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One day when I felt so lost, betrayed, and humiliated, I met a Muslim sister. On that day, I felt that there would never be any end to the pain I was experiencing. She taught me and explained to me about a special word that I would never forget — tawakkul (putting one's trust in Allah).
This is what happened that day:
"What's wrong? You look miserable," she asked.
"I feel so humiliated by what certain people did to me," I answered, wondering if I should say more. I continued, "Every time I think at last there is someone who understands me and who I can rely on, they seem to turn the other way, breaking their promise to me."
She never asked me why I felt humiliated or anything more about my story. She immediately told me, "Oh, sister, this is no doubt a test. Seek forgiveness and put your trust only in Allah."
She said, "You depended on Allah's creation to do something which none would be able to do except Allah. You feel betrayed because you trusted people. Allah loves us so much that He would never let us down when we have complete trust in Him."
We spent nearly two hours talking about tawakkul. After the conversation I went home and pondered over the sister's words. I performed salah, then I cried. Eventually I realized the meaning of the beautiful word tawakkul. Tawakkul means complete trust of the heart in Allah, believing that He is sufficient against all others. I felt a deep sense of relief and felt at ease after I performed salah and placed my complete trust in Allah.
[And give him sustenance from whence he thinks not; and whoever trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him; surely Allah attains His purpose, Allah indeed has appointed a measure for everything.] (At-Talaq 65:3)
Hajar's Tawakkul
Anytime the word tawakkul is mentioned, the story of Hajar, the Prophet Ibrahim's wife, should come to every Muslim's mind. The story of Hajar presents the most wonderful example of tawakkul for every Muslim:
When Ibrahim had differences with his wife (because of her jealousy of Hajar, Isma`il's mother), he took Isma`il and his mother and went away. They had a waterskin with them containing some water. Isma`il's mother used to drink water from the waterskin so that her milk would increase for her child. When Ibrahim reached Makkah, he made her sit under a tree and afterwards returned home. Isma`il's mother followed him, and when they reached Kada', she called him from behind, "O Ibrahim! To whom are you leaving us?" He replied, "(I am leaving you) to Allah's (care)." She said, "I am satisfied to be with Allah." She returned to her place and started drinking water from the waterskin, and her milk increased for her child. (Al-Bukhari 4:55 #584)
What happened to Hajar and her son after Ibrahim had left them? Hajar's wisdom and calm, the creation of the Zamzam well, the rebuilding of the Ka`bah, and the founding of the city of Makkah are all legacies of a success story that is commemorated annually by the believers in Makkah during the Hajj rites.
Those days were the most trying for Hajar, but she lost neither faith nor patience. It was her certainty of faith and her trust in Allah that enabled her to endure such a difficult situation and allowed her to earn the great honor she continues to enjoy among the faithful. For believers, her story is a great source of inspiration that teaches us to never lose patience nor hope in Allah under any circumstances. Her story is an amazing example of what a tremendous positive impact a deep trust in Allah can achieve.
Doubting Allah's Power?
There is no doubt that Allah is sufficient for us, but we tend to lose our patience and sometimes even forget Allah's great power. Suspicion is one of the strongest of Satan's weapons that can lead a believer astray. When believers are skeptical or doubt Allah's power, they tend to lose their trust in Allah:
[And among men there is he who serves Allah (standing) on the verge, so that if good befalls him he is satisfied therewith, but if a trial afflict him he turns back headlong; he loses this world as well as the Hereafter; that is the manifest loss.] (Al-Hajj 22:11)
A lack of patience makes one lose peace and tawakkul. Many of us might reflect on the past for years and without receiving help from Allah. When we look back on our past, we tend to lose patience and hope.
The Companions of the Prophet would never look back. They always felt that Allah's help was close at hand. When they didn't get help they would say, "Allah's help will come to us tomorrow." Many of us can reflect on the following story in regards to many incidents that happen in our lives:
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The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Allah to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he returned to his hut to find it in flames and the smoke billowing up to the sky. Everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger and said, "O Allah! How could You do this to me?" He then cried.
Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.
Remember, the next time your "little hut" is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of Allah.
Tawakkul is the highest form of worship. Through tawakkul we become Allah's loved ones, we gain confidence that strengthens our faith. Allah guarantees that the end result will be good, even if we do not get what we want because Allah will always give us something better.
The Kind of Tawakkul That Has No Benefit
There are different kinds of people who use tawakkul according to their situation. Some people turn to Allah only when a disaster strikes them. There are some who perform their duties right up until a disaster strikes. But they would then lose patience and a sense of peace because of weak faith and end up indulging in shirk (associating others with Allah), hoping to find a solution to their problem.
[And when a wave like mountains covers them they call upon Allah, being sincere to Him in obedience, but when He brings them safe to the land, some of them follow the middle course; and none denies our signs, but every perfidious, ungrateful one.] (Luqman 31:32)
There are also other people who think that by putting their trust in Allah, they can escape from various responsibilities.
Without taking the right precautions or performing our duties, we cannot expect the help of Allah. Allah says:
[And that man shall having nothing but what he strives for] (An-Najm 53:39)
Only when people's faith is weak will they behave in such a way that makes them end up as the losers. These people claim that they have full trust in Allah, but in reality, it is their tongues that are proclaiming the trust, not their hearts. Thus, only when people's hearts are sincere in accepting Allah's power will one have tawakkul.
Now and Then
Even now, I feel gloomy whenever I meet with hardship, but I make sure that I immediately try to pull myself up. My talk with my Muslim sister on the beauty of tawakkul always comes to my mind during difficulties and gives me confidence and strength. All praises are due to Allah!
[Allah is sufficient for us and most excellent is the Protector.] (Aal `Imran 3:173)
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