Tawakkul (Trust, Firm Belief and Perfect Reliance in Allah)

Tawakkul (Trust, Firm Belief and Perfect Reliance in Allah)

Allah, the Exalted, says:

"And when the believers saw Al-Ahzab (the Confederates), they said: 'This is what Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) had spoken the truth, and it only added to their Faith and to their submissiveness (to Allah)". (33:22)

"Those (i.e., believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, `Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them.' But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: `Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)'. So they returned with grace and bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty". (3:173,174)

"And put your trust (O Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)) in the Ever Living One Who dies not.'' (25:58)

"And in Allah (Alone) let the believers, put their trust.'' (14:11)

"... Then when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah...'' (3:159)

"And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him". (65:3)

"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts; and when His Verses (this Qur'an) are recited unto them, they (i.e., the Verses) increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Rubb (Alone).'' (8:2)

74. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "I was shown the past nations. I saw a Prophet who had a very small group (less than ten in total) with him, another Prophet who was accompanied by only one or two men and some did not have even one. Suddenly I was shown a huge crowd and I thought that they were my Ummah, but I was told: 'This is Musa (Moses) and his people, but look towards the other side.' I looked and beheld a great assemblage. I was told: 'These are your people and amongst them there are seventy thousand who shall enter Jannah without being taken to account or torment". Then the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) stood up and went into his apartment, and the Companions began to guess who may be those people who would enter Jannah without any accounting or torment. Some said: "Probably, they are the ones who kept company with Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam)". Others said: "Probably, they are the ones who have been born as Muslims and have never associated anyone with Allah in worship". Then Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) came out and asked, "What are you discussing?'' So they told him. He then said, "They are those who do not make Ruqyah (blowing over themselves after reciting the Qur'an or some prayers and supplications the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to say) nor seek it, nor perceive omens (i.e., they are not pessimistic) but keep trust in their Rubb (Allah).'' On this 'Ukashah bin Mihsan stood up and asked: "Pray to Allah to make me one of them.'' The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "You are one of them.'' Then another man stood up and asked the same thing. The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) answered, "'Ukashah has surpassed you".
[Al-Bukhari and Mulsim].

Commentary:
1. This Hadith mentions the importance of faith in Allah, inducement for having trust in Him and the distinction of people who have these qualities.

2. Although the practice of blowing over someone after reciting the Qur'an or supplications of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) and medical treatment are permissible but they who avoid them because of their extreme trust in Allah and save themselves from bad omen, enjoy a distinguished position.

3. These conditions of various communities were shown to the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in dreams for the dreams of the Prophets reflect the truth, or by means of Revelation, or he had witnessed them in the event of Isra (the Night Journey) of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam).

4. The followers of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) exceed the followers of other Prophets in number.

75. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) used to supplicate: "O Allah! To You I have submitted, and in You do I believe, and in You I put my trust, to You do I turn, and for You I argued. O Allah, I seek refuge with You through Your Power; there is none worthy of worship except You Alone; that You safeguard me against going astray. You are the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists; the One Who never dies, whereas human beings and jinn will all die".
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

76. Ibn `Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: When (Prophet) Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said: "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and, He is the Best Disposer of affairs.'' So did Messenger of Allah Muhammad (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) when he was told: "A great army of the pagans had gathered against him, so fear them". But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: "Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)".
[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: Even in the worst circumstances one should always have faith and trust in Allah.

77. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "A group of people (both men and women) whose hearts will be like the hearts of birds, will enter Jannah".
[Muslim].

It has been interpreted that such people are those who put their trust in Allah; another interpretation is that these people are tender-hearted.

Commentary:
1. Excellence of trust in Allah and kindness of heart are most valuable qualities because both of them are means to enter Jannah.

2. One should not worry much about one's food and means of subsistence. In fact, people should have the heart like birds who do not collect to keep in reserve anything and go out every morning in search of food and return to their nests fully satiated. This advice is repeated in another Hadith to the effect that when birds leave their nests in the morning they are hungry but when they come back, their stomachs are full and they do not need any more food.

78. Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I went in an expedition along with the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in the direction of Najd. When Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) returned, I also returned with him. Then the mid-day sleep overtook us in a valley full of prickly shrubs. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) got down and the people scattered around seeking shade under the trees. Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) hang up his sword on the branch of a tree. We were enjoying a sleep when Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) called us, and lo! There was a desert Arab bedouin near him. He (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "This man brandished my sword over me while I was asleep. I woke up and saw it in his hand unsheathed. He asked: `Who will protect you from me?' I replied: 'Allah' - thrice". He did not punish him and sat down.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In another narration, Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) said: We accompanied Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) in the campaign of Dhat-ur-Riqa`. We left Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) to take rest under a shady tree. One of the polytheists came to him. The sword of Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) was hanging on a tree. He drew it and said: "Are you afraid of me?'' Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "No". Then he said: "Who will then protect you from me?'' Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, "Allah".

And in a narration of Abu Bakr Al-Isma`ili, the polytheist asked: "Who will protect you from me?'' Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) replied, "Allah.'' As soon as he said this, the sword fell down from his hand and Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) catching the sword, asked him, "Who will protect you from me.'' He said, "Please forgive me.'' Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) said, "On condition you testify that there is none worthy of worship but Allah and that I am His Messenger.'' He said, "No, but I promise you that I shall not fight against you, nor shall I be with those who fight with you". The Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) let him go. He then went back to his companions and said: "I have come to you from one of the best of mankind".

Commentary: Besides the Prophet's habit of pardoning, and gracious attitude, this Hadith mentions his utmost trust in Allah. It tells that one who has trust in Allah is helped by Him. Later on, the bedouin mentioned in the Hadith embraced Islam. In the battle of Dhat-ur-Riqa` which took place in the sixth year of the Hijra, due to intense heat and lack of footwear, the Companions of the Prophet (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) wrapped their feet with pieces of cloth and for this reason it was called "War of patches of cloth (Dhat-ur-Riqa`)''. Some scholars have also given a different reason for this name.

79. `Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) saying: "If you all depend on Allah with due reliance, He would certainly give you provision as He gives it to birds who go forth hungry in the morning and return with full belly at dusk".
[At-Tirmidhi].

Commentary: Trust in Allah does not mean that one should not give any importance to material resources. What it really means is that along with their due importance, one should have full trust in Allah. Without His Will, material resources are of no avail. But nevertheless it is necessary to have material resources because their procurement is also ordained by Him. Birds do not keep sitting in their nests for food but fly out in search of it.