Renewal of the Heart and Soul
Phase 4 – Strengthening The Heart: Building a Heart That Lasts
Trusting Allah (Tawakkul)
Thus far we have spoken about patience — the strength to endure. We have spoken about gratitude — the vision to see blessings in ease and hardship. These two qualities stabilize the heart. They anchor it in the storms of life.
But there is a third quality that lifts the heart above the storms entirely. It is the quality that frees you from anxiety about the future and regret about the past. It is the quality that allows you to sleep peacefully while the world around you crumbles. That quality is Tawakkul — trust in Allah.
What Is Tawakkul?
Tawakkul comes from the Arabic root wakala, meaning to entrust, to rely upon, to deputize. When you have Tawakkul, you place your affairs in the hands of the One who is most capable of handling them. You do your part, and then you leave the results to Him.
Tawakkul is not passivity. It is not fatalism. It is not saying, “Whatever will be will be,” and then doing nothing. The Prophet ﷺ made this clear. A man once asked him:
“يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَعْقِلُهَا وَأَتَوَكَّلُ أَوْ أُطْلِقُهَا وَأَتَوَكَّلُ؟”
“O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and then trust in Allah, or should I leave it untied and trust?”
The Prophet replied:
“اعْقِلْهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ”
“Tie it and then trust.” (Tirmidhi)
Tawakkul does not replace action. It accompanies action. You do everything you can, and then you trust Allah with what you cannot control.
The Command to Trust
Allah commands us to trust Him repeatedly in the Quran. He makes it clear that Tawakkul is essential to faith:
“وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ”
“And upon Allah rely, if you are believers.” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 5: 23)
Trusting Allah is not optional. It is the evidence of faith. The believer’s heart naturally leans on its Creator.
“إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا 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.” (Surah Al-Anfal, 8: 2)
Tawakkul is the natural state of the believer. It is the heart resting in the hands of its Guardian.
Why Trusting Allah Frees the Heart
Think about what causes anxiety. Anxiety comes from feeling that things are out of your control. You worry about the future because you cannot guarantee outcomes. You stress about decisions because you might choose wrong. You fear loss because you cannot protect what you love.
Tawakkul solves all of this. When you truly trust Allah, you acknowledge that the outcomes are in His hands. You do your best, and then you let go. The worry lifts because you know that whatever happens, it happens by His will. And His will is always good.
The Prophet ﷺ described the beauty of this state:
“لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرُزِقْتُمْ كَمَا تُرْزَقُ الطَّيْرُ، تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا”
“If you relied upon Allah with true reliance, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with empty stomachs and return in the evening full.” (Tirmidhi)
The bird does not sit in its nest waiting for food to arrive. It flies. It searches. It does its work. But it does not worry. It trusts that its Provider will provide. This is Tawakkul.
The One to Trust
Who better to trust than Allah? Consider:
- He created you from nothing.
- He has sustained you your entire life.
- He knows what is in your heart better than you do.
- He controls everything in the heavens and the earth.
- Nothing happens without His permission.
- His mercy encompasses all things.
He alone controls benefit and harm. Trusting anyone else is misplaced.
How to Strengthen Tawakkul
- Know Allah through His names. Study Al-Wakīl (The Trusted Guardian), Al-Ḥafīẓ (The Preserver), Ar-Razzāq (The Provider). The more you know Him, the more you trust Him.
- Reflect on His past faithfulness. Has He ever failed you? Has He not provided, protected, and guided you your entire life? Let your history with Him build your trust for the future.
- Do your part, then let go. Take the means, then release the outcome to Him. The worrying after action is not Tawakkul; it is lack of trust.
- Make du’a for Tawakkul. The Prophet ﷺ taught us:
“اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ، وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ، وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ، وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ، وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ”
“O Allah, to You I have submitted, in You I have believed, upon You I have relied, to You I have turned, and for Your sake I have disputed.” (Bukhari)
As we prepare to leave the shelter of Ramadhan, take Tawakkul with you. Trust Allah with your future. Trust Him with your provision. Trust Him with your children. Trust Him with your plans. He is Al-Wakīl — the One who takes care of everything for those who rely on Him.
“وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ”
“And whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him.” (Surah At-Talaq, 65: 3)
May Allah grant us true Tawakkul and free our hearts from anxiety. Ameen.
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