Throughout the awe inspiring story of the Sahaabah’s Radhiyallaahu ‘anhum advance into as-Shaam in Imam al-Waaqidee’s “Conquest of Syria”, their absolute and total reliance on Allah Almighty was something in which there is a great lesson. Throughout the book one could almost hear their shouts of “Laa hawla walaa quwwata illaabillaahil ‘aliyyil ‘atheem” at every step, whether it was the joy of victory, the fear of being outnumbered or the cry of grief at the loss of a beloved friend or family member.



When translated into English the above thikr is usually read,
“There is no power and no might except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great”.

The translator of the book has however given it its full meaning and I hope readers will find it beneficial to recite the thikr with the full meaning in mind. As said by our pious elders (the English translation of which I’m not going to attempt),

“meri talab bhi kisi ke karam kaa sadaqah hein,
Yeh qadam uth-te nahin, uthaa-e jaate hein”