The ruling on saying "I have placed my reliance on Allah, and then on you"

Question:
The questioner: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah reward you, and may He guide you, and may He keep your steps firm upon good and truth. What is the ruling on the statement, “I place my reliance on Allah, and then on him”? Because I heard some of the brothers say that it is not permissible, and that it is shirk (associating partners with Allah). For tawakkul (reliance upon Allah) is an act of worship, and it is not permissible to direct it to anyone other than Allah. For example, saying, “I prostrated to Allah, and then to you,” or “I prayed to Allah, and then to you.” Is the statement of this person correct or not? We ask you to inform us of this. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
Yes, his statement is correct. “I place my reliance on Allah, and then on so-and-so” is not permissible. Tawakkul is an act of worship, and it is not permissible to direct it to anyone other than Allah. But you may say, “I appointed so-and-so as my agent to buy this for me,” which is agency (wakalah), not tawakkul. Tawakkul on Allah, because the meaning of tawakkul is seeking the realization of the intended goal and the completion of the matter, and this is only from Allah. As for agency, its meaning is representation. He represents you in buying something, or in selling something on your behalf. You say, “So-and-so,” meaning me, and above that, there is no harm in it. As for “I placed my reliance on you” or “I did not place my reliance on Allah, but on you,” that is not permissible. Yes.