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
فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَٱتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُۥ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا
But when they reached the junction between them, they forgot their fish, and it took its course into the sea, slipping away.
فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا
So he followed a way
وَأَمَّا ٱلْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَـٰمَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُۥ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَـٰلِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَآ أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُۥ عَنْ أَمْرِى ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا
And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure for them, and their father had been righteous. So your Lord intended that they reach maturity and extract their treasure, as a mercy from your Lord. And I did it not of my own accord. That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience."
سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَـٰثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًۢا بِٱلْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَآءً ظَـٰهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا
They [i.e., people] will say there were three, the fourth of them being their dog; and they will say there were five, the sixth of them being their dog - guessing at the unseen; and they will say there were seven, and the eighth of them was their dog. Say, [O Muḥammad], "My Lord is most knowing of their number. None knows them except a few. So do not argue about them except with an obvious argument and do not inquire about them among [the speculators] from anyone."