al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa Fadailuha wa Dalalatuha al-Aqdiyya

al-Hawqala: Mafhumuha wa-Fadailuha wa-Dalalatuha al-Aqdiyya (The Hawqala: Its Concept, Virtues, and Creedal Implications) is a theological and devotional monograph by the Saudi scholar Abd al-Razzaq ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Badr, a professor at the Faculty of Da‘wah and Usul al-Din at the Islamic University of Madinah al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F…. The treatise provides an in-depth study of the prophetic remembrance known as the ḥawqala—the phrase لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله (lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata illā bi-Llāh, "there is no change nor power except with God")—examining its linguistic definition, scriptural merits, theological significance, and common misconceptions surrounding its usage al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F…+1.

Background and Purpose

Al-Badr noted that despite the high status of prophetic supplications (adhkār) and the frequent recurrence of the ḥawqala in the Sunnah, many Muslims neglect authentic remembrances or misunderstand their core meanings Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1. He identified only two earlier independent treatises dedicated to this specific formula: Sharḥ al-ḥawqala wa-l-ḥayʿala by Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (composed in 886 AH, which al-Badr was unable to consult) and Faḍl lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata illā bi-Llāh by Jamal al-Din Yusuf Ibn Abd al-Hadi, which focused primarily on its virtues al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F…+1. This led him to compose a comprehensive work addressing its linguistic, spiritual, and doctrinal dimensions al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F….

Structure and Content

The book is arranged into an introduction followed by four main thematic chapters (mabāḥith):

• The Concept of the Hawqala (Mafhūm al-ḥawqala): Explores the linguistic morphology of the word ḥawqala as a portmanteau (naḥt) from the phrase lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata illā bi-Llāh, noting the alternative form ḥawlaqa and discussions by early lexicographers such as Abu Mansur al-Azhari, Abu Nasr al-Jawhari, and Yahya ibn Sharaf al-Nawawi al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F…+1. It defines ḥawl (movement and transformation from one state to another) and quwwa (strength and the absence of weakness), citing interpretations from early authorities including Abdullah ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, Ali ibn Abi Talib, Zuhayr ibn Muhammad, and Abu al-Haytham al-Razi al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F…+1. It also reviews the five allowable grammatical parsings (iʿrāb) of the sentence in Arabic syntax as codified by Ibn Malik al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F….
• The Virtues of the Hawqala (Faḍāʾiluhā): Documents the merits of reciting the formula from prophetic hadiths and statements of the early Muslims, including its status alongside the four beloved phrases of remembrance, its inclusion among the enduring righteous deeds ( الْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ , al-bāqiyāt al-ṣāliḥāt), and the Prophet's description of it as a treasure from the treasures of Paradise al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F…+1.
• Creedal Implications (Dalālātuhā al-ʿaqdiyya): Explains how the phrase encapsulates absolute reliance upon God, the servant's declaration of incapacity without divine assistance, and the synthesis between Islamic monotheism (tawhid) and faith in divine decree (qadar) al-Hawqala Mafhumuha wa F…+1.
• Rectifying Erroneous Conceptions (al-Tanbīh ʿalā baʿḍ al-mafāhīm al-khāṭiʾa fīhā): Clarifies improper contexts and mistaken understandings regarding the recitation and application of the formula Majallat al-Jami'a al-Isl…+1.