The meaning of «There is no force nor strength except by Allah»
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حدثنا أحمد بن الحسن القطان قال: حدثنا الحسن بن علي السكري قال: حدثنا أبو عبد الله محمد بن زكريا البصري قال: حدثنا جعفر بن محمد بن عمارة، عن أبيه، عن جابر بن يزيد الجعفي، عن أبي جعفر محمد بن علي الباقر عليهما السلام، قال: سألته عن معنى " لا حول ومالا قوة إلا بالله " فقال: معناه: لا حول لنا عن معصية الله إلا بعون الله، ولا قوة لنا على طاعة الله إلا بتوفيق الله عز وجل.
1. We were told by Ahmad bin Hasan al-Qattan, that he said: We were told by Hasan bin Ali al-Sukri, that he said: We were told by Abu Abdillah, Muhammed bin Zakariya al-Basri, that he said: We were told by Ja’far bin Muhammed bin ‘Umara, from his father, from Jabir bin Yazid al-Ju’fi, from Abu Ja’far, Muhammed bin Ali al-Baqir, peace be upon them both, that he said: I asked him about the meaning of «There is no force nor strength except by Allah». So he said: It means: There is no force to us that prevents from disobedience to Allah, except by the assistance of Allah, and there is no strength to us that aids upon obedience to Allah, except by success from Allah, Glorious and Exalted is He.