Tawakkul Upon Allah(swt)

“So at this point, the people are divided into four categories:

A group who look towards the orders and prohibitions, and towards obedience; bearing witness to the Ilaahiyyah (right to be worshipped) of the Rabb – free is He from all imperfections – the One that they have been ordered to worship; and they do not look towards al-Qadhaa and al-Qadr (the decree and predestination) and towards at-Tawakkul (reliance) and al-Isti’aanah (seeking aid and assistance). And this is the situation of many of the Mutafaqqihah (scholars) and the Muta’abbidah (worshippers). So these people, despite the goodness of their intention and their honoring of the Hurumaat (sacred/forbidden things) of Allaah and His symbols, they are overcome by weakness, incapacity and disappointment. This is because al-Isti’aanah (seeking aid and assistance) from Allaah, at-Tawakkul (reliance/trust) upon Allaah, seeking refuge in Him and making du’aa to Him – this is what strengthens the ‘abd (servant) and makes the affairs easy upon him.

And this is why some of the Salaf have said: “Whoever is pleased that he should be the strongest of the people then let him place his tawakkul (reliance) upon Allaah” And in the two Saheehs from Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr that the description of the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam in the Tauraat (is as follows): ‘We have sent you as a witness, a bearer of glad tidings, a warner and as a protection for the unlettered ones. You are my slave and my Messenger, I have named you al-Mutawakkil (the one who places his reliance upon Allaah). You are neither severe nor harsh-hearted and you don’t do not make a clamor (noise) in the markets. And he does not return evil with evil, rather he returns evil with good, and he overlooks and forgives. And I will not take his soul until I correct by him a crooked people; so by him I will open eyes that are blind, ears that are deaf and hearts that are covered, due to their saying “Laa ilaaha illAllaah” (There is no god worthy of worship except Allaah)’

And this is why it has been narrated that the only reason why the bearers of the ‘Arsh (Throne of Allaah) were able to bear the lifting of the Arsh is due to their saying: “Laa haula walaa quwwata illaa billaah” (There is no power and no strength except with Allaah). And it has been confirmed in the two Saheehs that the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Verily it (the statement ‘Laa haula walaa quwwata illaa billaah’) is a treasure from the treasures of Jannah”. He, The Most High said: “And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him”. And He, The Most High said: “Those (i.e, believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, ‘Verily the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore fear them.’ But it (only) increased them in Eemaan, and they said: ‘Allaah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)’. So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allaah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good pleasure of Allaah. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty. It is only Shaytaan that suggests to you the fear of his Auliyaa’ [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah and in His Messenger, Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam]; so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.” And it is recorded in Saheeh al-Bukhaari from Ibn Abbaas radhiyallaahu ‘anhu regarding Allaah’s statement: “and they said: ‘Allaah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)’” – that Ibraaheem the Khaleel of Allaah alaihi assalaam said it when he was thrown into the fire, and Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam said it when the people said to them: “Verily the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army).”

And Shaykhul Islaam continued saying:
“The second category: Those who bear witness to the Ruboobiyyah of Allaah and their poverty towards Him, and they seek aid and assistance from Him; but they do this according to their whims and fancies, not considering the reality of His orders and prohibitions, nor His Pleasure, Anger and Love. And this is the condition of many of the Muftaqirah and the Mutasawwifah (Soofees)……..”

And he rahimahullaah continued: “As for the third category: And this is the one who turns away from the worship of Allaah and seeking aid and assistance from Him. So this is the worst of all categories.

The fourth category: This is the praiseworthy category and this is the condition of those who have actualized (the statement of Allaah) “You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)” and His statement “So worship Him (O Muhammad sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) and put your trust in Him”, so they sought aid and assistance from Him in carrying out His obedience, and they bore witness that He is their Ilaah (object of worship/deity), and that it is not allowed to worship anyone except Him, (and this ‘ibaadah is) by obeying Him and obeying His Messenger; and (and they bore witness) that He is their Rabb (Lord), the One who “there is no protector nor intercessor for them besides Him”; and that “Whatever of mercy (i.e. of good), Allaah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it; and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter”, “And if Allaah touches you with harm, there is none who can remove it but He, and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His Favor”, “Say: ‘Tell me then, the things that you invoke besides Allaah – if Allaah intended some harm for me, could they remove His harm? Or if He (Allaah) intended some mercy for me, could they withhold His Mercy?’”

And this is why a group from the scholars have said,
‘To turn completely towards the means is Shirk in Tawheed; to not consider the means as being the means is a defect in the intellect; to turn completely away from the means is to censure the legislation (sharee’ah). And the Tawakkul that we have been ordered with is only that which gathers together the requisites of Tawheed, the intellect and the legislation.’”

[Shaykhul Islaam ibn Taymiyah in “Kitaab Ilm as-Sulook” (Volume 10) of Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (Page 32). Translated by Sayyid Umar ibn Ghulam Muwlaa al-Hindee. Source: SalaiTalk. "Tawakkul"]