if the mountain won't come to Muhammad
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
If something one wishes to be done cannot be commanded to be done, one must find another way to achieve one's goal.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
It was obvious that, if Opec was going to survive much longer, it had to be taken seriously by the world’s major oil companies. So Yamani decided, if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, Opec had somehow to impose its presence on the oil companies.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “if the mountain won't come to Muhammad” mean?
If something one wishes to be done cannot be commanded to be done, one must find another way to achieve one's goal.
Is “if the mountain won't come to Muhammad” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.