“At-Tawakkul ‘ala Allah“ is the Islamic concept of complete reliance on Allah or “trusting in Allah’s plan.” The root word in Arabic is وَكَلَ (wakala) which means to entrust, charge or authorize. Allah is al-Wakeel, the Disposer of Affairs, the One entrusted, relied upon, depended upon and sufficient to take care of all matters. Tawakkul means putting trust in Allah while also implementing the means that have been permitted. Allah says:

حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

“Sufficient for me is Allah; there is no deity except Him. On Him, I have relied, and He is the lord of the Great Throne.” (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:129)

This concept, when not understood properly can either lead to laziness in the form of tawakkul or trap one in a delusion of self-sufficiency, leading him to the erroneous conclusion that whatever he achieves is by his effort or merit. It should be remembered that one can be tried not only with hardships but also by being given extensive wealth and resources. Allah says:

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا

“And He will provide him from [sources] he could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allāh, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allāh will accomplish His purpose. Indeed, Allāh has set a measure for all things.” (Surah At-Talaq 65:3)

Each one of us is dependent upon Allah at every moment, and no one can achieve anything by his efforts and abilities unless He wills it. Thus, a kind of arrogance and pride takes root in the heart. The richness of clear perception and understanding that everything belongs to Him, to be given at will to whomever He wills and to be taken at will. Allah says:

لِّكَيْلَا تَأْسَوْا عَلَىٰ مَا فَاتَكُمْ وَلَا تَفْرَحُوا بِمَا آتَاكُمْ وَاللَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍ فَخُورٍ

“So that you may not grieve at the things over that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allāh likes not every prideful boaster.” (Surah Al-Hadid, 57:23)

The delusion of self-sufficiency needs to be uprooted from our minds and hearts. It is that false sense of self-worth, constantly evaluated by worldly standards, and craving for approval which weakens the heart’s striving to connect with Allah, cling to Him, beseech Him and implore Him to enrich us from Himself with a richness that no one can steal or harm through envy.

There are some levels of Tawakkul through which we can: 

1. Tawakkul in Allah no matter what he has put on us
2. Tawakkul to Allah listens to you and your prayers
3. Tawakkul will be going to be an end by His Mercy
4. Tawakkul indicate that Allah cannot be opposed
5. Tawakkul means all things are in Allah’s hands
6. Tawakkul Allah must be strong and rely upon
7. Tawakkul refers to putting your trust in Allah
8. Tawakkul attribute everything to the Will
9. Tawakkul to Allah more we rely on Him
10. Tawakkul connect to a powerful associate
11. Tawakkul refers to putting your trust in Allah
12. Tawakkul on Allah relying on loss or success
13. Tawakkul turn lead to goodness in this world
14. Tawakkul Allah must be strong and rely upon
15. Tawakkul Allah means to start alt with Bismillah
16. Tawakkul Allah turn the success in the Hereafter
17. Tawakkul Allah to consult and then take a decision
18. Tawakkul Allah turn lead to goodness in this world
19. Tawakkul greater the chances that we try to please
20. Tawakkul indicate that Allah’s wish is an occurrence

The root of Tawakkul is ‘reliance’ or ‘dependence’. We say that we depend on Allāh for everything, and place reliance on Him. The reality of Tawakkul is that we place our trust and reliance on Allah in terms of both our worldly affairs, as well as ourDin, as well as utilizing our visceral, or tangible means of attaining that which we want to attain. Allah says:

إِن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ وَإِن يَخْذُلْكُمْ فَمَن ذَا الَّذِي يَنصُرُكُم مِّن بَعْدِهِ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ

“If Allah helps you, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is thereafter Him that can help you? And in Allāh (Alone) let the believers put their trust.” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 3:160)

Tawakkul, therefore, involves belief, dependence, and action. This is because, to gain at least some level of Tawakkul, the slave needs to be aware of the fact that all the matters of this world and the Hereafter lie in the Hands of Allah. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

“Those who said to them [the people], “Indeed the people (have) certainly gathered against you, so fear them.” But it increased them (in) faith and they said, “Sufficient for us (is) Allah and (He is the) best [the] Disposer of affairs.” (Surah Al-Imran 3:173)

Tawakkul is the “trust and reliance on Allah” that is accepting the results:

• Seek help through Sabr: “Seek help through Sabr and Salat”. (Quran 2:45)
• God controls Life and Death: If you fear for your physical safety and security, remember that only Allah gives life and takes it back and, that He has appointed the time for it. No one can harm you except if Allah will.
• Ask Him. He Listens, Dua: Turn each anxiety, each fear and each concern into a Dua. God listens and already knows what is in your heart, but He wants you to ask Him for what you want.
• Remember that human responsibility is limited: While we need to carry out our duty to the best of our abilities, always remember that you don’t control the outcome of events.
• Spend Time With Friends and Family: Having strong social ties may help you get through stressful times and lower your risk of anxiety.
• Focusing your thoughts: Keeping a journal can help relieve stress and anxiety, especially if you focus on the positive. Gratitude may help relieve stress and anxiety by focusing your thoughts on what’s positive in your life.
• Laughter intervention: Find the humour in everyday life, spend time with funny friends or watch a comedy show to help relieve stress.
• Stay on top of your priorities: Prioritize what needs to get done and make time for it. Staying on top of your to-do list can help ward off procrastination-related stress.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

• “Allāh burdens not a person beyond his scope.” (Quran,1:286)
• “And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die.” (Quran, 25:58)
• “He will provide him from where he does not expect.” (Quran, 65:3)
• “And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah.” (Quran, 3:159)
• “That man can have nothing but what he strives for.” (an-Najm, 53:39)
• “And sufficient is Allah as a wakeel (disposer of affairs).” (Quran, 33:48)
• “And whoever relies upon Allah – He will be sufficient for him.” (Quran, 65:3)
• “On no soul does Allah place a burden greater than it can bear” (Quran 2: 286)
• “Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.” And upon “Allah let the believers rely on. ” (Quran, 9:51)

So we must trust and rely on Him. But this requires that we free our minds to do Allah’s will, to obey Him and to make our choices in all of life’s decisions within the framework of Islam, using dua, istikhārah and the counsel of sincere believing friends. Along with the permissible physical means, these are the spiritual means available to us to accomplish what is required. Allah says:

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ

“Only the believers (are) those who when Allah is mentioned feel fear their hearts, and when are recited to them His Verses, they increase them (in) faith, and upon their Lord, they put their trust.” (Surah Al-Anfal 8:2)

Nothing occurs except by His Permission and His Leave. Success in this world means to survive, manage and live within the limits set by Allah. But true success is in obtaining His approval, and that will be fully manifested in the next life. May Allah help us in all difficult situations and give us the strength to overcome them.  Allah says:

قُلْ هُوَ الرَّحْمَٰنُ آمَنَّا بِهِ وَعَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْنَا فَسَتَعْلَمُونَ مَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

“He is the Most Gracious (Allah) in Him we believe, and in Him, we put our trust. So, you will come to know who it is that is in manifest error.” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:29)

The one who entrusts Allah does so with the certainty that what Allah decrees is best for them, whether the benefit is apparent or not. Relying on Allāh can instil an enormous amount of peace and contentment in a person, and we ask Allah that He helps us all attain the highest degree of Tawakkul, so that, by His Permission, we may benefit from that in this world, and in the eternal world of the Hereafter.