What is Tawakkul?
Tawakkul means putting your trust in Allah S.W.T. It is indeed the greatest means to get us nearer to Allah S.W.T. As Muslims, we should never underestimate the need to take precautions to protect ourselves. The key to understanding Tawakkul is having faith that despite all our caution, everything is up to Allah’s Will. We strengthen our faith by increasing our prayers and supplications to Him and doing that which pleases Him.
The root of Tawakkul is ‘reliance’ or ‘dependence’. We say that we depend on Allah S.W.T. for everything and rely on Him. The reality of Tawakkul is that we trust and rely on Allah S.W.T. in terms of both our worldly affairs and our faith. It also includes utilizing our visceral or tangible means of attaining what we want to attain while maintaining faith that Allah is the one who truly provides.
Tawakkul, therefore, involves belief, dependence, and action. This is because in order to gain at least some level of Tawakkul, the slave needs to be aware of the fact that all the matters of this world and the Hereafter lie in the Hands of Allah S.W.T. Nothing occurs except by His Permission and His Leave. It is worth noting that depending upon Allah S.W.T. in attaining one’s provision is itself a form of worship, and is from the completion and perfection of one’s Iman. It is a realization of the verse from Umm-ul-Qur’ān, “You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help” (01:05), and is a requirement of one’s Iman as depending on anyone other than Allah S.W.T. for providence is Shirk, a major sin. As Allah S.W.T. says “so worship Him and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do” (11:123).
It is through Tawakkul that we experience miracles in life. It is among the most beautiful fruits of the tree of “la ila ha illalah”.
We ask Allah that He makes us from among those who have Tawakkul in Him. Ameen.
