Say MaShaAllah Laa Quwata Illa Billah

After Alhamdulillah, the second phrase which I feel we should all start using frequently is MaShaAllah Laa Quwata Illa billah (Surah Kahf: 39).

Whenever you see something good or hear something good regarding yourself or another person, say this phrase with sincerity. Admiring someone’s house or car or children or their trip to foreign countries, see someone is a pretty dress or just feel you are blessed in some way, say MaShaAllah Laa Quwata Illa billah.

We all know and fear evil eye, nazar-e bad but, as per my understanding, it is not necessarily from an evil relative or a jealous friend. A child can get it from his mother, a sister from sister or we can even get it from ourselves if we neglect to say phrases like MaShaAllah Laa Quwata illa billa.

This phrase negates arrogance and jealousy. In Surah Kahf we read about two men who both had beautiful gardens but one of them became arrogant and thought that nothing could destroy his wealth and might. The other person cautioned him to say MaShaAllah Laa Quwata Illa billah (What Allah wills [has occurred]; there is no power except with Allah). The rich man did not pay any heed and his garden was ruined before his eyes because of his arrogance.

Another event which I read about was about a companion of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who was very good looking. While travelling towards Mecca, another sahabi admired Sahl ibn Haneef’s good physique. Immediately afterwards, Sahl fell ill. Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ words are very important here. He asked “Which one of you did this to his brother?” meaning when a prayer of blessing or words like MaShaAllah La Quwata Illa billah while admiring something are not said, it is actually similar to killing the other person with evil eye.

I remember one of my dear friends did not have children for a number of years. Another friend had a son and her attitude changed completely and she wouldn’t let my friend hold her son. I remember her saying something very beautiful. She said, “Agar meray bachay nahin hain, to iss may mera kia qasoor hai and agar kisi kay bachay hain to iss may uss ka kia kamal hai?” I never forgot her words. The one who didn’t have a child was being tested and the one who had a child was also being tested. Everything we have or do not have is because Allah wills it and tests us through it, not through some preference of one person over another. Kamal bhi nahin, quwat bhi nahin aur taqat bhi nahin to phir gharoor aur akkar kis baat ki?

I feel that saying phrases like Alhamdulillah and MaShaAllah frequently and sincerely wash away many of the negative emotions that incite arrogance, pride, anger, envy, jealousy and ill will towards each other. Jealousy is actually our anger or disapproval or dissatisfaction with how Allah distributes His blessings and which one of us can actually dare challenge Allah this way.

(Everything that I write here is per my own understanding. I just pen my own thoughts and if you see a mistake please correct me and guide me)