The Meaning of Reliance (Tawakkul) on Allaah
Shaikh Saleh bin Fawzaan
Al-Fawzaan حفظه الله
Relying on Allaah (tawakkul) is one of the Greatest
forms of worship. Allaah says:
وَعَلَى
اللّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُواْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
“So upon Allaah, put
your trust if you are truly believers.”
Surah Al-Maa’idah (5:23)
So He made relying upon Allaah (tawakkul)
a condition for Eemaan (Faith). Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى said to His Prophet ﷺ :
فَإِذَا
عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّهِ
“So when you have
made a decision, then put your trust in Allaah.”
Surah Aali ‘Imraan (3:159)
So He ordered His Prophet to put his trust and reliance on Allaah.
He سُبحانه
وتعالى says:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَسْبُكَ اللّهُ وَمَنِ اتَّبَعَكَ
مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“O Prophet! Allaah is
sufficient for you & for the believers who follow you.”
Surah
Al-Anfaal (8:64)
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا
“And whosoever fears Allâh & keeps his
duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty).”
At-Talaq (65:2)
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ
عَلَىاللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ
اللَّهُلِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
“And He will provide
him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever
puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allâh
will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allâh has set a measure for all things.”
Surah At-Talaq (65:3)
وَمَن
يَتَّقِاللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا
“And whoever is dutiful to Allaah, He will make his matter easy
for him.”
ذَلِكَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ أَنزَلَهُإِلَيْكُمْ وَمَن يَتَّقِ
اللَّهَ يُكَفِّرْ عَنْهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِ وَيُعْظِمْ لَهُأَجْرًا
“That is the Command of
Allaah, which He has sent down to you. And whoever fears Allaah & keeps his
duty to Him, He will expiate from him his sins & enlarge his reward.”
Surah
At-Talaaq (65: 5)
Furthermore, Allaah has linked this reliance (tawakkul) to
worship ( ‘ibaadah), as occurs in His statement:
فَاعْبُدْهُ
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ
“So worship Him &
put your trust in Him.”
Surah Hood (11:123)
Allaah orders us to put our trust in Him, and He praises those who
do it. He also states in many verses of the Qur’aan that He loves those who put
their reliance in Him. All of this indicates and shows the importance of
putting one’s trust in Allaah.
Relying upon Allaah is from the actions of the heart – so it is an
act of worship of the heart. Therefore, putting one’s trust in Allaah is not to
be done with one’s limbs and body parts. Rather, it is found in the heart, just
like fear (khawf), awe (khashyah), longing (raghbah),
dreading (rahbah) and dutifulness (taqwaa) of Allaah – all of
these are acts of worship of the heart.
The position of tawakkul (reliance on Allaah) is as some of
the scholars have stated:
“The position of tawakkul in the Religion
is like that of the head on a body.”
So a person that does not have tawakkul does not have
Religion, just like a body that has no head. It is well known that if a body is
missing its head, it will cease to live. This is the same case with the
Religion – if it lacks tawakkul, it lacks correctness – meaning that one
will not have a correct religion.
Therefore, relying on Allaah has a great standing amongst the
stations of servitude to Allaah. Allaah uses it to distinguish His believing
servants from everyone else. So whoever doesn’t put his trust in Allaah at all
is a disbeliever. And whoever puts his trust in Allaah and also on others
besides Allaah (at the same time) is a polytheist. And as for the one who puts
his trust in Allaah alone – he is a monotheistic believer whom Allaah loves and
whose actions and statements He is pleased with. This is since he has
established his actions and statements upon a correct foundation.
So what is the meaning of this tawakkul (reliance on Allaah),
which holds such importance and high position in the Religion?
The Meaning of Reliance (Tawakkul) on Allaah
Tawakkul on
Allaah means: Entrusting one’s affairs to Him and relying on Him in all
matters. Entrusting one’s affairs to Allaah entails not turning to someone else
for support.
So reliance (tawakkul) upon Allaah can be with regard to
matters of Creed, such that the servant’s heart does not turn to anyone else
besides Allaah. Therefore, he is always putting his reliance in Allaah,
entrusting all of his affairs to Him.
The pagans did not fall into polytheism and disbelief except due
to the fact that they put their reliance in other than Allaah, entrusted their
affairs to other than Him, and believed in their hearts that someone besides
Allaah was able to grant their requests, alleviate their worries and repel
harms from them. So they relied on statues, idols, trees, stones, graves,
shrines and the deceased. They put their trust in created beings to grant them
things that only Allaah could do. So they began to ask them for help, offer
sacrifices to them, make oaths to them, and direct various forms of worship to
them. This is since they have relied on them apart from Allaah, thinking that
they have the power to benefit them, harm them or grant their requests. Due to
this, when they put their reliance in other than Allaah and directed their
beliefs and worship to other than Him, they disbelieved in Him.
The foundation of Shirk is: Entrusting one’s affairs & putting
one’s reliance on other than Allaah. This is why Allaah says:
فَاعْبُدْهُ
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ
“So upon
Allaah, put your trust if you are truly believers.”
Surah Al-Maa’idah (5:23)
The scholars say: The object of the verb here “upon Allaah” denotes
limitedness. Thus the ayah means: “Put your trust in Allaah ALONE & not
anyone else.” So Allaah has restricted tawakkul to Himself ALONE apart
from others. Upon Allaah” means not upon anyone else. The ayah
continues: “…put your trust if you are truly believers.” Allaah has made
tawakkul (reliance on Allaah) here a sign of one’s Faith in Him &
proof of one’s Tawheed.
As for the one who claims to be a believer and an adherent of
Tawheed, but yet then goes on to put his trust in other than Allaah, such as
stones, trees, statues, graves, the deceased, and so on, then this person’s
claim is false. And he is not a believer since he has entrusted his affairs to
someone besides Allaah.
Likewise, one can put his trust in Allaah in order to achieve his
worldly needs, such as obtaining provision, preventing an enemy, and repelling
harms and dangers from himself.
Therefore, relying upon Allaah can be in religious matters as well
as worldly matters. So you should rely on Allaah in your Creed and your
Tawheed. And put your trust in Allaah for fulfilling your needs even if your
needs are of a worldly nature, such as eating, drinking, clothing and
accomplishing some set goals. Put your reliance and trust in Allaah for ALL
matters.
Reliance on Allaah is not limited to just matters of Creed and
Tawheed. Rather, it even applies to worldly matters and seeking provision. When
it comes to fulfilling any goal, do not rely on anyone besides Allaah. This is
since all of the affairs are in the Hand of Allaah. The keys of the heavens and
the earth are in His Hand, so we must put our trust and reliance in Him.
All of the needs and objectives of the servants lie in the Hand of
Allaah. So how can a person put his trust and reliance in other than Allaah for
his religious and worldly matters? No doubt this is from ignorance and turning
away from Allaah. Therefore, relying on Allaah is one of the greatest stations
of servitude.
Haqeeqat-ut-Tawakkul ‘alaAllaah (pg. 7-14)
Al-Ibaanah.com
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