Renewal of the Heart and Soul
Phase 4 – Strengthening The Heart: Building a Heart That Lasts
Releasing Control
This morning my colleagues spoke about Tawakkul — trusting in Allah. We learned that the believer does their part and then leaves the results to the One who controls all things. We understood that true reliance is not passivity, but action accompanied by surrender.
But now we must address the greatest barrier to Tawakkul. The thing that keeps us awake at night. The thing that makes us anxious, stressed, and exhausted. That thing is our desperate need to control.
Today we speak about Releasing Control.
The Illusion of Control
Here is a truth that is difficult to accept: You control almost nothing.
Think about it. Can you control whether you will be alive tomorrow? Can you control what people think of you? Can you control the stock market, the weather, or the decisions of others? Can you control whether your child makes good choices? Can you control when and how you will die?
The answer is no. And yet we exhaust ourselves trying. We micromanage. We worry. We plan obsessively. We become anxious when things deviate from our expectations. All because we believe — falsely — that we are in control.
Allah reminds us of our true position:
“وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا * إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ”
“And never say of anything, ‘Indeed, I will do that tomorrow,’ * except [when adding], ‘If Allah wills.'” (Surah Al-Kahf, 18: 23-24)
Even your ability to act tomorrow is not in your hands. It depends on His will. Releasing control begins with acknowledging this truth.
Why We Cling to Control
We cling to control because we fear uncertainty. We fear the unknown. We fear that if we let go, things will fall apart. This fear reveals a deeper issue: we do not fully trust that Allah’s plan is better than our own.
But Allah’s plan is always better. He sees what we do not. He knows what we cannot. He loves us more than we love ourselves. Why would we trust our limited vision over His infinite wisdom?
“وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ”
“It may be that you dislike something while it is good for you, and it may be that you love something while it is evil for you.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 216)
Your judgment is flawed. His is perfect. Releasing control means accepting this.
What Releasing Control Looks Like
Releasing control does not mean abandoning responsibility. It means:
- Planning diligently, then trusting Allah with the outcome. You study for the exam, then leave the result to Him. You apply for the job, then accept His choice. You take the medicine, then trust Him for healing.
- Accepting that His plan may differ from yours. When things don’t go as expected, you say: “This is what Allah chose. It is good because He chose it.”
- Letting go of the need to manage everyone and everything. You do your part, and you allow Allah to do His.
- Sleeping peacefully even when circumstances are uncertain. Your heart knows that the Controller of the universe is awake and in charge.
The Example of Musa (AS)
When Musa AS stood at the edge of the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army closing in, his people panicked. They said:
“إِنَّا لَمُدْرَكُونَ”
“Indeed, we are to be overtaken.” (Surah Ash-Shu’ara, 26: 61)
From a human perspective, they were right. The sea before them. The army behind them. Death seemed certain. But Musa AS had released control to Allah. He said:
“كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ”
“No! Indeed, with me is my Lord; He will guide me.” (Surah Ash-Shu’ara, 26: 62)
He had no plan. No strategy. No escape route. He only had trust. And Allah parted the sea. This is what happens when you release control to the One who controls everything.
The Peace of Letting Go
When you release control, something miraculous happens: you find peace. The anxiety that came from trying to manage the unmanageable disappears. The weight of responsibility you were never meant to carry lifts. You realize that Allah was always in control, and your job was simply to trust Him.
The Prophet ﷺ described this peace:
“عَجِبْتُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِ إِنَّ أَمْرَهُ كُلَّهُ لَهُ خَيْرٌ”
“I am amazed at the believer. All of his affairs are good for him.” (Muslim)
Why? Because whether he gets what he wants or not, he trusts Allah. So both outcomes are good. This is freedom.
How to Practice Releasing Control
- Start small. Notice the little things you try to control — traffic, weather, others’ opinions. Practice letting go. Say, “Allah is in control of this. I release it to Him.”
- Make du’a of surrender. The Prophet ﷺ taught us:
“اللَّهُمَّ أَسْلَمْتُ نَفْسِي إِلَيْكَ، وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ”
“O Allah, I have submitted myself to You, and I have entrusted my affairs to You.” (Bukhari)
- Repeat this verse when anxious:
“حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ”
“Allah is sufficient for me. There is no deity except Him. Upon Him I have relied, and He is the Lord of the Great Throne.” (Surah At-Tawbah, 9: 129)
- Remember that Allah is Al-Wakīl. He is the Trusted Guardian. He has been managing your affairs your entire life. He will not fail you now.
The Freedom of Tawakkul
My brothers and sisters, the need to control is a prison. It traps you in anxiety, stress, and exhaustion. Release is the key that opens the door. When you let go and let Allah handle all your affairs, you step into freedom.
As we leave Ramadhan, take this freedom with you. Stop trying to control what you cannot. Trust the One who controls everything. And find the peace that only Tawakkul can bring.
May Allah grant us the courage to release control and the peace that follows. Ameen.
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