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 أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُۥ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِۦ فَيُعَذِّبُهُۥ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا
He said, "As for one who wrongs, we will punish him. Then he will be returned to his Lord, and He will punish him with a terrible punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِى بَعْضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَـٰهُمْ جَمْعًا
And We will leave them that day surging over each other, and [then] the Horn will be blown, and We will assemble them in [one] assembly.
فَٱنطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَـٰمًا فَقَتَلَهُۥ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةًۢ بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْـًٔا نُّكْرًا
So they set out, until when they met a boy, he [i.e., al-Khiḍr] killed him. [Moses] said, "Have you killed a pure soul for other than [having killed] a soul? You have certainly done a deplorable thing."
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَآئِهِۦ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَزْنًا
Those are the ones who disbelieve in the verses of their Lord and in [their] meeting Him, so their deeds have become worthless; and We will not assign to them on the Day of Resurrection any weight [i.e., importance].