The comprehensive concept of reliance on Allah (tawakkul) has long occupied the minds of scholars and their fatwas due to the confusion some people have between reliance (tawakkul) and neglecting the means, and between true reliance on Allah by taking the necessary means with physical efforts while attaching one's heart entirely to Allah. In times when the Muslim Ummah faces critical challenges, there is a need to return to correcting divine concepts and Islamic ethics to restore its former glory. This cannot be achieved except by returning to the true religion, including the virtue of tawakkul.
In language, tawakkul means entrusting and relying on someone else. In Islamic terminology, it means taking the necessary means both outwardly and inwardly, feeling assured by the One who causes the means, and depending on Him without fear or anxiety while continuing to strive to achieve His pleasure, being content with His decree, and believing that He is the one who benefits and harms. Allah says:
"And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a decreed extent." (Surah At-Talaq 65:2-3).
The Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet are replete with verses and authentic hadiths that command Muslims to rely on Allah and encourage them to do so, as was commanded to the prophets and messengers before. Therefore, it is obligatory for every Muslim to understand the true meaning of tawakkul according to the Quranic text and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Firstly: Tawakkul as Allah's Command to All Prophets
The Holy Quran is filled with divine commands for all of God's messengers to rely on Him, stated directly in clear texts. The same command was directed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and to the believers after him. Allah has even made tawakkul a condition and a sign of faith. For instance, Moses (peace be upon him) commanded his followers to rely on Allah when facing the oppressors:
"And Moses said, 'O my people, if you have believed in Allah, then rely upon Him, if you should be Muslims.' So they said, 'Upon Allah do we rely. Our Lord, make us not [objects of] trial for the wrongdoing people.'" (Surah Yunus 10:84-85).
Regarding dissociation from shirk (polytheism) and its adherents, and complete reliance on Allah, Allah says:
"Indeed, 'I have relied upon Allah, my Lord and your Lord. There is no creature but that He holds its forelock. Indeed, my Lord is on a path [that is] straight.'" (Surah Hud 11:56).
Prophet Jacob (peace be upon him) advised his sons to enter Egypt from different gates, relying on Allah:
"And he said, 'O my sons, do not enter from one gate but enter from different gates; and I cannot avail you against [the decree of] Allah at all. The decision is only for Allah; upon Him I have relied, and upon Him let those who would rely [indeed] rely.'" (Surah Yusuf 12:67).
About the prophets' states in their mission and their reliance on Allah, Allah says:
"Their messengers said, 'We are only men like you, but Allah confers favor upon whom He wills of His servants. It has never been for us to bring you evidence except by permission of Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely. And why should we not rely upon Allah while He has guided us to our [good] ways? And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon Allah let those who would rely [indeed] rely.'" (Surah Ibrahim 14:11-12).
Secondly: Tawakkul as the Character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Concerning the state of our noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Quran, there are many verses that carry the command and guidance for the Prophet to rely on Allah, praise, and remembrance. Allah says:
"And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt [Allah] with His praise. And sufficient is He to be, with the sins of His servants, Acquainted." (Surah Al-Furqan 25:58). "And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful." (Surah Ash-Shu'ara 26:217). "So rely upon Allah; indeed, you are upon the clear truth." (Surah An-Naml 27:79). "And rely upon Allah; and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs." (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:3). "And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites but do not harm them, and rely upon Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs. (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:48).
In praising the Prophet's (peace be upon him) character and instructing him to rely on Allah, Allah says:
"So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him]. If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely." (Surah Al-Imran 3:159-160).
In confronting the polytheists with evidence and entrusting the outcome to Allah, Allah says to the Prophet:
"Is not Allah sufficient for His Servant? And [yet] they threaten you with those [they worship] other than Him. And whoever Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide. And whoever Allah guides. And whoever Allah guides – for him there is no misleader. Is not Allah Exalted in Might and Owner of Retribution? And if you asked them, 'Who created the heavens and the earth?' they would surely say, 'Allah.' Say, 'Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allah? If Allah intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?' Say, 'Sufficient for me is Allah; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers.'" (Surah Az-Zumar 39:36-38).
In finding peace with Allah's side, His promise, and His companionship, and relying on Him, Allah says:
"And you will remember what I [now] say to you, and I entrust my affair to Allah. Indeed, Allah is Seeing of [His] servants. So Allah protected him from the evils they plotted, and the people of Pharaoh were enveloped by the worst of punishment." (Surah Ghafir 40:44-45).
Ibn Abbas reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say: "O God, to Thee I have submitted, in Thee I believe, on Thee I rely, to Thee I turn in repentance, and by Thee I contend. O God, I seek refuge in Thy might, than whom there is no god, lest Thou leadest me into error. Thou art the Living One who dost not die, while jinn and men die." (Muslim).
Thirdly: Tawakkul as the Character of All Believers
Believers need to rely on Allah truly and completely, especially in times of trials and weakness. Alone, a person is weak, but with Allah, they are much stronger. Tawakkul is made a part of their faith, particularly for those who have inherited the mission of the prophets and carry the responsibility of calling to Allah. Allah describes their morals, behavior, attributes, and the results of their reliance:
"Those to whom hypocrites said, 'Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.' But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, 'Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.' So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty." (Surah Al-Imran 3:173-174).
When a believer is forced to face the enemy and fears their oppression, Allah guides His servants to rely on Him properly:
"O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when a people determined to extend their hands against you, but He withheld their hands from you; and fear Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely." (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:11).
Regarding the description of believers and the condition of their faith, Allah links faith with tawakkul:
"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely." (Surah Al-Anfal 8:2).
Allah also describes the believers:
"And those who have believed and done righteous deeds - We will surely assign to them of Paradise [lofty] chambers beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide eternally. Excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers- who have been patient and upon their Lord rely. And how many a creature carries not its [own] provision. Allah provides for it and for you. And He is the Hearing, the Knowing." (Surah Al-Ankabut 29:58-60).
Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "'In the name of God; I trust in God; there is no might and no power but in God, ' the following will be said to him at that time, 'You are guided, defended and protected. ' The devil will go far from him and another devil will say, 'How can you deal with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?'"
-------------------------------------------------------------
Read this Article in Arabic
