La hawla wa la quwwata illa bi-Allah is a phrase of seeking help, not a phrase of seeking refuge

The Shaykh : I heard you, I think, say what you said when the caller said, "Hurry to the prayer."
The student: La hawla wa la quwwata illa bi-Allah.

The Shaykh : How do you say it like that?
The student: Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded it.

The Shaykh : Well done, but do people not say "La hawla wa la quwwata illa bi-Allah" when they are struck by a calamity?
The student: Yes, they do.

The Shaykh : Is being called to prayer a calamity?
The student: Yes.

The Shaykh : Is it a calamity when you are called to prayer?
The student: No.

The Shaykh : Yes, how so?
The student: It is a calamity if you leave it.

The Shaykh : May Allah reward you with good. "La hawla wa la quwwata illa bi-Allah" is a phrase of seeking help; it is a phrase of seeking help. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abu Musa: because its meaning is seeking help, as if you are saying, "I will answer, and I will listen and obey, but I have no power or strength except through Allah." Clear? May Allah bless you. Rest. I was pleased with what the brother student said, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to say it. This is a sound answer to the saying of Allah the Exalted: And because when Ma'adhah asked Aisha: ما بال الحائض تقضي الصوم ولا تقضي الصلاة ؟ قالت : كان يصيبنا ذلك فنؤمر بقضاء الصوم ولا نؤمر بقضاء الصلاة والآن إلى الأسئلة . What is the matter with the menstruating woman that she makes up the fast but not the prayer? She said: That used to happen to us, and we were commanded to make up the fast but not commanded to make up the prayer. And now, to the questions.