Responding to the Adhan — La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illa Billah
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 611
يَقُولُمِثْلَمَايَقُولُالمُؤَذِّنُإِلاَّفِي((حَيَّعَلَىالصَّلَاةِوَحَيَّعَلَىالْفَلَاحِ))فَيقُولُ:((لاَحَوْلَوَلاَقُوَّةَإِلاَّبِاللَّهِ)).
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Transliteration
Yaqoolu mithla ma yaqoolu al-mu-aththinu illa fi 'Hayya 'alas-salah' wa 'Hayya 'alal-falah' fa-yaqoolu: 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah'.
Translation
Repeat what the mu'adhdhin says, except when he says 'Come to prayer' or 'Come to success'. In those instances, say: 'There is no might nor power except with Allah.'
Context
When the mu'adhdhin calls the people to prayer, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us to respond by repeating his words. However, when the mu'adhdhin calls 'Hayya 'alas-salah' (Come to prayer) and 'Hayya 'alal-falah' (Come to success), we should say 'La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah' (There is no might nor power except with Allah).
Benefit
This practice affirms our dependence on Allah alone for the ability to obey His commands and achieve success in this life and the next.
When to Recite
Immediately after hearing each phrase of the Adhan.