3. Authorizing a man to act as an agent who is empowered to make sales and

purchases. It is, however, permissible. Yet, man should not exclusively rely on his agent by believing that he is the real cause and manager of his affairs. He should, in all spheres, exclusively rely on Allah believing that He is the real originator and creator of all affairs. Exclusively trusting in Allah and relying on Him for averting injuries and acquiring provisions are of the most meritorious devotional acts. Reliance on others is, however, an act of major polytheism. Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, says: '~ ..And upon Allah rely, ifyou should be believers" (Quran: Al-Ma'idah: 23) According to the aforementioned Qur'anic verse, Almighty Allah commands the believers to exclusively rely on Him Alone. He, moreover, stipulates in another verse that exclusively trusting in Allah is a prerequisite for the fulfillment of the fundamentals ofbelief and Islam. Allah, Exalted be He, says: '~nd Moses said, '0 my people, if you have believed in Allah, then rely upon Him ifyou should be Muslims [i.e., submitting to Him}:" (Q~an: YOnus: 84) According to the aforementioned Qur'anic verse, complete faith and Islam are invalidated by not having trust in Allah or relying on others though they are incapable of doing anything. Such is the case of those who rely on the dwellers of hallowed graves or false deities worshipped along with Allah. Therefore, trusting Allah is an obligatory act of devotion, which should be sincerely devoted to Allah only. It is one of the most elevated ranks of perfect belief, since it is a preliminary to meritorious good deeds. Therefore, when man trusts Allah in all his devotional and worldly affairs, he will be truly sincere in his behavior to Allah. Shaykhul-IsJAm., Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says, "No one had hope in a creature or exclusively trusted him, but becamefrustrated." Trusting and relying on Allah are among the most elevated ranks of devotion referred to in what Allah commands us to say at least five times a day: "It is You we worship and You we askfor help." (Quran: AI-FAtihah: 5) Therefore, a perfect belief can only be attained through perfect trust and reliance on Allah. Almighty Allah says: "[He is] the Lord ofthe East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of[your] affairs." (Quran: AI-Muzzammil: 9) He, furthermore, commands the believers to rely on Him according to many verses. He says: ~~nd whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him. (Quran: At-Ialaq: 3) In interpreting the Qur'anic verse, which provides, ~d upon Allah rely, if you should be believers" (Quran: AI-Ma'idah: 23), ImAm Ibnul-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) says: "Allah specifies the act of trusting Him as one of the prerequisites of perfect belief Thus, if a person lacks perfect reliance on Allah, his belief is definitely deficient. The firmer man~ belief, the higher the degree of reliance on Allah. Feeble and relenting trust in Allah is an indication of weak belief Allah, Exalted and Glorified be He, in many verses of the Quran associates trust in Him with belief, Islam and true guidance. All these verses affirm that trust in Allah is a fundamental principle of all degrees offaith and all devotional acts of Islam. It is like a head to the body. Therefore, all ranks of belief and devotional acts ofIslam are dependent on one~ degree oftrust in Allah." Trust in Allah is one of the distinctive qualities of true believers. Almighty Allah says: (·The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely," (Quran: AI-Anfal: 2) The believers, according to the verse, rely on Allah wholeheartedly and are free ofany hope or trust in others. Similarly, the believers in this verse are depicted as having three ranks of beneficence: fear of Allah and firm belief and full trust in Him Alone. Putting ones trust in Allah does not contradict the necessity of exerting one's optimum efforts in attaining ones goals. Allah has decreed that there are causes and effects. He has commanded man to take all means available for reaping results. Taking all available means is, thus, an act of obedience to Allah which mainly requires physical effort, while trusting in Allah is a devotional act of the heart requiring only true belief in Allah. Allah, Exalted be He, says: "0 you who have believed, take your precaution..." (Quran: An-Nisa: 71) And says: ~nd prepare against them whatever you are able ofpower.. ." (Quran: AI-Anfal: 60) He, further, says: ~ when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land (Quran: AI-Jurnu'ah: 10) Some scholars have said: "Whosoever underestimates the matter of exerting efforts and taking all means available for attaining his goals should be regarded as one casting doubts upon Allah's way in treating people. And whosoever underestimates the matter oftrusting in Allah is regarded as one whose faith is weak:' ' ImAm Ibn Rajah (may Allah have mercy on him) says: <~an's deeds are ofthree categories: