Tawakkul, or Absolute Trust in Allah (SWT)

Praise be to Allah (SWT) and blessings on Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Whoever seeks a way other than Islam,1 it will never be accepted from them, and in the Hereafter they will be among the losers.  [Ali ‘Imran, 3:85]

[…] Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way. […] [Al Maidah, 5:3]

The government’s decision to extend the age of retirement to 65 years continues to feed conversations and provoke others. The most forceful stand came from a khateeb who has attributed this decision to the capitalist system, which, as he explained, impoverished the poor and enriched the already rich. This is proof that if our da’ees wanted to take a stand, on the mimbar, they can, when they are motivated.

But these statements, which came from the heart, allows us to focus on another definition of Islam, which is often glossed over.

First of all, is this fear justified? Not for the one who has faith. The Muslim is one who is convinced that rizq, sustenance, which has been predetermined for him, cannot be reduced by anyone. Consequently, even if one amasses a large fortune, one cannot consume more than the rizq that has been predetermined; no more, no less.

Which brings us to the other fundamental concept of our deen: tawakkul, absolute trust in Allah (SWT).

The ˹true˺ believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord. [Al Anfal, 8:2]

Definitions of faith, submission, resilience and absolute trust in Allah (SWT), which we can only read about, are demonstrated to us on a daily basis by our brothers and sisters in Palestine.

Amongst rubble, stifling dust and ashes from their destroyed homes, Palestinians are giving us lessons of resilience, courage and absolute trust in Allah (SWT), while we are comfortably settled in our homes. For them, tawakkul is not only a term.

The Muslim who is convinced of Allah’s (SWT) unicity, at tawhid, the one who has placed his complete trust in Allah (SWT), who is convinced that Allah is the only Master in this world and that nothing can happen outside of His will, has nothing to fear, for s/he has tawakkul.

Tawakkul means ‘trust and dependence’, which implies that these are two linked aspects.

And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He is sufficient for them [At Talaq, 65:3]

The truth of tawakkul is that we put our trust and dependence in Allah (SWT) for our daily affairs as well as for our deen. We, slaves that we are, are thus confident that everything in this world and in the Hereafter are in Allah’s (SWT) hands. Depending on Allah (SWT) for rizq is a form of worship, ibadah and a perfection of our imaan.

It is the duty of the Muslim to place his/her trust in Allah (SWT) and to exclusively depend on Him, making Him the One who decides of all affairs. Tawakkul, as taught to us by Muhammad (SAW), is intricately linked to the submission to Allah (SWT) and faith in Him.

Tawakkul, however, does not mean neglecting the effort for material comfort. The famous hadith where the Prophet (SAW) advises the Bedouin to tie his camel and to put his trust in Allah (SWT) invites us to balance between action and trust in Allah (SWT).

If Allah helps you, none can defeat you. But if He denies you help, then who else can help you? So in Allah let the believers put their trust. [Ali ‘Imran, 3:160]

The one who calls himself matawakkil must have an unshakeable faith and an absolute trust in Allah (SWT).

The other particularity of Islam that is often glossed over, even neglected is the ideological aspect of our deen. Hence the importance of the stand of the khateeb mentioned above. Over and above emotional considerations regarding working conditions of the more vulnerable in society, this decision of the government allows us to reflect on the ideological aspect of Islam.

[…] Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way. […] [Al Maidah, 5:3]

Certainly, Allah’s only Way is Islam. […]  [Ali ‘Imran, 3:19]

The Arabic word deen, which tends to be translated by ignoring the difference between religion and ideology, here means a way of life.

Islam, the deen of Truth, is a complete system, which, in the case of Islam, means accepting Allah’s (SWT) sovereignty. It means complete submission of Man to an absolute Ruler.

Islam does not only give a faith, but also a strategic plan. It explains how we should treat our parents, manage our money, build relationships and purify our hearts, in the context of a complete system, Ad deen.

Islam is a complete way of life and contains a complete social, economic, political and religious system. It is an ensemble of institutions, social order, practices and faith.

Certainly, Allah’s only Way is Islam. […] [Ali ‘Imran, 3:19]

The first difference between religion and deen is conceptual. The reference points are different. Religion is an individual affair, whereas deen is collective. Religion explicitly concentrates on Allah’s (SWT) rights. Deen (the ideology) encompasses much more than religion.

Deen has been approved and favoured by Allah (SWT) and is complete from all angles.

Ideology is often defined as a set of ideas, concepts and principles, allowing to manage society, and by extension the state.

Being a complete deen, Islam has its own economic, educational, social as well as political system. For instance, the Islamic economic system is founded on the principle that everything that is on Earth, under the earth and under the seas, belongs to Allah (SWT).

The Islamic political system recognises that legislation belongs to Allah (SWT), to whom belongs sovereignty and justice.

Similarly, Islam provides complete guidelines in matters of governance and administration. Contrary to the capitalist ideology, communism, far right, and other systems based on exploitation, Islam proposes the opposite. It is however to be noted that there exist almost no barriers among the different ideologies born from the human mind. For example, China is no longer communist. Who would have thought that the local far left would approve of the extension of the age of retirement to the detriment of employees. This serves to show that stands serve interests.

Allah (SWT) warns us against the adoption of an ideology other than Islam.

Whoever seeks a way other than Islam, it will never be accepted from them, and in the Hereafter they will be among the losers.  [Ali ‘Imran, 3:85]

It is imperative that the Muslim and the Ummah come back to the principles of Islamic ideology, a return which is based on critical thinking, and which rejects blind following.

May Allah (SWT) help and guide us.