He is the All-Powerful, and nothing can defeat Him if *** He wills anything, the One of authority (Discussion of the name of Allah al-Qadir, the attribute of Allah al-Qudrah, and the difference between al-Qudrah
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The Shaykh : And this is also what the author (may Allah have mercy on him) says: among the names of Allah is al-Qadir (the All-Powerful). Al-Qudrah (power) is an attribute by which the attributed one is described, and it means to perform an act without weakness, meaning the doer’s doing of a thing without weakness. This is al-Qudrah. Its opposite is 'ajz (inability). There is also al-Quwah (strength), which is the doer’s performing his act without weakness. So al-Quwah is opposed to weakness, and al-Qudrah is opposed to inability. For example, if one were told to a person, "Carry this stone," and he intended to carry it but could not, it would be said
The student: He is unable.
The Shaykh : He is unable. And if he carried it but with difficulty, it would be said he is weak. It is said he is weak. This is the difference between al-Qudrah and al-Quwah. Another difference is that al-Quwah is attributed to both the one who has choice and the one who does not, whereas al-Qudrah is attributed only to the one who has choice. So iron is called strong, but it is not called capable. And a person is called capable because he is one who has choice and will. So these are two differences between al-Qadir and al-Qawi. He says: "And nothing can defeat Him if *** He wills anything, the One of authority"
"If He wills," 'Abd al-Malik, is this a negation? No, "If He wills"
It is superfluous. Good, and it has a rule.
The student: ...
The Shaykh :"O seeker, take the benefit: *** What comes after 'idha' is superfluous"
Yes, exactly. Good.
The student: He is unable.
The Shaykh : He is unable. And if he carried it but with difficulty, it would be said he is weak. It is said he is weak. This is the difference between al-Qudrah and al-Quwah. Another difference is that al-Quwah is attributed to both the one who has choice and the one who does not, whereas al-Qudrah is attributed only to the one who has choice. So iron is called strong, but it is not called capable. And a person is called capable because he is one who has choice and will. So these are two differences between al-Qadir and al-Qawi. He says: "And nothing can defeat Him if *** He wills anything, the One of authority"
"If He wills," 'Abd al-Malik, is this a negation? No, "If He wills"
It is superfluous. Good, and it has a rule.
The student: ...
The Shaykh :"O seeker, take the benefit: *** What comes after 'idha' is superfluous"
Yes, exactly. Good.