How can a person place his reliance on Allah?
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The questioner : How can a person place his reliance on Allah?
The Shaykh : A person places his reliance on Allah by sincerely depending on his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, knowing that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One in whose hand is all good and the One who manages affairs. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abdullah ibn Abbas:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2516Hasan (Darussalam) With this belief, a person depends on his Lord, Exalted and Majestic is He, and does not turn to anyone other than Him.
However, the reality of tawakkul (reliance upon Allah) does not contradict taking the means that Allah has made causes. In fact, taking the means that Allah has made causes, whether they are religious or physical, is part of the perfection of tawakkul and part of the perfection of faith in the wisdom of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, because Allah the Exalted has made a cause for every thing.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who is the master of those who place their reliance on Allah, used to wear armor in war, protect himself from the cold, and eat and drink to preserve his life and the growth of his body. At Uhud, he was seen between two armors, meaning he wore two armors. Therefore, those who claim that the reality of tawakkul is to leave the means and rely on Allah, Mighty and Majestic, are in fact mistaken. The One who commanded tawakkul has perfect wisdom in His estimation and His legislation, and He has made causes for affairs through which they are achieved.
Therefore, if someone were to say: "I will place my reliance on Allah the Exalted in obtaining sustenance, and I will stay in my house and not seek sustenance," we would say that this is not correct and is not true tawakkul. The One who commanded you to place your reliance on Him is the One who said:[Al-Mulk 67:15].
If someone were to say: "I will place my reliance on Allah in obtaining a child or in obtaining a wife," and did not strive to seek a wife and propose to her, people would consider him a fool, and his action would contradict what the wisdom of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, requires.
If someone were to eat poison and say: "I am placing my reliance on Allah the Exalted that this poison will not harm me," he would not be truly placing his reliance on Allah. The One who commanded us to place our reliance on Him, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who said to us:[An-Nisa 4:29].
The important point is that taking the means that Allah the Exalted has made causes does not contradict the perfection of tawakkul; rather, it is part of its perfection. And exposing oneself to things that cause destruction is not considered a person's reliance on Allah; rather, it is contrary to what Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has commanded.
The Shaykh : A person places his reliance on Allah by sincerely depending on his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, knowing that He, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One in whose hand is all good and the One who manages affairs. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abdullah ibn Abbas:
O boy! I will teach you a statement: Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you.
يا غلام ألا أعلمك كلمات : احفظ الله يحفظك ، احفظ الله تجده تجاهك ، إذا سألت فاسأل الله وإذا استعنت فاستعن بالله واعلم أن الأمة لو اجتمعوا على أن ينفعوك بشيئ لم ينفعوك إلا بشيء قد كتبه الله لك ، وإن اجتمعوا على أن يضروك بشيء لم يضروك إلا بشيء قد كتبه الله عليكHowever, the reality of tawakkul (reliance upon Allah) does not contradict taking the means that Allah has made causes. In fact, taking the means that Allah has made causes, whether they are religious or physical, is part of the perfection of tawakkul and part of the perfection of faith in the wisdom of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, because Allah the Exalted has made a cause for every thing.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who is the master of those who place their reliance on Allah, used to wear armor in war, protect himself from the cold, and eat and drink to preserve his life and the growth of his body. At Uhud, he was seen between two armors, meaning he wore two armors. Therefore, those who claim that the reality of tawakkul is to leave the means and rely on Allah, Mighty and Majestic, are in fact mistaken. The One who commanded tawakkul has perfect wisdom in His estimation and His legislation, and He has made causes for affairs through which they are achieved.
Therefore, if someone were to say: "I will place my reliance on Allah the Exalted in obtaining sustenance, and I will stay in my house and not seek sustenance," we would say that this is not correct and is not true tawakkul. The One who commanded you to place your reliance on Him is the One who said:
It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.
هو الذي جعل في لكم الأرض ذلولاً فامشوا في مناكبها وكلوا من رزقه وإليه النشورIf someone were to say: "I will place my reliance on Allah in obtaining a child or in obtaining a wife," and did not strive to seek a wife and propose to her, people would consider him a fool, and his action would contradict what the wisdom of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, requires.
If someone were to eat poison and say: "I am placing my reliance on Allah the Exalted that this poison will not harm me," he would not be truly placing his reliance on Allah. The One who commanded us to place our reliance on Him, Glorified and Exalted is He, is the One who said to us:
And do not kill yourselves [or one another]. Indeed, Allah is to you ever Merciful.
ولا تقتلوا أنفسكم إن الله كان بكم رحيماًThe important point is that taking the means that Allah the Exalted has made causes does not contradict the perfection of tawakkul; rather, it is part of its perfection. And exposing oneself to things that cause destruction is not considered a person's reliance on Allah; rather, it is contrary to what Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has commanded.