Citations & References:The Moon carried on, "Tawakkul is a form of worship related to the heart and it should not be carried out for anyone save Allah. Tawakkul is an action of the heart, so, one should entrust his affairs to Allah to obtain his provisions and religious and worldly benefits. But this status of Tawakkul, must have carrying out the means. That one should be excellent in his job, he performs it well and that he is sincere in carrying it out and not being deceptive. Thus, he will receive his compensation and payment which will be a blessing for him and those in his house. One should not totally rely upon this (i.e., work etc.), yet he should carry out the means, fulfill his Amaanah and be sincere, and in doing so, he has Tawakkul on Allah.For example, if one does Istikhara to make a decision. Salah al-Istikharah has within it entrusting one's affairs to Allah. However, Salah al-Istikharah is accompanied with seeking counsel. The one who performs Salah al-Istikharah (i.e., seeking good from a decision) will not fail and whoever seeks counsel will not have regret. Islam requires these two matters from the servant just as Allah says,وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى الْاَمْرِۚ فَاِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ ۗ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِيْنَ'... and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allāh. Indeed, Allāh loves those who rely [upon Him].' [QS. Ali 'Imran (3):159]It is imperative regarding these two matters to study the matter, seek counsel from the people of virtue and intelligence, seeking their sincere advice and once one has made his mind up, then one seek good from Allah in the matter which one is heading towards and acting upon. After seeking counsel, studying the matter, questioning and investigating, then one prays Salah al-Istikharah, entrusting all his affairs to Allah and seeking good from Him.Now the next question is, does a person who has an optimistic outlook with another person in any action or deed nullify the perfection of having Tawakkul on Allah? Shaykh Abdur Razaaq gives the answer that the Prophet (ﷺ) was pleased with optimism and when he (ﷺ) was asked about it he (ﷺ) said, 'It is a good statement.' Optimism invigorates the Muslim and it does not hinder nor prevent him. It is unlike bad omens and pessimism which impede and negate the sincerity of the Muslim's Tawakkul on Allah. As for optimism, it invigorates the servant and causes him to be devoted to matters. There is a lot of benefit without any harm to it. Our Prophet (ﷺ) was pleased with optimism.If a person has some expertise in business and he can gain benefit from that experience, skill, and understanding in these matters, then there is no objection for him regarding it and it is in whole from the means that is sought out. However, one should not solely depend upon that experience or mastery. Rather, he should make it a means in which he seeks provisions and his sole dependency and Tawakkul should be on Allah alone.At any rate, dealings in buying and selling, commerce and employment are to be done with noble character, wholesome treatment, and honorable dealings, seeking nearness to Allah. This is deemed as righteous actions of the individual. However, if he was to be fake with people and treat others with characteristics only for his worldly gain, not intending nearness to Allah or seeking His generous promise, then surely this is not from the morals of the believer. Rather, the believer treats others with virtuous characteristics, genuine standards and ethics and noble dealings while seeking nearness to Allah and in pursuit of Allah granting success, support, and good recompense.On this occasion, it is imperative for one to stay distant from being fake and flattering people. Instead, he should deal with people in a virtuous manner and with genuine Islamic standards, hoping for Allah's reward and blessing in this world and the hereafter. Therefore, it is necessary to perform virtuous characteristics with intention of seeking nearness to Allah.As for the fruits of Tawakkul on Allah, they are many, says Shaykh Shalih Al-Fawzan. The greatest of them is that Allah suffices a man in what troubles him. Allah says,وَمَنْ يَّتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللّٰهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهٗ ۗ'... And whoever relies upon Allah, then He hasbuhu ....' [QS. Al-Talaq (65):3]So whoever entrusts his affair to Allah and relies on Him alone, and believes that none can bring good or repel harm except Him, '... then He hasbuhu ...' meaning 'then He suffices him.' He suffices him from every difficulty, because the (appropriate) recompense is due to the kind of action. When one places his Tawakkul on Allah with a true Tawakkul, He recompenses him by sufficing him with that which takes care of his affairs, for Allah takes care of his affair and does not entrust it to other than Himself, so this is the greatest of the fruits of Tawakkul.Another fruit of Tawakkul is the acquisition of Allah’s love. Another fruit of Tawakkul is the acquisition of Allah’s love. Whoever places his Tawakkul on Allah with a true Tawakkul, then indeed Allah loves him, and when Allah loves him, he is happy in this life and the life-after by being one of the beloved people of Allah and from His awliyaa.And from the fruits of Tawakkul on Allah Tabaraka wa Ta'ala, that man proceeds to do what benefits, and is neither frightened nor scared from anything but Allah. Hence the (true) Mujaahidoon who engage in combat with the disbelievers only do this because they place their Tawakkul on Allah at that time, so Tawakkul earns them bravery and strength, every difficulty and discomfort becomes easy before them, and they take delight in dying in the path of Allah, and they reach martyrdom in His path, all of this due to Tawakkul on Allah.Another fruit is that it stimulates seeking provision and in obtaining knowledge and in every beneficial matter, for indeed the one who places Tawakkul on Allah persists and is courageous in his search for beneficial matters, because he knows that Allah is with the people of Tawakkul and that He will support them; so he persists in all of his beneficial affairs in the world and life-after and is neither lazy nor is he with the people of inactivity.The Mother of the Believers ‘Aa'ishah, radhiyallahu 'anha, replying a letter to Mu'awiyah who asked her, that, 'Write a letter to advise me, and do not overburden me.' So, the Mother of the Believer wrote, 'Salamun 'alayka, amma ba'du. Indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying,مَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَاءَ اللَّهِ بِسَخَطِ النَّاسِ كَفَاهُ اللَّهُ مُؤْنَةَ النَّاسِ وَمَنِ الْتَمَسَ رِضَاءَ النَّاسِ بِسَخَطِ اللَّهِ وَكَلَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَى النَّاسِ'Whoever seeks Allah's pleasure by the people's wrath, Allah will suffice him from the people. And who ever seeks the people's pleasure by Allah's wrath, Allah will entrust him to the people.'Wasalamu 'alayka.' [Reported by At-Tirmidhi, sahih by Al-Albani and simlar words reported by Ibn Hibban]The Sahaba were the most courageous of people due to their true Tawakkul on Allah. For the sake of Allah, they do not fear the blame of the blamer because they are reliant on Allah with an absolute reliance, and they entrust their affairs to Him with completeness and do not turn to other than Him, whether the people are pleased or angry, as long as they please Allah. Allah says,يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ اٰمَنُوْا مَنْ يَّرْتَدَّ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِيْنِهٖ فَسَوْفَ يَأْتِى اللّٰهُ بِقَوْمٍ يُّحِبُّهُمْ وَيُحِبُّوْنَهٗٓ ۙاَذِلَّةٍ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ اَعِزَّةٍ عَلَى الْكٰفِرِيْنَۖ يُجَاهِدُوْنَ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ وَلَا يَخَافُوْنَ لَوْمَةَ لَاۤىِٕمٍ ۗذٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللّٰهِ يُؤْتِيْهِ مَنْ يَّشَاۤءُۗ وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيْمٌ'O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion - Allāh will bring forth [in place of them] a people He will love and who will love Him [who are] humble toward the believers, strong against the disbelievers; they strive in the cause of Allāh and do not fear the blame of a critic. That is the favor of Allāh; He bestows it upon whom He wills. And Allāh is all-Encompassing and Knowing.' [QS. Al-Ma'idah (5):54]"The time was up, then the moon concluded with, 'O my brothers and sister, Reliance and Tawakkul on Allah, and entrusting the affairs to Him, Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, are the foundations of Tawheed, actions and good; and due to this, it was made a condition of lmaan. And Allah knows best."
- Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzan, Tawakkul (Trus & Reliance on Allah), translated by Abu Faatimah Azhar Majothi, 2010, Darul Imam Muslim
- Shaykh Abdur Razzaaq bin Abdul-Muhsin Al-Badr, Tawakkul on Allah, translated by Abu Sulayman Muhammad 'Abdul-'Azim Ibn Joshua Baker, 2016, Maktabatulirshad Publications
[Session 1]
