At-Tawakkul: Reliance on Allaah – I

Allaah the Most High has created us of the best stature and granted us
many abilities so that we may look after our needs and those of our
relatives and fellow Muslims. He Almighty has invited us to explore
the earth and use itfor our subsistence. Allaah Sayas what means:"It
is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and
eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection."]Quran 67:15[
Yet Allaah Almighty has made it clear in this very verse, as well as
in other verses, that had He not made this earth manageable to us, we
would not be able to explore it nor benefit from it.
The Chapter Al-Mulk is actually a yardstick for understanding
Tawakkul. It starts and finishes with the same message: To Allaah
belong all that is in the universe and nothing would happen without
His Mercy and Hisconstant watchful care. He Almighty Says in the first
verse what meand:"Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion, and He is
over all things competent."He Almighty then Says in the last verse
what means:"Say, "Have you considered: if your water wasto become
sunken ]into the earth[, then who could bring you flowing
water?"]Quran 67 :30[
Yes, we can surely explore the earth, look for regions holding water
and successfully discover fountain sources and streams. But without
Allaah's permission and facilitation, we will not be able to reach
this water. Furthermore, what would happen if - all of a sudden -
Allaahmade the sources and springs of our water supply to disappear in
the deep undergrounds of the earth. Blessed and Glorified is He! No
one will bring it back but He.
There is a meaningful touch in the verse mentioned earlier. Allaah
Says what means:"…so walk among its slopes…"Then Hesaid"...and eat of
His provision."So Allaah is telling us that thoughyou are encouraged
to strive and work hard, what you produce is not yours; what you earn
is not yours. Rather, your production, your earnings and all your
subsistence comes from Allaah. He made it available to you out ofHis
Mercy and care for you. Hence,if Allaah wills, your work and efforts
will be fruitless.
Similar verses where Allaah ascribes subsistence solely to Himare
found in many places in the Quran. Allaah Says what means:"...So seek
from Allaah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him
you will be returned."]Quran 29:17[
Those who misunderstood the Plan of Allaah and His Wisdom have felt
confused by this double command of Allaah - to strive andwork on the
one hand, and rely on Allaah to make the actions possible and goals
attainable, on the other. Initially, this question was presented
before the Prophet. The companions asked: Should we quit working and
rely on Al-Qadar )Allaah's predetermined decree(? The
Prophetanswered:"You should initiate and do things. Everyone shall be
facilitated towards that for which he was created."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[ Consequently, the Companions of the Prophetmoved on and
initiated righteousdeeds while putting their trust inAllaah.
The work that we are referring tois not that of the acts of
worship)Prayer, Zakaah, Fasting, Hajj, etc(.Rather, it is the work
pertaining to our subsistence. Furthermore, we do not refer to
Haraam)forbidden( work and Haraam subsistence. It is the
Halaal)permissible( work and the Halaallivelihood that we are
concerned about, for it is more tempting to the believer. What are the
guidelines and limits of the Halaalwork? How much dedication do we
give it? Do we attribute the source of subsistence to our work or to
Allaah's bounties? Anddo we associate the loss and deprivation of
wealth, health andsuccess with our loss of job, or with Allaah's
universal plan?
Islam is a dynamic religion. Not only does it not condone passiveness,
but also, it strongly rejects laziness and dependency on others. The
Prophetsaid:"Begging is forbidden except when there is great debt,
suffering, injury, or abasing poverty."]Abu Daawood and Al-Bayhaqi[
Healso said:"It is much better for one of you to take his rope and go
to chop some wood )for his livelihood( than to beg from people,
whether they give him anything or deny him."]Al-Bukhaari[
The Prophet himself sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam worked hard for his
living. He spent his boyhood as a shepherd and took to trade in
manhood. Hecarried people's goods to Syria and otherplaces and shared
the profits with them. Heused to constantly seek refuge with Allaah
from laziness as reported by Zayed Ibn Arqam:"O Allaah! I seek refuge
in You from incapacity, from laziness, from cowardice, from
miserliness, from ineptitude and from the torment of the
grave..."]Muslim[
However though we might strive hard to secure our livelihood, we
should not attribute our achievements solely in the work we do, but to
Allaah. We should not put our reliance on our work,our possessions,
our wealth, our position, etc. Neither should we rely on our manager,
our employer, our friends, or our families. The only one on Whom we
should rely is Allaah. He Almighty Says what means:"...And rely upon
the Ever-Living who does not die, and exalt]Allaah[ with His praise.
And sufficient is He to be, with the sins of His servants,
Acquainted."]Quran 25:58[
Whoever attaches his/her heart to his job, or to his/her employer or
to any created beings in order for them to provide him/her
withsustenance or to make him/her prosperous and successful, and so
on, he/she has submitted to them. And the more one relies onthe
created beings, the weaker becomes one's submission to Allaah.
Hence as much as Allaah wants from us to initiate actions and seek and
use all permissible means to secure our needs and those of our
families, He also wants us not to depend on these means as the source
of our sustenance. This is the genuine understanding of Tawakkul.
Deviant groups on Tawakkul:
Those who deviated from the right concept of Tawakkul have fallen into
two extremes. The first group of people are those, attracted by the
temptations of this world, and have gone so far as to forget their
relationship with Allaah. Their heart has become so attracted to these
temptations that they became subservient to their desires. Such people
have become - knowingly or unknowingly - slaves of their own desires.
They will ultimately claim that all their achievements are but the
result of their own work and that Allaah had no involvement
whatsoever. They donot rely on Allaah. Allaah Says what means:"Then,
have you seen he who disbelieved in Our verses and said, 'I will
surely be given wealth and children ]in the next life[?' Has he looked
into theunseen, or has he taken from the Most Merciful a
promise?"]Quran 19:77-78[ This type of man who rejects Allaah and
denies His bounties regards himself as "self-sufficient" and thus,
cannot be expected to rely on Allaah.
The second group of people are those who understood the reliance on
Allaah as meaning to completely break away from all mundane affairs.
They regarded piety and the pursuit of any material interests as
contradictory. For them, reliance on Allaah would mean not to take any
initiatives for securing one's subsistence. Consequently, they
renounce the world and retire themselves to remote areas or secluded
spots and cut themselves from daily life!
Both of these two groups have not understood the meaning of Tawakkul
according to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Prophet. Had
they attemptedto understand the Book of Allaah,according to the
understanding and implementation of the Prophetand his honorable
companions, they would have found that Tawakkul is far removed from
how they conceived it. Through the instinctive behavior of some of His
creatures and the sublime conduct of His Prophets may Allaah exalt
their mention and righteous slaves, Allaah has set out in His Book the
genuine Tawakkul.

At-Tawakkul: Reliance on Allaah – II

Tawakkul of the bee:
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[

Fascination with this world

The life of this world is fleeting and is often focused on materialism
– it is so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of it all – but how
does that affect ourfaith?
We all love this life to some extent or another – our homes, our cars,
and most of all our family – but what we do not know is just how much
of a corruption it can be to our souls when we place so much
importance on material things in this life and loving the life of this
world. Read on, what you will find may change your entire outlook on
how you live your life and what is really important…
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyimsaid:
Loving this life is the father of sins which corrupts the Muslim's
faith in different ways:
1.Loving this life entails glorifying it, whereas Allaah Almighty has
despised it. One of the greatest sins is glorifying what Allaah
Almighty has despised.
2.Allaah Almighty has cursed it, detested it, and poured scorn on it,
with the exception of the goodthings in it such as remembering Allaah,
seeking knowledge, and spreading it. Whoever loves whatAllaah Almighty
has cursed and hated will expose himself/ herselfto Allaah's wrath and
detestation.
3.When someone loves this life, it becomes his/her ultimate goal.
Accordingly, the good deeds he/she performs will eventually be for the
sake of this life; and not the Hereafter. That type of love reverses
the natural process,invalidates the conventional wisdom, and moves the
lover in the wrong direction. In an authentic hadeeth, the
Prophetmentioned that the Mujahid)fighter(, the alms giver, and the
scholar of Islam whose ultimate goal is this life, seeking an elevated
social status and lookingfor people's praise, will be the first to be
burned into the Hellfire. Those people prefer this life to the
hereafter.
4.Loving this life prevents the servant from doing what will be of
great benefit to him/her in theHereafter because of obsession with
mundane matters such as money, social status, wife, or children. That
type of worldly love might keep a person away from maintaining Imaan
)Faith(, or doing the necessary things in life. The minimal adverse
effect ofloving this life is making the servant's heart oblivious to
lovingAllaah Almighty.
5.Loving this life makes the servant obsessed with it. Anasnarrated
that the Messenger of Allaahsaid:"He whose ultimate goal is the
Hereafter willbe endowed with richness in their hearts by Allaah, will
be granted a close-knit, protected familial environment, and will gain
as much as they want from this life despite its unwillingness.On the
contrary, Allaah will make those who are obsessed with thislife see
poverty in front of their eyes and break up their family ties, and
they will not gain from it except what they have been destined
for."]At-Tirmithi[
6.When someone loves something, he/she is tortured by that type of
love. Additionally, those who love this life are tortured as they try
to gain as much as they can from it, as they hanker after its
pleasures, and as they fight other people for its sake. Then, they
will be tortured in their graves missing it and suffering the agony of
not being able to go back to it. There will be no such better thing
that will compensate for the life they haveseemingly enjoyed. They
will be tortured by this life since they have been its servants and
captives which is depicted by the Prophet"Losers are the servants of
the Dinaar; losers are the servants of the Dirham,"referring to money.
Some scholars of Islam from the past generations said, "They )lovers
of this life( suffer the agony of collecting money and their love
towards money continues till the moment of breathing their last. They
are not even paying the amount of money that Allaah hasprescribed."
7.Whoever loves this life and prefers it to the hereafter is
considered one of the most ignorant and unwise people. He/she has
preferred the unreal to the real, slumber to wakefulness, and a
perishable house to an ever-lasting one. Yunus Ibn Abdul
Aa'lasaid,"This life can be compared to a man who sleeps and dreams of
what he likes and hates. Then, hewakes up."'Ali, may Allah be pleased
with him, described this life saying,"In this life, the healthy grow
old, the sick become penitent, the poor feel sad, and the nouveaux
riche are happy. The appraisal is in itspermissible practices, and the
punishment is in its forbidden practices."

Dought & clear - Should they pray Taraweeh in the mosque even though the people there insist on some innovations?

We have a problem withsome of the common folk because when the imam
says the salaam at the end of two rak'ahs of qiyaam [Taraweeh], they
raise their voices insaying tasbeeh ("Subhaan Allaah wa bi hamdihi
Subhaan Allaahal-'Azeem/Glory and praise be to Allah, glory to Allah
the Almighty"), and they do this between each two rak'ahs until the
imam finishes the prayer, thenthey all recite a certain du'aa' and a
certain wird. Some of the brothers have tried to inform the people,
adhering in that to wisdom and gentleness, and quoting evidence from
the Qur'aan and Sunnah that this action of theirs is contrary to the
Sunnah and that it isnot the way of the Salaf.But they did not respond
to the truth and they persisted in that. What should we do? Should we
leave them or should we stay with them and remind them from time to
time?Please note that they are insisting on their action and the
matter is getting very serious, as many people have stopped praying
Taraweeh in the mosques on the grounds that it is Sunnah accompanied
bybid'ah and that wardingoff bad things takes precedence over doing
good things. Please advise us, may Allah preserve you.
Praise be to Allaah.
In the answer to question number 50718, we stated that what some
people do of reciting dhikr in unison after every two rak'ahs of
Taraweeh is an innovation which was not done by the Messenger
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or by any of his
Companions.
You have done well to teach the people the Sunnah and denounce
innovation. What they should have done is return to the teaching ofthe
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), which is the best
and most perfect of guidance.
You should continue to pray with them and call them to the Sunnah,
andyou will find, with Allaah's help, some who accept the truth and
are keen to follow it, even if others reject it."But if these
disbelieve therein (the Book, Al-Hukm and Prophethood), then, indeed
We have entrusted it to a people (such as the Companions of Prophet
Muhammadصلى الله عليه وسلم( whoare not disbelievers therein"
]al-An'aam 6:89[.
But if you find that the people in the mosque are stubborn and
arrogant and reject the truth, then if you can pray in another mosque
where the people are keen to follow the Sunnah and to avoid
innovation, that is better. But if that is not possible, then your
praying in this mosque isgood, and you have done what is required
ofyou and perhaps they will be guided."(The preachers) said: 'In
orderto be free from guilt before your Lord (Allaah), and perhaps they
may fear Allaah'" [al-A'raaf 7:164].
If the followers of the Sunnah were to forsake the mosque because of
such innovations, that would be a cause of innovation increasing and
becoming more widespread, and it would lead to the Sunnah being erased
and dying out. So you have to pray in the mosque and explain the
Sunnah to the people, adhering in that to the advice of the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) to bekind and gentle to the
one who is ignorant.
May Allah help you to do all that is good.
And Allah knows best.