Tawakkal (Reliance on Allah)

To have confidence in Allah and entrust everything to Him. Tawakkal has the following grades:

Tawakkal of the pious and moderately religious people is to depend on God with the desire that Allah may fulfill their needs.

Tawakkal of the pious ones (mohsineen) is to leave everything to Allah and be content and happy that God’s Will is done.

Tawakkal of the veracious ones (siddiqin) is to detach from everything other than Allah, forgetting their own selves and remaining engrossed and absorbed in Allah every moment.

Tawakkal of the Muhaqqiqin is that despite being united with Allah they are restless to achieve higher and higher degrees of Union.

Tawakkal is the first step towards ihsam because the lowest degree of ihsam is to realise that Allah Almighty cares for him. Knowing this, it becomes incumbent on man to leave all his affairs to the Will of Allah. Because what god Wills for him, is better than whatever he wills for himself, and it would be foolish to strive against it.

This kind of tawakkal can be adopted only by the mominin (faithful) in accordance with the ayalr.

So put your trust in (Allah) if ye are indeed believers. (Al-Maida, 5:23)

Everyincluding the pious and virtuous have tawakkal, with the hope that Allah will fulfill all their needs according to their requirements. God refers to this attribute in the following ayah:

And whosoever keepeth his duty to

Allah, Allah will appoint a way out for

Him. And will provide for him from (a

Quarter) whence he hath no

Expectation. (Al-Talaq, 65:2,3)

But those who practice tawakkal with the idea that what Allah does is best for them, come under the purview of this ayah:

And whosoever putteth his trust

In Allah. He will suffice him. Lo!

Allah bringeth His command to

Pass. Allah hath set a measure

For all things. (Al-Talaq, 65:3)

And it is a certainty that whatever Allah wills He fulfills. There is a difference between dependence (tawakkal) and submission (tafweez). The former reeks of selfishness while tafweez, is pure sincerity and selflessness.

The tafweez of the beginner is that having entrusted everything to Allah, he does not claim ownership of anything, disclaiming credit for any worthy act nor expect any remuneration for it. While the tafweez of those who are in the final stages (muntabi) is to stop exercising their will and abstain from performing miracles, knowing that it is Allah Almighty whose Will prevails. They do not claim superiority and live in a state of extreme humility, always serving the people and guarding their secrets. Their life style is such that they live with the people (physically) and with God spiritually. In this way there is no difference between tasleem and tafweez.

The difference between tasleem and raza is that tasleem is followed by qaza and raza is preceded by qaza (fate). Qaza means the Will of God. So it is necessary to be content with what God wills but it is not necessary to be pleased with what happens. For instance if a son dies, it is necessary for the father to be content with the Will of God but not necessarily be happy.

The real reason behind contentment with the Will of God Almighty is love for Him. It should not affect happiness or grief, trouble or in comfort, in nearness or distance, in contraction and expansion (qabz or bast), union or separation, ascendance or descendance, life or death. On the contrary every trial from the Beloved and every wound of His sword should breathe fresh air into the soul and a fresh upward thrust in life.