By Haroon Balogun

Tawakkul refers to having unflinching trust in Allah – to believe that He alone can ward off harms against you, provide you with blessings and sustenance, and to ease your challenges.

Tawakkul is also about accepting the results that He decides regardless of how they may turn out in lfe.

To understand the concept of Tawakkul, consider how tensed and worried you get at times about the challenges of this worldly life. Whether it’s you worrying about losing your job or sustenance, or about your wife not able to conceive, or certain adversity of life that you are currently facing.

Tawakkul is your belief and the attitude that you have about putting your hope and trust in Allah with the believe that He will take care of all your affairs.

Allah (SWT ), says: …And whoever places his trust in Allah, Sufficient is He for him, for Allah will surely accomplish His Purpose: For verily, Allah has appointed for all things a due proportion. (Qur’an 65:3)

Act of physical worship

The Quran makes it clear that Tawakkul is not an option but rather a requirement. Allah (may He be Exalted) says: “…and put your trust in Allâh if you are believers indeed. (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 23)

He also says in the Quran: “….And in Allah let believers put their Trust” [Surah Ibrahim 14:11]

But you dont just have to give up on your efforts and prayers. This particular idea shouldn’t be mistaken with giving up your efforts and thinking that somehow your challenges will get resolved. You just have to continue to strive and work with the attitude that Allah will take care of your affairs and will help you in getting through your trials.

Remember that Allah Almighty has decreed that we should work and it is from His ways that he gives people when they strive. This is having the Tawakkul in Allah.

In fact, Allah Almighty ordered us to both depend upon Him and to work, to take the necessary steps needed towards achieving our goals.

It should also be noted that the act of striving for our sustenance is an act of physical worship in itself while trusting and depending upon Allah is faith in Him.

Allah says: “…So seek provision from Allah and worship Him (alone).” (Al-‘Ankaboot 29: 17)

So, a Muslim should also combine Tawakkul with other acts of Ibadah (worship) like Du`a’ (supplication), Salah (Prayer), Ihsan, goodness even to people who wronged you; Sadaqah (voluntary charity) or maintaining the ties of kinship among others.

Allah (SWT), also says in the Quran: (There were] those to whom people said: “The people are gathering against you, so fear them.” But it only increased their faith; they said: “For us Allah is Sufficient and He is the best Disposer of affairs” (Qur’an 3:173)

Benefits of Tawakkul

One of the major benefits of Tawakkul is that it can relieve us from unnecessary anxieties, worries, and negative impact of depression from the challenges that we may be facing.

By believing that all our affairs are in Allah’s hands and we can do only what is in our control, we leave the results to Allah and accept His decree whatever it may be. That is faith. Again, the faith of human being can be known from where his trust lies. (imani-l-mariu yurafu bi-amanatihi)

Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali said, “the fruit of tawakkul is the acceptance of Allah’s decree. Whoever leaves his affairs to Allah and then is accepting of what he is given has truly relied on Allah.

Al-Hassan and others among the salaf defined tawakkul as ridhaa (acceptance).” (Jami’ Al-‘Uloom wa Al-Hikam : A Commentary on 50 Major Hadith)

Let’s strive to understand the concept of Tawakkul and to make it part of our belief systems. By doing that, things will not only get resolved easier with His help, we will also be be relieved from the day to day anxieties and worries associated with the challenges of life.