What is "hawqala"

The Ḥawqala is an Arabic word referring to the statement lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh (In Arabic written as "لا حول ولاقوة إلا بالله") which is usually translated as "There is no might nor power except in Allah." This expression is mentioned by a Muslim whenever seized by a calamity or in a situation beyond their control. The word Hawqala is made by the method of combining (or naḥt) from the words hawla and quwwata.

The English translation does not completely convey the full meaning of the phrase. For example, translating the word hawla as "power" is an oversimplification. The Hans Wehr Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic shows the linguistic verb root for hawla as h-w-l, and it depicts all manner of change, transformation and motion.

It is used in other phrases like :

• Subhan'Allahi wal hamdulillaahi wa laa ilaaha ilallaahu wAllahu Akbar wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaahil 'aleeul azeem.
• Laa ilaaha illal laahu wahdahoo laa sharikalahoo lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa 'alaa kulli shai'in qadeer. Subhan'Allahi wal hamdulillaahi wa laa ilaaha ilallaahu wAllahu Akbar wa laa hawla wa laa quwwata illaa billaahil 'aleeul azeem.