Tawakkul: Reliance Upon Allah

Tawakkul (reliance upon Allah) is a fundamental principle of Islamic faith and a quality that the Quran repeatedly praises. Allah says: "And upon Allah let the believers rely" (Quran 3:122), and "Whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him" (Quran 65:3). Tawakkul is not passive resignation or fatalism; it is an active state of the heart in which a person takes all available means while entrusting the outcome to Allah. It represents the perfect balance between human effort and divine trust that characterizes the believer's approach to life.

The True Meaning of Tawakkul

Ibn al-Qayyim defined tawakkul as: "The heart's reliance upon Allah alone in obtaining what benefits and repelling what harms, in worldly and religious matters alike, while trusting Him in all of that." Imam al-Ghazali described three levels: the first is like a person's trust in their lawyer, relying on them but still feeling anxiety; the second is like a child's trust in their mother, instinctively turning to her in every need; and the third, the highest, is like a dead body in the hands of the one who washes it, having no will of its own. The scholars clarify that the highest level is a state of complete inner surrender, not an abandonment of outward effort.

Tawakkul Does Not Mean Abandoning Means

A common misunderstanding is that tawakkul means not taking action. The Prophet (peace be upon him) corrected this decisively. When a man asked whether he should tie his camel and then trust in Allah, or simply trust in Allah without tying it, the Prophet said: "Tie it, then put your trust in Allah" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi). Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "No one of you should sit and refrain from seeking provision and say, 'O Allah, provide for me,' while he knows that the sky does not rain gold and silver." The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "If you were to rely upon Allah with true reliance, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out in the morning hungry and return in the evening full" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi). Note that the birds go out, they do not stay in their nests.

Tawakkul in Difficulty

Tawakkul shines most brightly in times of difficulty and trial. When Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was thrown into the fire, Jibril came to him and asked if he needed anything. Ibrahim said: "From you, no. From Allah, yes. He knows my situation." According to reports from Ibn Abbas, Ibrahim said: "Hasbiyallahu wa ni'mal-wakil" (Allah is sufficient for me and He is the best Disposer of affairs). This same phrase was said by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his Companions when they were told: "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them," but it only increased them in faith, and they said: "Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs" (Quran 3:173).