PUTTING ONE’S TRUST IN ALLAH AND TAKING MEASURES

PUTTING ONE’S TRUST IN ALLAH AND TAKING MEASURES

Preamble

Tawakkul is special, the direct result of true eman in Allah, certainty in the Hereafter, and continuous remembrance of both.

Question: There was a discussion about the issue of putting one’s trust in Allah (tawakkul) and taking measures; the trust of some of the righteous is like that of Maryam, to whom summer fruits used to come in the winter and vice versa without her taking any measures; rather she focused completely on worship. Please advise us about that, may Allah bless you.

Answer

Praise be to Allaah.

Putting one’s trust in Allah involves two things:

(i) Depending on Allah and believing that He is the One Who causes measures to be effective; His decree comes to pass; He has decreed all things, counted them out and ordained them, may He be glorified and exalted.

(ii)Taking appropriate measures; putting one’s trust in Allah does not mean refraining from taking measures; rather part of putting one’s trust in Allah is taking appropriate measures and striving to do so. The one who refrains from doing so has gone against the laws and decree of Allah. Allah has commanded us to take appropriate measures and He encourages us to do so; He commanded His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to do that.

So it is not permissible for the believer to refrain from taking appropriate measures; in fact he is not truly putting his trust in Allah unless he takes appropriate measures. Hence it is prescribed to get married in order to have a child, and it is enjoined to have intercourse. If someone were to say: I shall not get married and I shall wait to have a child without getting married, he would be regarded as insane; this is not the way of those who are wise and rational. Similarly, he should not sit in his house or in the mosque seeking charity and waiting for provision to come to him; rather he should strive hard and work to seek to earn halaal provision.

Maryam (may Allah have mercy on her) did not forgo taking measures. Allah said to her (interpretation of the meaning): “And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you” [Holy Quran Maryam 19:25]. So she shook the palm tree and took appropriate measures until the dates fell. Her action is not contrary to taking measures and the fact that she found provision with her and that Allah honoured her and gave her some provision does not indicate that she refrained from taking appropriate measures; rather she devoted herself to worship and also took appropriate measures.

If Allah bestows upon some of His close friends some miracles (karaamaat), this is by His grace and bounty, but that does not indicate that we should forgo taking appropriate measures. It is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Strive to do that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless.” Narrated by Muslim, 2664. And Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)” [Holy Quran al-Faatihah 1:5].

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him).

Source: Islam Q&A, 130499

HOW TO USE “TAWAKKUL” IN RELIEVING OUR ANXIETIES AND WORRIES

Tawakkul refers to putting your trust in Allah – to believe that He alone can ward off the harms of this world, provide you blessings and sustenance, and to ease your challenges. Tawakkul is also about accepting the results that He decides regardless of how they may turn out to be.

To understand the concept of Tawakkul, consider how tense and worried you get at times about the challenges of this worldly life. Whether it’s you worrying about losing your job or sustenance, or general life problems that you may come to face, Tawakkul is your belief and the attitude that you have about putting your trust in Allah to take care of all your affairs.

Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala), says:

And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever places his trust in Allah, Sufficient is He for him, for Allah will surely accomplish His Purpose: For verily, Allah has appointed for all things a due proportion. Quran (Surah Talaq, 65:3)

The Quran makes it clear that Tawakkul is not an option but rather a requirement. Allah (may He be Exalted) says:

“…and put your trust in Allâh if you are believers indeed. (Quran Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 23)

He also says in the Quran:

“….And in Allah let believers put their Trust” [Holy Quran Surah Ibrahim 14:11]

Don’t give up on Your Efforts

Tawakkul shouldn’t be mistaken with giving up your efforts thinking that somehow your challenges will get resolved. Rather striving and working with the attitude that Allah will take care of your affairs and will help you in getting through your trials is part of you having the Tawakkul on Allah.

Some scholars have stated that “Tawakkul in reality does not deny actually working and striving for provision, for Allah Almighty has decreed that we should work and it is from His ways that he gives people when they strive. In fact, Allah Almighty ordered us to both depend upon Him and to work, to take the necessary steps needed to achieve our goals, and so the act of striving for our sustenance is an act of physical worship while trusting and depending upon Allah is faith in Him.” (Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts (Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 7, Pages 172-174)

Allah says: “…So seek provision from Allah and worship Him (alone).” [Holy Quran Al-‘Ankaboot 29: 17]

Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan stated about this verse, “Look for sustenance and do not sit around in the masaajid claiming that you are putting your trust in Allah. Do not sit in your homes and claim that your daily sustenance will come to you.” This is wrong and a true believer doesn’t say such things.” (Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan Haqeeqat-ut-Tawakkul (pg. 15-25))

This obviously applies to not just seeking provisions but in striving to resolve other matters of our lives – just as long we remember and believe that His will is a prerequisite for our matters to get resolved and to accept what He ultimately decrees.

The scholars have also stated that, “other than our efforts that we put in, a Muslim should also combine Tawakkul with other means, whether they are acts of `Ibadah (worship) like Du`a’ (supplication), Salah (Prayer), Sadaqah (voluntary charity) or maintaining the ties of kinship, or other material means which Allah has predestined.” (source : alifta.net Fatwa no. 2798)

Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala), also says in the Quran:

[There were] those to whom people said: “The people are gathering against you, so fear them.“ But it only increased their faith; they said: “For us Allah is Sufficient and He is the best Disposer of affairs” (Holy Quran 3:173)

Benefits of Tawakkul

One of the major benefits of Tawakkul is that it can relieve us from unnecessary anxiety, worry, and resulting depression from the challenges that we may be facing. By believing that all our affairs are in Allah’s hands and we can do only what is in our control, we leave the results to Allah and accept His decree whatever it may be. Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali said, “the fruit of tawakkul is the acceptance of Allah’s decree. Whoever leaves his affairs to Allah and then is accepting of what he is given has truly relied on Allah. Al-Hassan and others among the salaf defined tawakkul as ridhaa (acceptance).” (Jami’ Al-‘Uloom wa Al-Hikam : A Commentary on 50 Major Hadith)

Let’s strive to understand the concept of Tawakkul and to make it part of our belief systems. We will notice that things will not only get resolved easier with His help, but Tawakkul will also relieve us from the day to day anxieties and worries associated with the challenges of this life.— End

THE SIX REALIZATION OF TAWAKKUL

TAWAKKUL is an attitude. I have found this to be a simple and true way of defining what reliance on Allah and trusting Him means. That is its nature. We possess tawakkul only if it is actually consciously present in our hearts and minds at all times, like a second nature. It is there whether we suffer major life setbacks or soar in an inexpressible moment of bliss and facility. Tawakkul is no “now and again” mood. That kind of emotional or spiritual spike is typical of all people.

This “attitude” leads to six convictions.

1. Allah has put me in this world temporarily for a test, and all of my good and bad circumstances are part of the test.

2. The test is about my performance in given situations, not about how good or bad my conditions are. Regardless of the circumstances I encounter, the test is about how well exhaust all my efforts in achieving the objective of the religion Allah has prescribed for me to attain His pleasure.

3. My success depends on the quality of my belief (in terms of relevance, wisdom, propriety, tactics, strategy, and sincerity) and its quantifiable expression, the amount of effort I put in my striving toward Allah, not on the material results they appear to produce, regardless of what kind of good or bad circumstances I happen to encounter.

4. Whatever Allah has commanded me to do and the objectives He wants me to achieve are the best things for me in this world and in the Hereafter. My duty is to continue steadfastly on the task Allah has assigned to me, utilizing every lawful tool humanly possible and doing my earnest best, without worrying about the results, leaving that totally to Allah.

5. Real success is attaining the pleasure of Allah, not the results in this world. Whether my efforts bear any visible effect in this world or not, I must persist upon my course.

6. Whatever hardships, tests, trials and suffering I undergo in my service to Him during this earthly so journ are all part of His plan for my ultimate success. Enduring them with contentment, with neither a word of complaint nor being disheartened in any way, is a part of my task as His slave, and I do so for His pleasure.

These convictions produce a winning state of mind. The believer feels, “Because I truly believe in Allah and am doing what He wants me to do, He is with me, guarding me, and accepting my efforts. He will not let my endeavours be in vain, allow me to fail, or leave me unsupported. No one can do anything to me that is not already part of His plan for me as His salve.

Regardless of what transpires in this world, the ultimate success is mine, as long as I am truly committed to His work. If I keep the right attitude, come what may, I will be successful.

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “How wonderful it is for a believer that he always ends up with goodness. If he suffers and remains steadfast, it is rewarding. If good things happen and he thanks Allah, that is also rewarding” (Muslim).

It is a totally liberating, empowering state of mind that a true believer attains because of his trust in and reliance on the power, authority, help and support of Allah. He feels contentment in serving Allah, with little care for the results that Allah alone decrees for his untiring efforts. This brings tranquility to the heart, courage to the psyche, and an unparalleled resilience to one’s nature.

This is why the believer cannot be scared by threats of loss, pressured into giving up, made to compromise, compelled to give in, bought out of his Islamic mission, or forced into submission by any enemy, tyrant, power, or authority.

Of those who have tawakkul, Allah makes the truest observation—which is also the most comforting promise: Whoever relies on Allah, then He is sufficient for him (Holy Quran 65:3).

And never does Allah fail His Promise.

Ayub Hamid (Courtesy: Al Jumuah Magazine)