First, let us look at the fascinating life of the bee. Allaah Says
)what means(:"And your Lord inspired to the bee: 'Take foryourself
among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and]in[ that which
they construct. Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of
your Lord laid down ]for you[." There emerges from their bellies a
drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed
in thatis a sign for a people who give thought."]Quran 16:68-69[
Look at the gigantic work that the bee has to do in order to produce
its honey: The bee finds out the most inaccessible places, in the
hills, in the trees, and even among the habitation of men. It
assimilates the juice of various kinds of flowers and fruit, and forms
within its body the honey which it stores in its cells of wax. The
different kinds of food from which it makes its honey give different
colors to the honey. Now could not Allaah provide for the bees their
sustenance without them going through all this labor? Of course He
Almighty could! Could not Allaah create springs and rivers of honey as
he created springs and rivers of water? Of course He Almighty could!
But by observing the work cycle of the bee and by tasting itssweet and
wholesome honey, one can understand and appreciate better the nature
and behavior of the bee. A behavior whose ingredients are hard workand
complete trust in Allaah: Andthat is the real Tawakkul.
Tawakkul of the birds:
Let us look at another creature ofAllaah: the bird. Allaah Says
)whatmeans(:"Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread
and ]sometimes[ folded in? None holds them]aloft[ except the Most
Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing."]Qatar 67:19[
As He did for all of His creatures, our Lord Almighty provided for the
birds just those conditions that are best for their lives; He Almighty
also inspired them to use their physical shapes and unique movements
to take off, flyand land. Thus, in order to fly, birds would have to
move their spread them and fold them.
However, the birds know that theOne Who upholds them in the air,is not
their upward and downward move, nor the spreading and folding of their
wings, but rather Allaah Almighty. They have understood that they have
to exert effort andrely on Allaah alone to uphold them high. As
opposed to many rebellious men, birds recognize and exercise total
Tawakkul on Allaah without giving up the work.
In pursuing this way of life, the birds have become the example to
follow for how the Tawakkul should be and how Allaah would reward the
one who exercises Tawakkul as the birds do.
The Prophetsaid:"Were you to put your complete trust in Allaah, He
would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They issue forth
hungry in the morning and return filled in the evening."]At-Tirmithi[
Did the birds remain in their nest waitingfor Allaah's provision? Of
course not! Did they claim that since they were engaged in
Tasbeeh)praising of Allaah(, they would not have to strive for their
subsistence? Of course not! So praised is Allaah Who inspired the
birds to set forth to seek provisions for themselves and fortheir
little ones. Praised is He Who taught them Tawakkul so they would not
expect provision but from Him.
Tawakkul of Lady Maryam:
Let me bring you back to the world of mankind to put before you an
ultimate example of Tawakkul. This is the story of an expectant mother
who retired with her conceived baby to a remote area. The pains of
childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree. She was alone with
no one to attend her. She was hungry, thirsty. She cried:"And the
pains of childbirth droveher to the trunk of a palm tree. She said,
"Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion,
forgotten."]Quran 19:23[
But a voice cried to her from beneath the palm-tree:"But he called her
from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a
stream."]Quran 19:24[ She knew now thatAllaah would deliver her from
herhunger and thirst and release thepain of her pangs. But the Most
High wanted her to initiate an action to benefit from Allaah's
provisions:"And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will
drop upon you ripe, fresh dates."]Quran 19:25[ Now that she fulfilled
the physical part of her duties - by shaking the tree, she had to
fulfill the spiritual part– relying on Allaah for deliverance.
Allaah's help was prompt: the fresh dates were now falling upon
her:"So eat anddrink and be contented..."]Quran 19:26[
This is the story of Maryam)Mary( whom Allaah has destined to be the
mother of Prophet 'Eesaa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt their mention. And
when she conceived her baby and entered the pains of childbirth with
no one to attend her; when she got hungry and thirsty with no
visiblehelp for food and drink; when she became weak and anguished;she
was asked to shake a palm-tree for her provision.
A weak, tired, hungry and thirsty woman shaking a strong, deeply
rooted palm-tree. Could not Allaah send with Jibreel )Angel Gabriel(
enough food and drink for her? Could not Allaah send down from the
heavens a ready-to-eat plate of dates? Or could not Allaah say to the
dates 'fall upon Mary!', upon which they would? After all, is not
Allaah the only One Who, when He wills a thing, only says to it, "Be"
- and itis? Yes, He Almighty is! But Allaah's way is that the effort
hasto be made, and the reliance has to be complete; the Tawakkul hasto
be fulfilled.
These were some examples of Allaah's creatures putting their trust in
Him. The wisest course for us, therefore, is to follow their example.
So let us use all lawful means and exert reasonable effort to secure
our needs, and let us remain faithful to Allaah by putting all our
affairsin His Hands and hope and expectfor the best outcome. Let us
say like the early believers said, as Allaah informs us in the Quran
Saying )what means(:"Say, "He is the Most Merciful; we have believed
in Him, and upon Him we have relied…"]Quran 67:29[ Allaah also Says
)what means(:"And rely upon Allaah; and sufficient is Allaah as
Disposer of affairs."]Quran 33:3[
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