The point here is that all of these are forms within the general category of movement. Movement in this broad sense is a change from one state to another. This is the meaning conveyed by our saying: “There is no change and no power except through Allah.”

The two Sahīh collections report that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abū Mūsā (may Allah be pleased with him): “Shall I direct you to a treasure among the treasures of Paradise?” He replied, “Yes.” He said: “There is no change and no power except through Allah.”

Sahīh Muslim and other collections report that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“When the caller to prayer says, ‘Allah is the Greatest,’ and a man says, ‘Allah is the Greatest’; then the caller says, ‘I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,’ and the man says, ‘I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah’; then the caller says, ‘I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,’ and the man says, ‘I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’; then the caller says, ‘Come to prayer,’ and the man says, ‘There is no change and no power except through Allah’; then the caller says, ‘Come to success,’ and the man says, ‘There is no change and no power except through Allah’; then the caller says, ‘Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest,’ and the man says, ‘Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.’”

The word hawl encompasses every change from one state to another, while power is the ability to make that change. This mighty utterance thus indicates that neither the upper nor the lower world has any movement or change from one state to another, nor any power to do so, except through Allah.

Some people interpret this in a restricted sense, saying: “There is no turning away from disobeying Him except through His protection, and no power to obey Him except through His help.” The correct interpretation, held by the majority, is the first, and it is this interpretation that is indicated by