Tawakkul (trust in Allah) is one of the most profound acts of the heart — balancing reliance on Allah with taking the means. Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen رحمه الله beautifully explained how true tawakkul combines sincere faith with responsible effort. In this post, we explore what tawakkul truly means and how to apply it in our daily lives.
Question:
What is the correct understanding of having Tawakkul (reliance) upon Allah (The Mighty & Sublime)?
Answer:
The correct understanding of Tawakkul is that a person is sincere in his reliance upon Allah, meaning that he truly believes in relying upon Allah (The Mighty & Sublime) alone in all affairs.
This includes his worship, dealings, habits, actions and circumstances. He relates all of his life's affairs to Allah (The Mighty & Sublime), and that none of his affairs would be easy if Allah had not made them easy for him.
Furthermore, a person must have sincere belief in relying upon Allah and should think well of Allah, such that he provides ease for him in all his affairs. A person should not become proud of himself by thinking that an accomplishment or event occurred only due to his own influence and that he was the sole initiator of it, since these thoughts are indeed dangerous.
This is why the scholars have defined Tawakkul as:
Having true sincerity in reliance upon Allah, (Who brings benefits and compels harms) with certainty and full trust in Allah alone, while taking the necessary measures providing they are permitted according to Islamic law.
Reference:
Question 05/2800 | Chapter 01/76 Aqeedah (Creed) | Question 05/34
Project for translating the works of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-‘Uthaymīn
From the series ‘Question on the Phone’
مشروع ترجمة مواد الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين
من حلقات سؤال على الهاتف
