for not even an atom’s weight (of whatever there is) on earth or in heaven escapes your Lord’s knowledge, and neither is there anything smaller than that, or larger, but is recorded in (His) clear decree” (10:61).

God is the Ever-Living, the Fount of all beings. We all depend on Him, we have no power nor strength except with Him: “God there is no deity save Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsistent, the Fount of all beings. Neither slumber overtakes Him, nor sleep. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that could intercede with Him, unless it be by His leave. He knows all that lies open before men and all that is hidden from them, whereas they cannot attain to aught of His knowledge save that which He wills (them to attain). His eternal power overspread the heavens and the earth, and their upholding wearies Him not. And He alone is truly exalted, tremendous” (2:255).

Now let us ponder upon the word “treasure”. The word treasure means: something of great worth or value. The Prophet (God’s blessings upon him) used this word in the saying I quoted above. He said that this declaration (There is no power nor strength except with God) is considered as one of the treasures of Paradise.

In my opinion, it is because in order to get to Paradise, one must use all the great worthy things God has bestowed upon us to their fullest. God has granted humans a lot of benefactions (certain free-will and power, faculties of knowing things and innovating, and certain possibilities of action), and furthermore, we can use our spiritual contact with God directly through prayers. If we use them we certainly will get a lot of success, which will bring us closer to Paradise.

God describes those who have attained to faith as active people who vie each other in doing their duty as vice-gerents of God on earth, exploiting all good elements to make life of this world better, which will, consequently, lead to an honorable life in the hereafter. God described them as follows:

“Those (are the ones who) hasten to (perform) good works, and they (are the ones who) shall come out ahead in them. And We do not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear: for with Us is a record that speaks the truth (about what men do and can do); and none shall be wronged” (23:61-62).

The Qur’an described those people as “awliya-Allah” (= the closed-ones to God): “Oh, verily, they who are close to God – no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve: they who have attained to faith and have always been conscious of Him. For them there is the glad tiding (of happiness) in the life of this world and in the life to come, (and since) nothing could ever alter (the outcome of) God’s promises, this, this is the triumph supreme!” (10:62-64).