A Priceless Treasure

beneath the Arsh (throne) of Allah (Mustadrak of Haakim), which is, in reality, the

roof of Jannah.

Why has it been called a treasure of Jannah?

It has been called a treasure of Jannah for one of the following reasons:

a) It is similar to a treasure, as it is extremely valuable and will acquire for

one many benefits- especially in Jannah, but was unknown to the people,

till Rasulullah () presented it to the ummah.

b) It will change into the form of a treasure in Jannah and will belong to the

reciter.

c) It will accumulate for a person a treasure of wealth and luxuries in

Jannah.

d) It will acquire a treasure of great rewards in Jannah for its reciter.

e) In these words, one has negated any ability and strength stemming from

his own being and has attributed all such ability and strength to Allah’s ()

protection and help, and is thereby seeking to attain this strength and

ability from Allah () Himself. He has therefore attached himself to those

everlasting mercies of Allah () which will protect him from sin and help

him to obey Allah (). Those mercies have here been called a treasure from

the treasures of Jannah. These mercies of Allah will result in good actions

(Al-Baaqiyaatus Saalihaat) which never come to an end, the rewards and

fruits of which will remain with one in Jannah. (The first four reasons are mentioned in

Mirqaatul Mafaateeh of Mulla Ali Qari and quoted in Kashkole Ma’rifat, and the last was mentioned by

Moulana Abdul Ghani Phulpoori, as in Ma’rifate Ilaahiyyah)

2) It is a cure from 99 diseases, the lightest one being hamm (such grief,

worry and depression which can melt a man-Mirqaat). (Al-Mu’jamul Awsat of

Tabraani)

3) Ibrahim (alaihis salaam) told Rasulullah (salla Allahu alaihi wasallam) on

the night of Mi’raaj to tell the Ummah that they should increase their trees

and plants in Jannah by reciting these words. (Musnad Ahmad, Sahih Ibn Hibbaan)

4) Allah ()replies to this statement by announcing (to the angels-Fathul

Baari), أسلم عبدي واستسلم – My servant has handed over (all the matters

and affairs of both the worlds to Me in totality) and has submitted himself

(to Me, worshipping Me sincerely). (Mirqaat, commenting on a Hadith in Mishkat,Mustadrak of Haakim)

This dua can also be recited thus:

“لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلي العظيم” LAA HAWLA WALAA QUWWATA ILLAA

BILLAHIL ALIYYIL AZEEM.

(This addition is found in a narration of Musnad Bazzaar and Al-Mu’jamus Sagheer, a narration of Al-

Mu’jamul Awsat and a narration of Abdur Razzaaq in his Musannaf)

Since these additional words are also proven, it would be recommended to

recite it as well. They mean ‘The Most Lofty, The Greatest’. By repeating

these names of Allah (), one realizes the lofty position and grandeur of

Allah, and realizes how low (دنيّ) and contemptible-despicable (حقير) he is.

Once one realizes this, he has acquired abdiyat (true servitude to Allah) and

has humbled himself before Allah.

After realizing one’s own low and contemptible nature which is fit to do no

good, one is here asking Allah’s help through these wonderful names of His

to be protected from sin and to be blessed with strength to carry out good

actions. (Condensed from Ma’rifate Ilaahiyyah pg.458)

Benefits of reciting these words according to the Mashaayikh:

A means of acquiring the Fadhl of Allah: Shaykh Abul Hasan Shaazli (r) had

quoted his Mashaayikh who had explained: “There are no words as

beneficial and helpful as these words in submitting to Allah and in entering

the path of His fadhl (favours and grants).” (Mazaahire Haqq, as quoted in Kashkole

Ma’rifat)

A remedy for pride: Moulana Abdul Ghani Phulpoori (r) had said, “For

guidance (hidaayah) and self-reformation (islaah), reciting these words in

abundance is extremely beneficial and has an amazing effect. If one reads it

at least 500 times daily, Allah will grant him the courage to abstain from sin

and the strength to carry out good actions. If this too is not possible, then

at least recite it 70 times. If due to your ibaadah, you become vain and self-

conceited, recite these words while pondering over its meaning, by the

blessings of which this Shaytaani trick of pride and self-conceit will be

uprooted.” (Ma’rifate Ilahiyyah pg.457-461)

A means of giving up sins and reforming oneself: Moulana Shah Hakeem

Muhammad Akhtar (r) had said, “To become pious and give up sins, recite

this seven times after every salaah. Inshaa Allah (By the will of Allah), very

soon, one’s sins will begin falling away….When Allah regularly informs the

angels “My servant has submitted to My obedience” (in reply to this

kalimah), Allah will never give the angels the chance to object to His

declaration by asking why the person is still committing sin. Allah will

therefore honour his declaration reforming and correcting that particular

servant of His. For this reason, many Masaayikh (spiritual guides) would

prescribe only the recital of this kalimah for their mureedeen (disciples), by

which they would acquire connection with Allah.” (Condensed from

Inaayaate Rabbani pg.11-12)

A solution to life-threatening problems, and an exit from all sorts of

difficulties: Maalik Ashja’ee () came to Rasulullah () and said to him,

“Auf’s son (who happened to be the grandson of Maalik) has been captured

and taken as a captive. (The parents are both very worried. What can they

do?)” Rasulullah () asked Maalik to send the following message to Auf;

‘Rasulullah () commands you to recite لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله abundantly.’ The

parents obeyed this command and began reciting it in abundance. Their

son, who had been tied up in leather ropes suddenly saw the ropes falling

off, which allowed him to escape. While leaving, he noticed a camel

belonging to his captors nearby, upon which he jumped on and began to

ride away. Passing by their flock of sheep or goats, he called out to the

animals to move with him. The animals obeyed and all followed him. He

surprised his parents when he reached the door and called out for them, as

they never expected him to ever return. His father later came to Rasulullah

() to inform him of what had happened, at which the following verse of

the Quran was revealed, “ومن يتق الله يجعل له مخرجا الآية”. (Ibn Abi Haatim has quoted

this from Muhammad ibn Ishaq, as in At-Targeeb wat Tarheeb. It has also been narrated from Ibn

Abbaas() in a shorter version, narrated by Ibn Mardwayh, as in Ad-Durrul Manthoor)

A shield against one’s enemies, especially the evil Jinnaat: Jareer ibn

Abdillah Bajali () narrated, “While walking down a certain road in the city

of Tustar after it had been conquered by the Muslims, I once recited لا حول

ولا قوة إلا بالله . A certain local man, on hearing me reciting these words,

commented, “This is the first time I have heard these words after hearing

them in the skies.” “And how in the world did you hear it in the skies,” I

enquired skeptically. He explained, “I would act as an envoy and often take

delegations to the court of Qaisar (the Roman king) and Kisra (the Persian

king) and Qaisar (the Roman king). Once, while I had set off with a

delegation to Kisra, a Shaytan (devil) took my form and began to live with

my wife. When I returned home, my family didn’t welcome me as usual. I

was surprised, and questioned them. They gave me the impression as if I

had never been away from them. I was quite shocked, till the Shaytan

exposed himself to me shortly thereafter. He presented me with an option;

he will live one day with my wife and I could be with her for the next day.

He promised to kill me if I did not agree. I was forced to assent. (In the

meanwhile, we would sit together and talk quite frequently.) One day, he

said to me, “I am from those shaytans who eavesdrop on the happenings in

the skies. We carry this out in turns. Tonight is my turn and chance. Do you

want to come with me?” I agreed to join him. That evening, he came to me

and asked me to jump onto his back. He had locks resembling that of a pig,

He said to me, “Hold tight! Tonight, you will see strange things and scary

scenes, but don’t ever let go, otherwise you will be destroyed.” The party of

Shaytans flew up into the sky, until they neared the first sky. I heard a caller

calling out, “لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله ما شاء الله كان وما لم يشأ لا يكون”. These words

struck them with such force that they were sent flying into the forests and

jungles. I quickly memorized those words. The next morning, I returned

home. The next time I saw the Shaytan approaching, I began to recite those

words, which put him into a state of panic. (He began melting away, till he

shrunk to the size of a fly.) He managed to see a window, from which he

escaped. I continued reciting these words for a while, and the Shaytan

never returned.”

(Ibn Abid Dunya narrated this in Al-Hawaatif, while Ibn Mandah quoted a similar

incident in As-Sahaabah, as quoted by Suyuti in Al-Habaa’ik)