Arsalan Majeed

All praise is for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala alone. We praise him. We ask for his help. We beg for his forgiveness. We seek refuge and protection with Allah from the evil whispers within ourselves and the evil consequences of our sins. Whoever Allah guides, there is no one that can misguide him. And whoever Allah misguides, then no one can guide him back to the truth. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, the one without any partners and associates. And I bear witness that Muhammad, peace be upon him, is his most perfect worshipper and final messenger sent to all of mankind.

Dear brothers and sisters, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in his honorable book: O believers, be mindful of Allah as is his due and do not die except in a state of submission to him.

O people, be mindful of your Lord who created you from one soul. And from this soul, he created its mate. And from the two of them, he spread countless men and women far and wide. Be mindful of Allah, the one in whose name you demand your rights and make requests from one another. Be aware of severing and cutting off the ties of kinship. Indeed, Allah is always watchful over you.

O believers, be mindful of Allah. Speak truthfully, justly, and with good purpose. He will rectify and bless your works and forgive your sins. For whoever obeys Allah and his messenger has achieved the greatest of all achievements.

The most truthful of speech is the book of Allah and the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace be upon him. And the worst of affairs attributed to the religion are those that are introduced into it and do not have any basis in it. Every such affair is innovation. Every innovation is misguidance which leads to the hellfire which we seek refuge in Allah from.

The Example of Tawakkul from the Cave

Dear brothers and sisters, when the Prophet, peace be upon him, was migrating with Abu Bakr from Mecca to Medina in the 14th year after the prophethood, his enemies were in hot pursuit after him. And during this migration, the Prophet, peace be upon him, and Abu Bakr, they hid in a cave hoping to evade the enemies and hoping that their enemies would not find them. But lo and behold, while they were hiding inside of this cave, the enemies came and they stood right on top of the cave, on a ledge right above the cave.

To the extent that if one of the enemies simply looked down, they would see the Prophet, peace be upon him, and they would see Abu Bakr hiding in this cave. And Abu Bakr, he was very apprehensive in this precarious situation. And he said to the Prophet, peace be upon him:

He said that if one of them is simply to look down below his feet, he would see both of us hiding inside this cave. And so the Prophet, peace be upon him, noticed this apprehension of Abu Bakr. And he reassured him saying:

He said, O Abu Bakr, what do you think about two people, the third amongst them is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala mentioned this event in the Qur'an. He says:

When both of them, they were hiding in the cave and one companion said to the other, لا تحزن, don't grieve, don't be afraid, إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا Allah is with us. And Imam al-Nawawi, the great scholar, he said regarding this event, he said, this story shows us the great تَوَكُّل or the reliance of the Prophet, peace be upon him, in such a difficult and precarious situation.

What is Tawakkul?

And dear brothers and sisters, this is my topic today, the topic of تَوَكُّل and reliance on Allah. What does it mean to have تَوَكُّل? What is تَوَكُّل? And what does it mean to have تَوَكُّل on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala?

The word تَوَكُّل linguistically means simply to rely on someone else in any affair or any matter. And it comes from the word وَكِلَ which means to delegate an affair to someone else and to rely upon them for fulfilling it. For our purposes, تَوَكُّل on Allah refers to delegating one's needs, one's goals, one's matters to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. To completely hope and rely on Him to fulfill these matters for the person while exhausting one's full efforts in trying to achieve these goals and matters.

Three Parts of True Tawakkul

So notice dear brothers and sisters, I mentioned three parts to this definition, or three parts to true تَوَكُّل, true reliance on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. The first is to delegate your affairs, to delegate your matters, whatever is important to you in life to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. In other words, to internally accept that Allah is the one who is taking care of these affairs and He's fully capable of taking care of these affairs in such a way that it's perfect according to His infinite wisdom and mercy. This is the first part.

The second part is to completely hope on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and to rely on Him alone for the fulfillment of these affairs and for the fulfillment of these matters with good outcomes.

Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah, he says a beautiful statement regarding تَوَكُّل. He says, true تَوَكُّل is to rely on Allah alone for fulfillment of one's matters. Taking the necessary means, in other words, exhausting one's efforts to achieve these goals does not negate تَوَكُّل. People can say, I have تَوَكُّل on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala but they don't take any means, they don't strive for their goals and this is not true تَوَكُّل.

Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah says:

He says, saying تَوَكُّل, in other words, giving lip service to تَوَكُّل is one thing, having true تَوَكُّل with your heart, reliance on Allah is something completely separate.

Imam Ahmad rahimahullah, he said, may Allah have mercy on him, he said:

He said, reliance on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala or depending on Him is the action of one's heart. In other words, it is not a statement that we say with our tongues, it is not something that we can show to other people with our limbs, rather it is something that you internally have, it's a connection with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, you rely on Him for fulfillment of your desires and for fulfillment of your goals and a way out of every difficulty.

Finally, dear brothers and sisters, the last part of this definition which I mentioned was to exhaust one's full efforts in trying to achieve these goals. While a person does not depend on these efforts, a person does not depend on his own efforts, he does not depend on his own hard work, rather he depends on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala while taking the full means.

Taking the Means is Part of Tawakkul

In fact, true تَوَكُّل means taking the appropriate means, whether they be financial, whether they be medical, such as taking medications if a person is sick, or they be logistical or any of these to achieve one's goals. And Ibn Qayyim again he says, the people of knowledge have consensus that true تَوَكُّل does not negate the necessary means to fulfill one's goal. In fact, true تَوَكُّل is not valid, true reliance on Allah is not valid until a person takes the necessary means.

When we look at the Prophet peace be upon him's life, and when we look at the blessed sunnah, we see that the Prophet peace be upon him was the person who had the greatest تَوَكُّل on Allah, yet he would take the full means to achieve whatever goals he sought. So for example, when we look in the battle of Uhud, when it was decided that the Muslims they would leave the city and go to a different place to fight the enemies, what did the Prophet peace be upon him do? He wore two coats of armor instead of one coat of armor like the rest of the fighters. And this is him having the greatest تَوَكُّل on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, he is taking the highest level of precaution. And he is wearing two coats of armor.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2517)

We know a well-known hadith regarding تَوَكُّل, many of us have heard this hadith. Anas ibn Malik rahimahullah, he mentions that a man came to the Prophet peace be upon him, and he said to him, O messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and trust in Allah? Or should I leave my camel untied and then trust in Allah? And so the Prophet peace be upon him said to him, he gave him a golden piece of advice, he said, tie your camel and then put your trust in Allah.

In other words, take full efforts, exhaust your means, and then put your trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Do the legwork and then let go. Put in your full effort and leave the results to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. He is the one who will decide the outcome. And a person should not worry about the outcome, even though it is our nature to worry about the outcome. Because Allah is the one who is going to decide the outcome.

In another hadith, dear brothers and sisters, we learn from Ibn Abbas regarding the ayah:

Why this ayah was revealed? Ibn Abbas says, a hadith recorded by Imam Al-Bukhari rahimahullah, he says, the people of Yemen, they would come to Mecca to perform hajj, and they would not bring any provisions with them. They would not bring any food with them. Because they would say:

They would say that we are a people who rely on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, this is why we don't need to bring provisions with us. We don't need to bring food with us. And what would happen is that when they would arrive in Mecca, or they would arrive in Medina, they would end up begging the people for food and for money. And so Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala revealed this ayah: Take provisions for you when you set out for the journey of hajj, and the best of provisions is consciousness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in one's life.

In fact, dear brothers and sisters, not taking the means and claiming to simply rely on Allah is not called تَوَكُّل in Arabic, it is called تَوَاكُل, which is a fake type of تَوَكُّل.

Tawakkul in the Quran

So again, to recap, there are three parts to تَوَكُّل. True تَوَكُّل are reliance on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. The first is to delegate one's affairs to Allah. In other words, to internally accept that Allah is the one who can fulfill and take care of these affairs and these matters and these goals. Number two, to have your complete reliance and hope on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala alone. Not on one's effort, not on someone else from the creation, but only on Allah to fulfill these goals. And finally, number three is to exhaust one's full efforts in achieving one's goals, which is true تَوَكُّل, to strive hard in achieving one's goals, and not simply to claim and give lip service to تَوَكُّل by saying, I rely on Allah.

What does the Quran say about تَوَكُّل, dear brothers and sisters? Many many ayat, they mention تَوَكُّل. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Quran:

And upon Allah put your تَوَكُّل if you truly are believers. Allah makes it a conditional statement for a person's iman. He says, if you're a true believer, put your تَوَكُّل only on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

In another ayah, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says:

He says, put your تَوَكُّل on the one who is ever living and never dies. Subhanallah, if you look at this ayah and ponder over it, Allah didn't say, وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ Allah didn't say, وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الرَّحْمَانِ Or عَلَى الرَّزَّاقِ He didn't mention a name of his, but he mentioned a beautiful quality. He says, عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ On the one who is always living and never dies. Because the entire creation is susceptible to death, except Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala alone. So the way the ayah is worded is very eloquent. It's saying, put your تَوَكُّل only on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

Second Khutbah

I begin the second khutbah in the name of Allah, the most compassionate, the most merciful. All praises are for Allah, the Lord of all creation. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, the leader of the prophets and messengers, upon his family, companions, and all those who follow them in excellence till the day of judgment.

Dear brothers and sisters, Allah says in his book: O believers, be mindful of Allah as is his due, and do not die except in a state of submission to him.

Benefits of Tawakkul

Continuing our topic of تَوَكُّل, what are the benefits of تَوَكُّل that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has mentioned in the Quran? Recall the story I mentioned in the beginning of the khutbah. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says that two people were hiding in the cave, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, said to his companion Abu Bakr:

And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says after this:

Allah says that when they showed this reliance and تَوَكُّل on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Allah sent down his tranquility upon them. And this is one of the benefits of تَوَكُّل, is that relying on Allah, depending on him alone, gives tranquility, comfort, and a sense of surety and confidence in one's heart. Because a person believes and understands that only Allah is taking care of my affairs. And only Allah is capable of making the best outcome of these affairs.

A person who truly relies on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, he finds contentment in his heart when people are discontented. He finds security and safety and happiness in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala when people fear other than him. Just like Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala granted these qualities to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and to Abu Bakr when they were hiding in the cave in such a dangerous situation.

Among the benefits of تَوَكُّل, dear brothers and sisters, Allah has promised that whoever places his تَوَكُّل on him, Allah will be sufficient for him. Whoever places his تَوَكُّل on Allah, his reliance and dependence on Allah, Allah will be sufficient for him. Allah will take care of his affairs, and Allah is enough for deciding the best outcome of these matters.

Among the benefits, dear brothers and sisters, Allah tells his Prophet that after you have resolved to do something, then place your تَوَكُّل in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And then at the end of the ayah, Allah gives something to the people of تَوَكُّل. He says: Indeed, Allah loves the people of تَوَكُّل. Allah shows his love for the people of تَوَكُّل when they rely on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala alone, and they don't rely on anyone else for the fulfillment of these needs.

Among the benefits is that true تَوَكُّل in Allah gives one a sense of hope in times of difficulty. Because one knows that Allah is the one who is taking care of these affairs and managing them. When a person truly relies on Allah, this gives him a sense of confidence that since Allah is taking care of my affairs, inshallah, the outcome of these affairs will always be good and Allah will not let my efforts be wasted. Every cloud does have a silver lining for such a person.

And Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala promises five things in one surah for a person who shows تَوَكُّل and consciousness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in his life. Allah says: Whoever is conscious of Allah, Allah will always make a way out of every difficulty for such a person. And He will grant him sustenance from avenues he cannot even imagine. And whoever is conscious of Allah, Allah will make his affairs easy. The fourth and fifth promise is that whoever is conscious of Allah, Allah will forgive his sins, and He will magnify and increase his reward. And part of consciousness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, part of taqwa, is to have تَوَكُّل in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala alone.

Allah says that those worshippers of His who believe in Him, and truly place their تَوَكُّل in Him, Satan has no authority and power over him. Allah says that the people who place their تَوَكُّل in Allah, that Satan has no authority over them. And one of the meanings of this ayah is Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned in Zad al-Masir, he says that they will not fall into any sin. In other words, Allah will protect them from any sin that won't be forgiven.

Tawakkul in the Sunnah

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2344)

When we look at the sunnah, dear brothers and sisters, the Prophet, peace be upon him, gave us guidance regarding تَوَكُّل also. He mentioned that if you truly have تَوَكُّل in Allah as is His due, then you will be given sustenance provision like the birds. They set out in the morning with their bellies empty, and they return at night with their bellies full. In other words, the Prophet, peace be upon him, is telling us in this hadith that if you have true تَوَكُّل in Allah, you will know that your sustenance is guaranteed by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, and you will always get it.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 220)

As the Prophet, peace be upon him, said in another hadith, that a servant, a person will never die until he reaches the end of his sustenance. In other words, he has consumed all the sustenance that Allah has decreed for him in this world. Amongst the benefits of تَوَكُّل which we see, the Prophet, peace be upon him, told us is that a large number of people in this ummah, they will enter paradise without any accountability. And the Prophet, peace be upon him, mentioned a number of qualities of these people. This hadith is recorded by Imam Muslim. Imran ibn Hussain says that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said that 70,000 of my ummah will enter Jannah without any hisab, any accountability. And then he mentioned a number of qualities. And then the final quality he mentioned for them, that is a comprehensive quality that covers all the previous qualities. He said: They place their trust only in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. They have a true reliance in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in whatever they do in life.

And finally, the Prophet, peace be upon him, taught us that when leaving the house, one should verbally express his تَوَكُّل on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said that when a man goes out of his house and says: In the name of Allah, upon Allah I place my تَوَكُّل or in Allah I place my تَوَكُّل or my reliance or dependence. There is no might or power except in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. It is said to him, you are guided, you are defended and you are protected. In other words, when a person leaves his house saying these words, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala gives his guidance, his protection and his guidance and protection for such a person.

And finally the Prophet, peace be upon him, also said that when a person enters his house, he should again verbally express his تَوَكُّل in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. These are two duas that we as Muslims we should incorporate in our life. That when leaving the house we should say this, and when entering the house we should also say this, as this is from the sunnah of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

I ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that he makes us amongst the people of تَوَكُّل, he makes us amongst those people that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala loves, and he grants us his blessings in the dunya and in the akhirah.