وَلَوْلَآ إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا 39
Translations
And why did you, when you entered your garden, not say, 'What Allāh willed [has occurred]; there is no power except in Allāh'? Although you see me less than you in wealth and children,
Transliteration
Wa law lā idhā dakhal ta jannata ka qul ta mā shāa Allāhu lā quw wata illā bi-Allāh. In tara nī anā aqal la min ka mālan wa wa lada
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the wealthy man of the two gardens parable, rebuking him for not acknowledging Allah's will upon entering his garden. The verse teaches that one should invoke "Mā shāa Allāh, lā quwwata illā bi-Allāh" (Whatever Allah wills; there is no power except in Allah) when witnessing blessings, as a safeguard against arrogance and the evil eye. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize this phrase as both a protection and an expression of humble reliance on Allah, regardless of one's wealth or progeny.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of the parable of the two gardens (18:32-44), a Meccan surah addressing the dangers of wealth-induced arrogance and forgetfulness of Allah. The parable illustrates a wealthy, prideful man who attributes his blessings solely to his own efforts rather than to Allah's favor, serving as a moral lesson against materialism and spiritual negligence.
Related Hadiths
The phrase 'Mā shāa Allāh, lā quwwata illā bi-Allāh' is documented in various collections as a protective invocation. A related hadith in Sahih Muslim emphasizes that when one sees something pleasing, saying this phrase protects from envy and the evil eye (Hadith on protection from 'ayn).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to habitually acknowledge Allah's will in all circumstances and to express gratitude for blessings while recognizing that all power and provision come from Allah alone, protecting one from spiritual arrogance and worldly delusion.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِى بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِى مِنْ أَمْرِى عُسْرًا
[Moses] said, "Do not blame me for what I forgot and do not overwhelm me in my matter with difficulty."
وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَآ إِذْ يَتَنَـٰزَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا۟ ٱبْنُوا۟ عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَـٰنًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا
And similarly, We caused them to be found that they [who found them] would know that the promise of Allāh is truth and that of the Hour there is no doubt. [That was] when they disputed among themselves about their affair and [then] said, "Construct over them a structure. Their Lord is most knowing about them." Said those who prevailed in the matter, "We will surely take [for ourselves] over them a masjid."
فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّىٓ أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا
It may be that my Lord will give me [something] better than your garden and will send upon it a [disastrous] penalty from the sky, and it will become a smooth, dusty ground,
وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ عَرْضًا
And We will present Hell that Day to the disbelievers, on display -