Hasbunallahu wa Ni'mal Wakeel
Ali 'Imran 3:173. Also known as Hasbunallah wa nimal wakil, Allah is sufficient for us, Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakil meaning
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمۡ فَٱخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ إِيمَٰنٗا وَقَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡوَكِيلُ ﴿١٧٣﴾
Allatheena qala lahumu alnnasu inna alnnasa qad jamaAAoo lakum faikhshawhum fazadahum eemanan waqaloo hasbuna Allahu waniAAma alwakeelu
Those to whom the people have said, “The people have mobilized against you, so fear them.” But this only increased them in faith, and they said, “Allah is enough for us; He is the Excellent Protector.”
Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel is a phrase meaning that Allah is enough for us and He is the best one to rely on. It comes from verse 173 of Surah Ali 'Imran, the third surah, where it is spoken by believers who had just been told that a large force had gathered against them.
Muslims say it when they feel threatened, wronged or overwhelmed. It is short enough to say in a moment of fear and full enough to carry a whole attitude of trust.
What it means
A warning meant to frighten
The verse begins with people telling the believers that others had gathered against them, so they should be afraid. The news was meant to break their resolve.
Their faith increased
Instead of shrinking back, the believers' faith grew. The verse presents fear as a moment that can strengthen faith rather than weaken it.
Allah is enough for us
The believers answered that Allah was sufficient for them. The Arabic word hasb means enough, so they were saying they needed no other protection.
The best to rely on
They added that He is the best Wakil, a word meaning the one you entrust your affairs to. It describes handing over a matter to someone completely capable of handling it.
Where it sits in Surah Ali 'Imran
This passage follows the Battle of Uhud, which is the subject of much of the second half of Surah Ali 'Imran. Verses 169 to 171 describe those killed in Allah's cause as alive with their Lord and rejoicing. Verse 172 praises those who answered the call of Allah and the Messenger even after being wounded, and commentators connect this with the believers going out again to Hamra al-Asad the day after Uhud. Verse 173 gives their response to the warning. Verse 174 says they returned with grace and bounty from Allah, untouched by harm, and verse 175 explains that it was only Satan trying to frighten people through his allies, so the believers should fear Allah alone.
How it is used
Many Muslims say this phrase when facing danger, injustice or a situation beyond their control. Sahih al-Bukhari reports from Ibn Abbas that these were the words Abraham (Ibrahim) said when he was thrown into the fire, and the words the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his Companions said when they were told that people had gathered against them. A related phrase, that Allah is sufficient for me, appears in other verses such as 9:129 and 39:38.
Questions
Where is Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel in the Quran?
It is in Surah Ali 'Imran, the third surah, at verse 173.
What does Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel mean?
It means that Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best one to entrust our affairs to.
Who said Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakeel?
According to Sahih al-Bukhari, Abraham (Ibrahim) said it when he was thrown into the fire, and the Prophet ﷺ and the believers said it when they were warned about the army gathering against them, as described in 3:173.