Translation of the meanings Ayah 39 Surah Al-Kahf - English Translation - Dr. Waleed Bleyhesh Omary - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Ayah: 39

وَلَوۡلَآ إِذۡ دَخَلۡتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلۡتَ مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا۠ أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالٗا وَوَلَدٗا

(39) “˹Why˺ Wouldn’t you, when you enter your garden, say: “˹This is˺ What Allah willed^[3838]. There is no power except through Allah!”^[3839] Or did you see me below you in wealth and children?”^[3840]

[3838] That is, the creation of this garden is by the Will of God, the Benefactor to whom all will be grateful (cf. Ibn ʿĀshūr).
[3839] That is, the power which I have over the creation, maintenance and nurturing of the gardens comes only from God Almighty (cf. al-Baghawī, al-Qurṭubī, al-Bayḍāwī).
Be it a mere utterance, this statement is of great significance because it is an outward manifestation that translates the Faith of the heart. Abū Mūsā al-Ashʿarī (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of God (ﷺ) said: “O ʿAbdullāh Ibn Qays! Shall I not teach you a word which is one of the treasures of Paradise? ˹It is˺ There is no ability or power except through Allah (lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā bi Allāh)!” (al-Bukhārī: 6610; Muslim: 2704).
[3840] Although his fellow Denier treated him with great contempt, seeing him less well-to-do and having fewer children, this greatly pious fellow did not take it personally and only answered his first slight at the beginning of their interaction (cf. Aya 34 above) last and dealt with the most serious issue of Denial first (cf. al-Shawkānī).