When should we say “Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah”?

The meaning of this phrase (there is no power and no strength except with Allah) is a person’’s admission that he is unable to do anything without the help and support of Allah. No matter how great his power, energy and strength may become, a person still cannot do anything without the help of Allah Who is Above all of His creation, the Most Great, compared to Whom nothing else is great. Every strong person is weak when compared with Allah. Every great person is insignificant and weak when compared with His Might.

This sentence is uttered when some serious matter befalls a person that he cannot cope with, or there is something that it is very difficult for him to deal with.

Among the occasions on which this phrase is uttered are the following:

–When turning over at night:

It was reported that ‘Ubaadah ibn al-Saamit said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘

“ Whoever turns over at night and says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer. Al-hamdu-lillaah wa subhaan-Allah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allah wa Allahu akbar, wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (There is no god but Allah Alone, with no partner or associate. To Him belongs praise and His is the sovereignty, and He is Able to do all things. Praise be to Allah, glory be to Allah, there is no god but Allah and Allah is Most Great. There is no power and no strength except with Allah), then he says, Allahumma aghfir li (O Allah, forgive me), or he makes du’aa’, his prayer will be granted. If he does wudoo’ and prays, his salaah will be accepted.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1086)

–When the muezzin says “Hayya ‘ala’l-salaah (come to prayer)” or “Hayya ‘ala’l-falaah (come to success)”

It was narrated from Hafs ibn ‘Aasim ibn ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab, from his father, that his grandfather ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ‘

“ When the muezzin says “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar (Allah is Most Great),” and one of you says, “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar”; then he says, “Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa Allah (I bear witness that there is no god except Allah” and you say “Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa Allah”; then he says, “Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah(I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” and you say, “Ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah”; then he says, “Hayya ‘ala’l-salaah (come to prayer)” and you say, “Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah”; then he says, “Hayya ‘ala’l-falaah (come to success)” and you say, “Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah”; then he says “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar,” and you say, “Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar”; then he says “Laa ilaaha illa Allah” and you say, “Laa ilaaha illa Allah” – if he says that from the heart, he will enter Paradise.’” (Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh, 578, and by Abu Dawood in his Sunan, 443)

– When leaving one’s house

It was narrated that Anas ibn Maalik said:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

“ ‘Whoever says – i.e., when he is leaving his house – “Bismillaah, tawwakaltu ‘ala Allah, laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah (In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah, and there is no power and no strength except with Allah),” it will be said to him, “You are taken care of and protected,” and the Shaytaan will leave him alone.’” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi in his Sunan, 3348. Abu ‘Eesa said, this is a hasan saheeh ghareeb hadeeth which we only know through this isnaad. See Saheeh al-Jaami’ by al-Albaani, 6419. It was also narrated by Abu Dawood in his Sunan (4431), where he adds: “And another shaytaan says to him, ‘What can you do with a man who has been guided, taken care of and protected?’”)

After praying

It was narrated that Abu’l-Zubayr said:

“Ibn al-Zubayr used to say immediately after every prayer, when he had said the salaam, ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allah wahdahu laa shareeka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer. Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa Billaah wa laa na’budu illaa iyyaah. Lahu’l-ni’mah wa lahu’l-fadl wa lahu’l-thanaa’ al-hasan. Laa ilaaha ill-Allah mukhliseena lahu’l-deena wa law kariha’l-kaafiroon (There is no god but Allah Alone, with no partner or associate His is the sovereignty and to Him be praise, and He is Able to do all things. There is no power and no strength except with Allah, and we worship none but Him. From Him (alone) come all blessings and favours, and all good praise is due to Him. There is no god but Allah and we make our worship purely for Him (alone) however much the disbelievers may hate that).’ He said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to say these words immediately after every prayer.’” (Narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh, 935)

Footnote

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