3. Trusting False Deities besides Allah

Tawakul is an Arabic word, which literally means reliance and entrustment, and it is an act of the heart. The Arabs, therefore, used to say 'tawakkala fil-am; to mean 'somebody became confident to execute something: Relying on Allah and putting all trust in Him are of the most meritorious devotional acts, which should be sincerely offered by a Muslim. Almighty Allah says, ":•. And upon Allah rely, ifyou should be believers." (Quran: AI-Maidah: 23) There are specific forms and examples ofreliance on false deities, persons or objects besides Allah. Such forms include the following: 1. Reliance on others for getting what can be sought only from Allah. Some people put their full confidence and trust in dead persons and false deities and exclusively rely on them for attaining victory, security, provisions, intercession, though all such acts are only bestowed by Allah. Such a practice is an act of major shirk (polytheism). 2. Reliance on others for securing man's needs. Some people exclusively rely on a king or a ruler for executing or securing a matter or averting harms away from them.