Does taking means contradict reliance upon Allah?

Question:
Among the questions we received, Honorable Shaykh, is this: Does taking means in our time contradict perfect reliance upon Allah?

Answer:
No, this is what Allah has commanded, and it does not contradict reliance upon Allah. One must rely upon Allah while taking means. One should not depend on the means and abandon reliance upon Allah, for that is shirk (associating partners with Allah). Nor should one rely upon Allah and abandon the means, for that is negligence and failure. Allah the Exalted has commanded taking means along with reliance upon Him, Blessed and Exalted is He. Yes.