Trust in Allah

Ramadan Message: Trust in Allah
Ramadan Messages for 2010
Day 17

"Put your trust in the All-Mighty, the Most Merciful"
(Holy Quran, 12:217)

Many of us live our lives in fear. We fear not getting what we strive for, we fear losing what we do have, and we fear even aiming for something we do want.

But recall this: [The Caliph] 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be well pleased with him) is reported as having said: "Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) once said: "If you really and truly placed all your trust in Allah totally, He would sustain you as He sustains the birds. They start the day with their bellies empty, and return back with their bellies full."



This absolute trust in Allah is called tawakkul.

The real meaning [haqiqa] of absolute trust [tawakkul] is delegating all one's affairs to Allah (Almighty and Glorious is He), making a clean escape from the murky darkness and gloom of personal choice and self-management, and advancing to the arenas where the [divine] decrees [ahkam] and foreordainment [taqdir] are experienced directly.

The servant [of the Lord] must be convinced that there is no possibility of changing the allotment of destiny [qisma], which means that whatever has been allotted to him cannot pass him by, and that he can never obtain what has not been allotted to him. His heart will then become reconciled to this, and he will feel confident in relying on the promise [wa'd] of his Master [Mawla]. He will therefore receive from his Master [Mawla].

Putting one's trust in the Lord [tawakkul] is actually the first of three stages, namely: (1) the basic sense of trust [tawakkul], then (2) the act of surrender or resignation [taslim], and then (3) the act of delegation [tafwid]. The person who is at the stage of basic trust [al-mutawakkil] is one who feels confident in relying on the promise [wa'd] of his Lord. The person who is at the stage of surrender or resignation [sahib at-taslim] is one who is content to rely on His knowledge ['ilm]. The person who is at the stage of delegation [sahib at-tafwid] is one who is happy to accept His judgment [hukm].

From: Al-Ghunya li-Talibi Tariq al-Haqq, Chapter 3

Absolute trust in the Lord [tawakkul] is living one day at a time, and dispensing with concern about tomorrow.

It is the constant fears, doubts and worries that stymie our happiness in this life. Remember that what happens only happens because Allah wills it so. That should not stop us from seeking out what we need as do the birds seek out the food it needs daily; rather we should place trust in Allah that he will provide for us what is best for us. If we do not attain what we seek despite our best efforts, then accept it and trust that it was for the best! If something is meant, it will happen, regardless of what we do or do not do.

Dispense with fear, doubt and worry. Replace it with trust in Allah.

"And why should we not put our trust in Allah while He indeed has guided us our ways. And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt you may cause us, and in Allah (Alone) let those who trust, put their trust."
(Holy Quran, 12:14)



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