The True Source of Power: Allah’s Unmatched Might and Human Weakness
Human beings are a very weak creation. From birth to death, every moment and every breath depends on the mercy of their Creator. The power to walk, move, sit, stand, and work comes from Him. The ability to smell through the nose, hear through the ears, and see through the eyes, the power to think and reflect in the heart and mind, and the vitality in the body—all of these powers are gifts from Allah. A person can only remain alive as long as Allah’s mercy is upon him; without it, he would be gone.
To illustrate this, consider that Allah shows mercy to a person for twenty-three hours and removes it in the twenty-fourth hour. After that, the person could not even breathe for twenty-four seconds. Such a helpless and weak human being—how could he be considered powerful? Allah mentions human weakness in the Quran:
يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ أَنْ يُخَفِّفَ عَنْكُمْ وَخُلِقَ الْإِنْسَانُ ضَعِيفًا
(An-Nisa: 28)
Translation: Allah desires to lighten your burden, for man was created weak.
And in another verse:
الْآنَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنْكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًا
(Al-Anfal: 66)
Translation: Now Allah has lightened the burden upon you, and He knows that you have weakness.
In Surah Ar-Rum, Allah describes the stages of human weakness:
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ ضَعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِن بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضَعْفًا وَشَيْبَةً ۚ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَاءُ ۖ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْقَدِيرُ
(Ar-Rum: 54)
Translation: Allah is the one who created you from weakness, then after weakness gave you strength, and then after strength gave you weakness and old age. He creates what He wills, and He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.
In this verse, Allah explains that humans are created in a state of weakness, then given strength in their youth, and eventually, they return to weakness in old age. We experience these human weaknesses daily—getting sick, growing tired from work, needing rest and sleep, feeling hunger and thirst, suffering from cold and heat, facing difficulties, and ultimately, death. These are all signs of human frailty, and how could a weak being possess true power?
It is a fact that some people are stronger than others in terms of physical strength, wealth, children, position, or power. Some people use their strength to benefit others, while many use it to oppress the weak. Those who oppress become intoxicated with their power and forget that there is a greater power—one that dominates the entire universe. They fail to realize that the strength they have, whether in wealth, children, weapons, position, or rule, is all from Allah and is transient. Allah grants power to whom He wills and takes it away when He wills. Death is the final end of human pride and power, and before it, there are numerous lessons in rise and fall.
In contrast to weakness, there is power, and Allah is the most powerful in the entire universe. This truth has been observed by humanity from the very beginning of creation. Allah says:
وَكَأَيِّن مِّن قَرْيَةٍ هِيَ أَشَدُّ قُوَّةً مِّن قَرْيَتِكَ الَّتِي أَخْرَجَتْكَ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ فَلَا نَاصِرَ لَهُمْ
(Muhammad: 13)
Translation: How many cities were more powerful than the city that expelled you? We destroyed them, and there was none to help them.
In this verse, Allah mentions the destruction of powerful nations that had disbelieved and oppressed, and He has done the same with many tyrannical leaders throughout history. Allah says:
أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَثَارُوا الْأَرْضَ وَعَمَرُوهَا أَكْثَرَ مِّمَّا عَمَرُوهَا وَجَاءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ ۖ فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَٰكِن كَانُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ
(Ar-Rum: 9)
Translation: Have they not traveled through the earth and seen the end of those who were before them? They were stronger than them and cultivated the land and built it more than they have, and their messengers came to them with clear signs. It was not Allah who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.
When discussing the powerful and arrogant ruler Qarun, Allah says:
إِنَّ قَارُونَ كَانَ مِن قَوْمِ مُوسَىٰ فَبَغَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْكُنُوزِ مَا إِنَّ مَفَاتِحَهُ لَتَنُوءُ بِالْعُصْبَةِ أُولِي الْقُوَّةِ إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ قَوْمُهُ لَا تَفْرَحْ ۖ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ الْفَرِحِينَ
(Al-Qasas: 76)
Translation: Qarun was from the people of Musa, but he oppressed them. We had given him so much wealth that the keys to his treasures were almost too heavy for a group of strong men to carry. His people said to him, “Do not rejoice. Indeed, Allah does not like the joyful.”
Despite his immense wealth and power, Allah caused Qarun to meet his demise. Allah also tells us that many other rulers with even more power than Qarun have been destroyed. Allah says:
أَوَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَهْلَكَ مِن قَبْلِهِ مِنَ الْقُرُونِ مَنْ هُوَ أَشَدُّ مِنْهُ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرُ جَمْعًا ۚ وَلَا يُسْأَلُ عَن ذُنُوبِهِمُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ
(Al-Qasas: 78)
Translation: Does he not know that Allah has destroyed many generations before him who were more powerful than him and had gathered more wealth? And the criminals will not be asked about their sins.
When the letter of Prophet Suleiman (peace be upon him) reached Queen Bilqis, calling her to Islam, her advisors displayed their strength and warlike disposition, saying:
قَالُوا نَحْنُ أُولُو قُوَّةٍ وَأُولُو بَأْسٍ شَدِيدٍ وَالْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَانظُرِي مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ
(An-Naml: 33)
Translation: They said, “We are people of strength and great ability in war, and the matter is yours, so decide what you will command.”
However, despite all their strength, the might of Queen Bilqis and her army could not prevent her from submitting to Islam after meeting Prophet Suleiman (peace be upon him), and she declared:
أَسْلَمْتُ مَعَ سُلَيْمَانَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
(An-Naml: 44)
Translation: “I have submitted with Suleiman to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.”
In conclusion, while powerful nations and individuals have risen and fallen throughout history, the true power belongs to Allah. He is the One who grants and removes power, and He remains supreme in His strength. He never tires, He does not sleep, and He needs nothing. Allah is the most powerful, the most mighty.
أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ لِلَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعَذَابِ
(Al-Baqarah: 165)
Translation: All power belongs to Allah, and Allah is severe in punishment.
إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْقَوِيُّ الْعَزِيزُ
(Al-Hadid: 66)
Translation: Indeed, your Lord is the All-Strong, the Almighty.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الرَّزَّاقُ ذُو الْقُوَّةِ الْمَتِينُ
(Adh-Dhariyat: 58)
Translation: Indeed, Allah is the provider, full of strength, and firmly established.
It is clear that the one who created us, who sustains us, and who controls life and death, is the true source of all power. The names “Al-Qawiyy” (the Powerful) and “Al-Matin” (the Firm, the Steadfast) are part of Allah’s most beautiful names.
Why are Muslims weak today? Despite having faith, why are Muslims oppressed and downtrodden everywhere? To answer this, one must understand the source of strength for a Muslim: it is pure faith in Allah, free of shirk, and righteous deeds. A believer’s strength comes from being with Allah, and this is only possible with true faith and righteous actions. It is essential to understand the dangers of shirk, repent, and return to pure faith and correct belief. If Muslims abandon seeking help from others besides Allah, stop turning to graves, and correct their faith and actions, Allah will empower them with greater strength. This is His promise, as Allah says:
وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَىٰ قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلَا تَتَوَلَّوْا مُجْرِمِينَ
(Hud: 52)
Translation: O my people, ask forgiveness from your Lord and repent to Him. He will send rain upon you in abundance and increase you in strength upon your strength, and do not turn away as criminals.
Allah has made it obligatory to help the believers. Allah says:
وَكَانَ حَقًّا عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
(Ar-Rum: 47)
Translation: It is a duty upon us to help the believers.
If only Muslims understood the dangers of shirk and repented, returning to pure faith and righteous actions, Allah would grant them power.
Written by: Maqbool Ahmad Salafi
Islamic Dawah Center, Taif