The Ḥawqala (Arabic: حَوْقَلَة) or the La Hawla (Arabic: لَا حَوْلَ) is an Arabic term referring to the Arabic statement لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ (lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata ʾillā bi-llāhi), which is usually translated as "There is no power nor strength except by God."

Arabic calligraphy of the Hawqala

This expression is used by Muslims when seized by a calamity or in a situation beyond their control, usually when being oppressed or forcefully put through suffering. An equivalent English expression would be "oh my God". The word Ḥawqala is a portmanteau (or naḥt) of the words ḥawla and quwwata.[1]

A longer version is لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ ٱلْعَلِيِّ ٱلْعَظِيمِ (lā ḥawla wa-lā quwwata ʾillā bi-llāhi l-ʿaliyyi l-ʿaẓīmi), meaning "There is no power nor strength except by Allah the Lofty, the Great".

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Piamenta, Moshe (1979). Islam in Everyday Arabic Speech. BRILL. p. 155. ISBN 90-04-05967-9.
edit