سُوْرَةُ الْكَهْفِ
Surah Al-Kahf (18) — Ayah 39
وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا ﴿39﴾
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
وَلَوْلَآ
walawlā
And why (did you) not
إِذْ
idh
when
دَخَلْتَ
dakhalta
you entered
جَنَّتَكَ
jannataka
your garden
قُلْتَ
qul'ta
say
مَا
mā
What
شَآءَ
shāa
wills
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah
لَا
lā
(there is) no
قُوَّةَ
quwwata
power
إِلَّا
illā
except
بِٱللَّهِ ۚ
bil-lahi
with Allah
إِن
in
If
تَرَنِ
tarani
you see me
أَنَا۠
anā
(me)
أَقَلَّ
aqalla
lesser
مِنكَ
minka
than you
مَالًۭا
mālan
(in) wealth
وَوَلَدًۭا
wawaladan
and 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){وَ لَوْ لَاۤ اِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ … :} From this it is understood that if a person likes something of his own, he should say these words: « مَا شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ » Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: [ يَا أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ! أَفَلاَ أَدُلُّكَ عَلٰی كَنْزٍ مِنْ كَنْزِ الْجَنَّةِ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ ، قَالَ قُلْتُ نَعَمْ فِدَاكَ أَبِيْ وَ أُمِّيْ، قَالَ أَنْ تَقُوْلَ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللّٰهِ، قَالَ أَبُوْ بَلْجٍ وَأَحْسِبُ أَنَّهُ قَالَ : فَإِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزَّوَجَلَّ يَقُوْلُ أَسْلَمَ عَبْدِيْ وَاسْتَسْلَمَ، قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لِعَمْرٍو قَالَ أَبُوْبَلْجٍ قَالَ عَمْرٌو قُلْتُ لِأَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ فَقَالَ: لَا إِنَّهَا فِيْ سُوْرَةِ الْكَهْفِ : «وَ لَوْ لَاۤ اِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ »] [ 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 {’’لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ‘‘} 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: {’’لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ‘‘} So he replied: “No, this phrase is in Surah Al-Kahf: « وَ لَوْ لَاۤ اِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ »” 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 {’’لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ‘‘} 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.
