.:Bullet Proof Read:.

Cut off from the source of hope, could beauty linger on?

Pending a difficult situation over which I had no control whatsoever, I was advised to make the dhikr of “la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah”

لا حَوْلَ وَ لا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللّهِ

before making du’a for the most favourable outcome. It’s a powerful reminder of Who is truly Able and All-Powerful, and this sinks within you with repetition, giving you certainty when seeking His help. Try it when you’re faced with a case whereby you do not (ostensibly) have the power to influence or change the end result.

If you’ve read the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People you’d have learnt about the relevant circles of concern and control/influence. For the uninitiated:

There are many concerns in our lives, but we do not always have control over them. One can draw a circle that represents areas of concern, and a smaller circle within the first that represents areas of control. Proactive people focus their efforts on the things over which they have influence, and in the process often expand their area of influence. Reactive people often focus their efforts on areas of concern over which they have no control. Their complaining and negative energy tend to shrink their circle of influence.

In our area of concern, we may have direct control, indirect control, or no control at all. We have direct control over problems caused by our own behavior. We can solve these problems by changing our habits. We have indirect control over problems related to other people’s behavior. We can solve these problems by using various methods of human influence, such as empathy, confrontation, example, and persuasion. Many people have only a few basic methods such as fight or flight. For problems over which we have no control, first we must recognize that we have no control, and then gracefully accept that fact and make the best of the situation.

This resonates well with any right-minded individual striving for the best in everything. The added bonus for the believer then, is that while he acknowledges that he has no control over a certain area, he still has to make efforts wherever he can, even if that effort be simply a strong appeal to His Lord, whom he recognises to be The Possessor of Power. A believer has genuine hope in this regard.

All this brings about a deep sense of realisation of the complete surrender to Allah. It instills the balanced purpose of will and submission in life.

As an end-note, it’s interesting how the phrase la hawla wa la quwwata illa billah is often translated as “There is no might or power except with Allah”. While “might” and “power” are the closest meanings for “quwwah”, “hawl” more correctly signifies change or transformation. Just this seemingly-small-but-really-important difference changed my perspective whenever I now make the dhikr.

Another one of those lost in translation scenarios that make you realise the disadvantage of not possessing the most beautiful tongue of them all, the language of the Noble Qur’an, Arabic.