Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "And Allah is over all things competent," and the difference between strength and power.
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The Shaykh :[Al-Baqarah 2:284] every thing, and does this word include generality or not? ... There is no hardship on them, is there? — You are unable to stand — Answer while you are sitting; what you are unable to do is dropped from you, and what you are able to do is obligatory upon you. "Every thing," is this general or specific?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : General? "Every thing," "every thing," yes, He is over every thing competent. Every existing thing, He is able to annihilate it in an instant. Every non-existent thing, He is able to bring it into existence in an instant.[Ya-Sin 36:82] And Allah is over all things competent. So what is power (qudrah)? Power is: the doer doing the act without inability, meaning that the doer does the thing without inability.
And what is strength (quwwah)? It is doing the thing without weakness.
Pay attention to the difference; many people do not distinguish between power and strength, and in reality there is a difference between them: the opposite of strength is weakness, and the opposite of power is inability. Listen to the difference between these two from the Qur'an:[Ar-Rum 30:54] This indicates that the opposite of strength is weakness, and the opposite of power is inability. Listen: [Fatir 35:44] And He did not say: "Strong," because the opposite of inability is power.
Now, let me give you a tangible example that clarifies the difference between power, inability, and strength. This is a man; we told him, "Carry this stone." He tried to lift it from the ground but was unable. We say, "This man is not capable," and we do not say, "He is not strong." A large stone; we said, "Carry it." He tried to carry it but was unable to lift it. We say, "This man is not capable."
Another man; we told him, "Carry this stone." He carried it, but with great effort. We say, "What is this?" Is he not strong, or not capable? He is not strong, because he moved it with difficulty.
A third man; we told him, "Carry this stone." He said, "This stone?" We said, "Yes." He said, "In the name of Allah," and lifted it with strength. We say, "What is this?" He is strong. It is clear now. Good.
Then He will forgive whom He wills and punish whom He wills, and Allah is over all things competent.
فَيَغْفِرُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيُعَذِّبُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌAnd Allah is over all things competent
والله على كل شيء قديرOver all things competent.
على كل شيء قديرThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : General? "Every thing," "every thing," yes, He is over every thing competent. Every existing thing, He is able to annihilate it in an instant. Every non-existent thing, He is able to bring it into existence in an instant.
His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئاً أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُAnd what is strength (quwwah)? It is doing the thing without weakness.
Pay attention to the difference; many people do not distinguish between power and strength, and in reality there is a difference between them: the opposite of strength is weakness, and the opposite of power is inability. Listen to the difference between these two from the Qur'an:
Allah is the one who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then made after strength weakness and white hair
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ مِنْ ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفاً وَشَيْبَةًBut Allah is not to be caused failure by anything in the heavens or on the earth. Indeed, He is ever Knowing and Competent.
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُعْجِزَهُ مِنْ شَيْءٍ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَلا فِي الْأَرْضِ إِنَّهُ كَانَ عَلِيماً قَدِيراًNow, let me give you a tangible example that clarifies the difference between power, inability, and strength. This is a man; we told him, "Carry this stone." He tried to lift it from the ground but was unable. We say, "This man is not capable," and we do not say, "He is not strong." A large stone; we said, "Carry it." He tried to carry it but was unable to lift it. We say, "This man is not capable."
Another man; we told him, "Carry this stone." He carried it, but with great effort. We say, "What is this?" Is he not strong, or not capable? He is not strong, because he moved it with difficulty.
A third man; we told him, "Carry this stone." He said, "This stone?" We said, "Yes." He said, "In the name of Allah," and lifted it with strength. We say, "What is this?" He is strong. It is clear now. Good.