Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
"It was better for you to say, when you entered your garden: ‘That which Allâh wills (will come to pass)! There is no power but with Allâh!’ If you see me less than you in wealth, and children,
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَوْلَآwalawlāAnd why (did you) not
إِذْidhwhen
دَخَلْتَdakhaltayou entered
جَنَّتَكَjannatakayour garden
قُلْتَqul'tasay
مَاmāWhat
شَآءَshāawills
ٱللَّهُl-lahuAllah
لَاlā(there is) no
قُوَّةَquwwatapower
إِلَّاillāexcept
بِٱللَّهِ ۚbil-lahiwith Allah
إِنinIf
تَرَنِtaraniyou see me
أَنَا۠anā(me)
أَقَلَّaqallalesser
مِنكَminkathan you
مَالًۭاmālan(in) wealth
وَوَلَدًۭاwawaladanand children
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 39){وَلَوْلَاۤاِذْدَخَلْتَجَنَّتَكَ … :} From this it is understood that if a person likes something of his own, he should say these words: « مَاشَآءَاللّٰهُلَاقُوَّةَاِلَّابِاللّٰهِ » Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: [ يَاأَبَاهُرَيْرَةَ ! أَفَلاَأَدُلُّكَعَلٰیكَنْزٍمِنْكَنْزِالْجَنَّةِتَحْتَالْعَرْشِ ، قَالَقُلْتُنَعَمْفِدَاكَأَبِيْوَأُمِّيْ،قَالَأَنْتَقُوْلَلَاقُوَّةَإِلاَّبِاللّٰهِ،قَالَأَبُوْبَلْجٍوَأَحْسِبُأَنَّهُقَالَ : فَإِنَّاللّٰهَعَزَّوَجَلَّيَقُوْلُأَسْلَمَعَبْدِيْوَاسْتَسْلَمَ،قَالَفَقُلْتُلِعَمْرٍوقَالَأَبُوْبَلْجٍقَالَعَمْرٌوقُلْتُلِأَبِيْهُرَيْرَةَلَاحَوْلَوَلَاقُوَّةَإِلَّابِاللّٰهِفَقَالَ: لَاإِنَّهَافِيْسُوْرَةِالْكَهْفِ : «وَلَوْلَاۤاِذْدَخَلْتَجَنَّتَكَقُلْتَمَاشَآءَاللّٰهُلَاقُوَّةَاِلَّابِاللّٰهِ »][ مسند أحمد :335/2، ح : ۸۴۴۷ ] “O Abu Hurairah! Shall I tell you of a treasure from the treasures of Paradise beneath the Throne?” I said: “Yes! May my parents be sacrificed for you!” He said: “Say {’’لَاقُوَّةَاِلَّابِاللّٰهِ‘‘} Abu Balj, the narrator, says: I think the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Because Allah says: My servant has submitted and entrusted himself to Me.’” The student of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked him: {’’لَاحَوْلَوَلَاقُوَّةَاِلَّابِاللّٰهِ‘‘} So he replied: “No, this phrase is in Surah Al-Kahf: « وَلَوْلَاۤاِذْدَخَلْتَجَنَّتَكَقُلْتَمَاشَآءَاللّٰهُلَاقُوَّةَاِلَّابِاللّٰهِ »” Shu‘aib Arna’ut said that this narration is Sahih without the word ‘Throne’. In Sahih Bukhari, Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) has narrated the same virtue of {’’لَاحَوْلَوَلَاقُوَّةَإِلَّابِاللّٰهِ‘‘} from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). [بخاری، القدر، باب لا حول ولا قوۃ إلا باللہ : ۶۶۱۰ ] As for the other narrations in which it is mentioned that reciting these words protects from the evil eye or any harm, all of them are weak. (Al-Albani) However, the verse itself is sufficient for their virtue.
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
39. 1. Explaining the way to express gratitude for Allah's blessings, it is said that upon entering the garden, instead of displaying arrogance and pride, one should have said, مَاشَاَءَاللّٰہُلَاقُوَّۃَاِلّاباللّٰہِ, meaning whatever happens is by Allah's will; if He wills, He keeps it, and if He wills, He destroys it. That is why it is mentioned in the hadith that whoever likes someone's wealth, children, or condition should recite مَاشَاَءَاللّٰہُلَاقُوَّۃَاِلّاباللّٰہِ (Tafsir Ibn Kathir).
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
And when you entered your garden, why did you not say: 'Whatever Allah wills [39]—there is no power except with Allah'? Even if you see me less than you in wealth and children,
[39] Saying “Masha Allah” as Gratitude Upon Receiving a Blessing:
The monotheist companion began to explain to his polytheist companion that what you should have done, when you were entering your garden, was to thank Allah and say that all this is Allah’s gift, instead of boasting and trying to prove yourself superior to me. But you started to assert your superiority over me. Is it not possible that, if according to you I am lesser than you in wealth and children, Allah may grant me a garden better than yours? And it is also quite possible that, as a punishment for your arrogance, Allah may send a heavenly calamity upon your garden and turn it to ashes, or dry up the water of this canal, so that your lush garden withers and becomes desolate in a short time.
