Reliance upon Allah
التوكل على اللهRelying upon Allah while taking the lawful means available
Qur'an
القرآن الكريموَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا
And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
Translation: Saheeh International
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].
Translation: Saheeh International
إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًۭا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely -
Translation: Saheeh International
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely.
Translation: Saheeh International
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًۭا وَقَالُوا۟ حَسْبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ ٱلْوَكِيلُ
Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."
Translation: Saheeh International
Hadith
الحديث النبويعَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرُزِقْتُمْ كَمَا تُرْزَقُ الطَّيْرُ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا " .
'Umar bin Al-Khattab narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:
"If you were to rely upon Allah with the required reliance, then He would provide for you just as a bird is provided for, it goes out in the morning empty, and returns full."
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقُولُ " اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِعِزَّتِكَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ أَنْ تُضِلَّنِي أَنْتَ الْحَىُّ الَّذِي لاَ يَمُوتُ وَالْجِنُّ وَالإِنْسُ يَمُوتُونَ " .
Ibn 'Abbas reported that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to say:
" O Allah, it is unto Thee that I surrender myself. I affirm my faith in Thee and repose my trust in Thee and turn to Thee in repentance and with Thy help fought my adversaries. O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee with Thine Power; there is no god but Thou, lest Thou leadest me astray. Thou art ever-living that dieth not, while the Jinn and mankind die."
عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لِيَسْأَلْ أَحَدُكُمْ رَبَّهُ حَاجَتَهُ كُلَّهَا حَتَّى يَسْأَلَ شِسْعَ نَعْلِهِ إِذَا انْقَطَعَ " .
Thabit narrated from Anas, who said “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
‘Let one of you ask his Lord for his every need, even until he asks Him for the strap of his sandal when it breaks.’”
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ أُمَّتِي سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ، هُمُ الَّذِينَ لاَ يَسْتَرْقُونَ، وَلاَ يَتَطَيَّرُونَ، وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ".
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Seventy thousand people of my followers will enter Paradise without accounts, and they are those who do not practice Ar-Ruqya and do not see an evil omen in things, and put their trust in their Lord.
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَجِبْتُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَقْضِي لِلْمُؤْمِنِ قَضَاءً إِلَّا كَانَ خَيْرًا لَهُ
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I am amazed by the believer. Verily, Allah does not decree anything for the believers except what is good for them.”
عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، {حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ} قَالَهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ حِينَ أُلْقِيَ فِي النَّارِ، وَقَالَهَا مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ قَالُوا {إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ}
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
'Allah is Sufficient for us and He Is the Best Disposer of affairs," was said by Abraham when he was thrown into the fire; and it was said by Muhammad when they (i.e. hypocrites) said, "A great army is gathering against you, therefore, fear them," but it only increased their faith and they said: "Allah is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer (of affairs, for us)." (3.173)
عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ أَنَّ أَبَا بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقَ حَدَّثَهُ قَالَ نَظَرْتُ إِلَى أَقْدَامِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ عَلَى رُءُوسِنَا وَنَحْنُ فِي الْغَارِ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّ أَحَدَهُمْ نَظَرَ إِلَى قَدَمَيْهِ أَبْصَرَنَا تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ فَقَالَ " يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا ظَنُّكَ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللَّهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا " .
Anas b. Malik reported that Abu Bakr Siddiq reported him thus:
I saw the feet of the polytheists very close to us as we were in the cave. I said: Allah's Messenger, if one amongst them were to see at his feet he would have surely seen us. Thereupon he said: Abu Bakr, what can befall two who have Allah as the third One with them.
عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَجُلٌ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أُرْسِلُ نَاقَتِي وَأَتَوَكَّلُ قَالَ أَعْقِلْهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ
‘Amr ibn Umayyah reported:
A man said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, “Shall I release my camel and trust in Allah?” The Prophet said, “Tie her and trust in Allah.”
عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَوْ أَنَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ هَرَبَ مِنْ رِزْقِهِ كَمَا يَهْرُبُ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ لَأَدْرَكَهُ رِزْقُهُ كَمَا يُدْرِكُهُ الْمَوْتُ
Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Were the son of Adam to flee from his provision as he flees from death, his provision would surely reach him just as death will reach him.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ أَقْوَامٌ أَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مِثْلُ أَفْئِدَةِ الطَّيْرِ " .
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:
There would enter Paradise people whose hearts would be like those of the hearts of birds.
عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ كَانَتْ الدُّنْيَا هَمَّهُ فَرَّقَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَهُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ وَلَمْ يَأْتِهِ مِنْ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ وَمَنْ كَانَتْ الْآخِرَةُ نِيَّتَهُ جَمَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَمْرَهُ وَجَعَلَ غِنَاهُ فِي قَلْبِهِ وَأَتَتْهُ الدُّنْيَا وَهِيَ رَاغِمَةٌ
Zayd ibn Thabit reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever is concerned about the world, Allah will disorder his affairs, make poverty appear before his eyes, and he will not get anything from the world but what has been decreed for him. Whoever is concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will settle his affairs, make him content in his heart, and the world will reluctantly come to him.”
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ دَخَلَ عَلَى بِلَالٍ فَوَجَدَ عِنْدَهُ صُبَرًا مِنْ تَمْرٍ فَقَالَ مَا هَذَا يَا بِلَالُ فَقَالَ تَمْرًا ادَّخَرْتَهُ لَكَ فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ يَا بِلَالُ أَمَا تَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ لَهُ بُخَارٌ فِي النَّارِ أَنْفِقْ يَا بِلَالُ وَلَا تَخْشَ مِنْ ذِي الْعَرْشِ إقْلَالًا
Abu Huraira reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, entered the room of Bilal and he found a pile of dates with him. The Prophet said, “What is this, O Bilal?” Bilal said, “They are dates I have stored for you.” The Prophet said, “Woe to you, O Bilal! Are you not afraid they will become your fumes in the Hellfire? Spend them in charity, O Bilal, and do not fear that the One upon the Throne will leave you bereft.”
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ نَزَلَتْ بِهِ فَاقَةٌ فَأَنْزَلَهَا بِالنَّاسِ لَمْ تُسَدَّ فَاقَتُهُ وَمَنْ نَزَلَتْ بِهِ فَاقَةٌ فَأَنْزَلَهَا بِاللَّهِ فَيُوشِكُ اللَّهُ لَهُ بِرِزْقٍ عَاجِلٍ أَوْ آجِلٍ " .
'Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:
"Whoever suffers from destitution and he beseeches the people for it, his destitution shall not end. And whoever suffers from destitution and he beseeches Allah for it, Allah will send provisions to him, sooner or later."
Statements of the Salaf
أقوال السلفTo renounce the world does not mean to forbid what is allowed, nor to squander wealth. Verily, to renounce the world means to be more reliant on what is in the hand of Allah than your own hand. If you are afflicted with a calamity, you have stronger hope for the reward in store for you, if you continue to endure it.
Source: al-Zuhd li-Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 96
The pinnacle of faith is in four things: patience with the judgment of Allah, pleasure with the decree of Allah, sincerity and trust in Allah, and surrender to the Lord.
Statements of Scholars
أقوال العلماءAs for what brings you closer to Allah, then continue to ask him. As for what brings you closer to people, then stop asking from them.
Source: Shuʿab al-Īmān 1061
قِيلَ مَعْنَاهُ مُتَوَكِّلُونَ وَقِيلَ قُلُوبُهُمْ رَقِيقَةٌ
It is said to mean those who rely upon Allah, or those who have soft hearts.
Source: al-Nawawī, Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/45