Reliance on Allâh

First Sermon:

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness and repent to Him. We seek refuge with Allâh from the evils of ourselves and from the wickedness of our own deeds. Whomever that Allâh guides, none can mislead him, and whomever He sends astray, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allâh alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اتَّقُواْ اللّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلاَ تَمُوتُنَّ إِلاَّ وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ )

(O you who believe, fear Allâh as he should be feared and die not unless you are Muslims) [Al-Imran: 102]

( يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيرًا وَنِسَاء وَاتَّقُواْ اللّهَ الَّذِي تَسَاءلُونَ بِهِ وَالأَرْحَامَ إِنَّ اللّهَ كَانَ عَلَيْكُمْ رَقِيبًا )

(O people fear your Lord, who created you from a single soul. From it, He created its spouse, and from both of them scattered many men and women. Fear Allâh, by whom you ask one another, and (fear) the wombs (lest you sever its relationship). Allâh is ever watching over you.) [An-Nisa: 1].

( يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَقُولُوا قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا * يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَالَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ وَمَن يُطِعْ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا )

 (O you who believe, fear Allâh and say sound statements. He will mend your deeds for you and forgive your sins. Whosoever obeys Allâh and His Messenger shall win a great victory) [Al-Ahzab: 70-71].

Reliance or trusting in Allâh is a problem we live in our time and is suffered by thousands and even millions of people. It is the phenomenon of anxiety; anxiety for oneself, anxiety for livelihood, anxiety for the family, anxiety for the future, and anxiety for the fate ... and the heart roves between anxiety, disorder and psychological crises!

It is a phenomenon where the heart is dispersed in the valleys and sub-routes of this world; One hundred and above concerns! One hundred and above works! One hundred and above conditions... and the heart is torn between these concerns, works and conditions!

And what's the reason?! What is the cause? What is the disease? What led to this?! ... It is the loss of trust in Allâh, or say: Poor reliance in Almighty Allâh!

That was the result and end; disorder, fear, anxiety and psychological concerns ... Come on so that we may address the issue from the beginning. Let's say: What is that lost and desired trust?! Is it necessary?

To begin with, if we ask Ibn Al-Qayyim what reliance is? He would reply us: "Reliance is the action and worship of the heart; depending on Allâh, trusting in Him, having recourse to Him, entrusting our affairs to Him, and satisfaction with His judgment owing to the knowledge about His (the Almighty) adequacy and good choice for His slave if he entrusts his affairs to Him, adopting the necessary legitimate means and working hard to earn them".

It is one of the most prominent signs of the faith of the slave of Allâh as the Almighty said:

( إِنَّمَا ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتۡ قُلُوبُہُمۡ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتۡ عَلَيۡہِمۡ ءَايَـٰتُهُ ۥ زَادَتۡہُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمۡ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ )

They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allâh is mentioned, and when revelations of Allâh are recited unto them, they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord [Al-Anfal: 2].

Nevertheless, Allâh has conditioned true faith and Islam on putting trust in Him, when He, the Exalted and Glorified, said,

( وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوٓاْ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ )

So put your trust (in Allâh) if you are indeed believers [Al-Maedah: 23],

He also said through the tongue of Musa,

( فَعَلَيۡهِ تَوَكَّلُوٓاْ إِن كُنتُم مُّسۡلِمِينَ )

Then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims (those who submit to Allâh's Will) [Yunus: 84].

Glad is he that puts trust in Allâh because:

( وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُ )

And whosoever puts his trust in Allâh, then He will suffice him [At-Talaq: 3].

i.e. He would suffice him, protect him and assist him. Yes, he is the happy one. Hence, what should he be worried about? What should he be anxious about? What should he panic, he that has put his trust in his Lord?! Is he worried about his livelihood? For Allâh assures him,

( وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزۡقُهَا )

And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allâh [Hud: 6],

And the Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), assures him: « The Trustworthy Spirit breathed in my heart that no soul will die until it has received all its provision » (Al-Albani graded it Sahih).

Is he worried and afraid of an enemy that would harm him? The Prophet (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), assures him, « And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allâh had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allâh had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried". (Al-Albani graded it Sahih).

One who relies on Allâh stands in the position of every goodness, even though we may not be able to explain it well and we fall short of words to clarify it better. It suffices you to read what Ibn Masood said about reliance: "Reliance is the combination of all aspects of faith". As much as a slave puts his trust in his Lord, he shall have happiness, peace of mind and tranquility and felicity of his heart.

The irony is that despite the great virtue of reliance, part of which we have explained, many hearts lack trust in Allâh! ... The truth is that weakness of reliance on Allâh is caused by many reasons, including:

Weakness of faith and the disease of the hearts: Reliance is no more than a part of faith; if it is strong, it gets strong with it. However, if it is weak, it becomes weak with it. That is why you see those with weak reliance are weak in putting trust in Allâh as they are afraid of others besides Allâh.

( فَتَرَى ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِيہِمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَخۡشَىٰٓ أَن تُصِيبَنَا دَآٮِٕرَةٌ )‌ۚ

And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease (of hypocrisy), they hurry to their friendship, saying: "We fear lest some misfortune of a disaster may befall us [Al-Maedah: 52].

Among the reasons is attachment to material means: They get preoccupied by what their eyes can perceive concerning the strong attachment of each effect to its cause in a manner that almost never fails, but heedless of the main cause, Allâh the Most Purified! Some sages say: "Paying attention to the means is shirk in Islamic monotheism (tauhid), erasing the means from being so is a deficit in mind, and complete negligence of the means is an act of stigmatizing the Islamic legislation. However, the kind of reliance and trust which is legitimate is that which brings together the requirements of tauhid, the mind and the Islamic legislation". Therefore, my dear brother who acknowledges the means! Adopt the means as much as you can, but do not depend upon them, but rather rely on Allâh alone.

Among the causes is putting trust in other than Allâh: This is of three types: the first is a major shirk (polytheism), the second is a minor shirk, and the third is legitimate.

The first: to trust in other than Allâh in that which only Allâh can do, like for one to put trust in some creature to heal him, provide for him, protect him, or prolong his life...

The second is to put trust in other than Allâh, in that which Allâh has given him the ability to do like when one relies on an employee to accomplish a work assigned to him.

The third means granting the power of attorney. It is for one to delegate another to do a work on his behalf such as the sale or purchase of something...

O believers! Reliance of the heart on Allâh has many blessings and indications. Let us label them: the fruits of reliance, and they include the following:

Vigor of the heart: Did you listen to Hud, May the peace of Allâh be upon him, how he challenged his people sarcastically and mocking their threats:

( فَكِيدُونِى جَمِيعً۬ا ثُمَّ لَا تُنظِرُونِ * إِنِّى تَوَكَّلۡتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم‌ۚ مَّا مِن دَآبَّةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ ءَاخِذُۢ بِنَاصِيَتِہَا )ٓ‌ۚ

So plot against me, all of you, and give me no respite. (55) "I put my trust in Allâh, my Lord and your Lord! There is not a moving (living) creature but He has grasp of its forelock [Hud: 55-56].

The reason for such power was:

( إِنِّى تَوَكَّلۡتُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رَبِّى وَرَبِّكُم )

I put my trust in Allâh, my Lord and your Lord!

It has been said: «Whoever wishes to be the most powerful of the people should repose his trust in Allâh».

Second: A moderately prosperous livelihood: The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) said it, "If you were to rely upon Allâh with the reliance He is due, you would be given provision like the birds: They go out hungry in the morning and come back with full bellies in the evening " (Al-Albani graded it Sahih).

Ibn Abil-Hawari reported on the authority of Abul-Muwaffaq Al-Urduni in a hadith maqtu' (a hadith with interrupted chain) that Allâh the Almighty said, "Had the son of Adam not put trust in others beside Me, I wouldn't have entrusted him to something else. Had the son of Adam, not feared other than Me, I would not have made him fear something else (Hilyatul-Auliyaa by Abu Nu'aim).

Third: Self-contentment: Who is more self-contented, quiet-minded, and more comfortable and blissful than one who realized that his livelihood is guaranteed, that his lifespan has been preordained, that nothing will befall him except that, which has been ordained for him, that he will not attain except that, which has been predestined for him, that none of the slaves of Allâh is capable of benefiting or harming him, and he has a strong pillar to which he can always resort to and seek refuge with to guide and suffice him?!

Fourth: Admission to the Paradise without accountability: The Messenger of Allâh, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) informed us saying: " Seventy thousand people of my followers will enter Paradise without accounts, and they are those who do not practice Ar-Ruqya (spells and incantation) and do not see an evil omen in things, and put their trust in their Lord." (Agreed upon).

Some of the Salaf (rightly guided predecessors) said, " I saw some serious worshiper of the people of Basra in a dream, I said: what has Allâh done to you? He said: He has forgiven me and admitted me into the Paradise. I said: which deed did you find there better? He said: trust in Allâh and limitation of hope. So, you should take note of them".

The fifth is the love of Allâh, the most Glorified and Exalted, who said,

( إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَوَكِّلِينَ )

Certainly, Allâh loves those who put their trust (in Him). [Al-Imran: 159].

Thus, He made the one who puts trust in Him His beloved one and gave him His love ... There is no end to the virtues of putting trust in Allâh nor the virtues of those who rely on Him.

Now, dear honorable believer, who puts his trust in Allâh, Let us roam together between the hearts of those who trust in Allâh, to smell their fragrance perhaps we may emulate one of them or be struck by a trace of their scents. Here is the Messenger of Allâh (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him), telling a tale to his noble companions saying, "A person came to me while I was asleep and he took hold of the sword. I woke up and found him standing upon my head and I had hardly become alert (and saw) that the sword was in his hand. And he said: Who can protect you from me? I said: Allâh. He again said: Who can protect you from me? I said: Allâh. He put his sword in the sheath (and you can see) this man sitting here. Allâh's Messenger (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) did not in any way touch him"(Agreed upon).

It is the greatness of trust in Allâh.

This is Al-Khalil Ibrahim leaving his wife and son, who was given birth to at old age, in the barren desert, relying on Allâh, and before that he was thrown into the fire but he was sure that Allâh would not forsake him. Ibn Abbas says, « When (Prophet) Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said: "Allâh (Alone) is sufficient for us, and, He is the Best Disposer of affairs." So did the Messenger of Allâh Muhammad (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) when he was told:

( إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمۡ فَٱخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَقَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡوَڪِيلُ )

"Verily, a great army of the pagans have gathered against you, so fear them". But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: "Allâh (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)" [Al-Imran: 173] (Al-Bukhari).

This is Musa, who cuts his way in the sea but when the soldiers catch up with him, he says confidently:

( إِنَّ مَعِىَ رَبِّى سَيَہۡدِينِ )

Verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me [Ash-Shu'ara: 62].

The Holy Qur'an has immortalized the words of the believer of Pharaoh's family:

( وَأُفَوِّضُ أَمۡرِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَصِيرُۢ بِٱلۡعِبَادِ * فَوَقَٮٰهُ ٱللَّهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِ مَا مَڪَرُواْۖ )

And my affair I leave it to Allâh. Verily, Allâh is the All-Seer of (His) slaves." (44) So Allâh saved him from the evils that they plotted (against him) [Ghafir: 44-45] ...

Yes, (So Allâh saved him), and he is not the only person Allâh saved and spared, but all those that rely on Allâh, He will suffice them, all those who trust in Allâh, He will protect them, all those who seek refuge in Allâh, He will give it to them, and all that intend to come to Allâh, He will grant them...

Second sermon:

All praise is due and belongs to Allâh alone. May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon the last Prophet.

It is surprising to hear of he that engages in a journey in the desert without provision nor chattel and says: I am reliant on Allâh and if He wishes, He will provide for me! And he that leaves medication, while he is suffering from pain but says, if Allâh wills, He will heal me!

It would be a repetition to resolve here that reliance on Allâh does not contradict the adoption of the means; As Allâh ordered to put trust in Him, He, the Most Purified, also ordered to adopt the appropriate means. In spite of the fact that the Holy Qur'an has emphasized:

( وَمَا ٱلنَّصۡرُ إِلَّا مِنۡ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ )

And there is no victory except from Allâh, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise [Al-Imran: 126],

It reiterated and ordered:

( وَأَعِدُّواْ لَهُم مَّا ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ۬ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ ٱلۡخَيۡلِ )

And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war [Al-Anfal: 60].

Although the Holy Qur'an has decided that:

( وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزۡقُهَا )

And no (moving) living creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allâh [Hud: 6]

Nonetheless, it reiterated and ordered:

( فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ )

Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salât (prayer) is ended, you may disperse through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allâh (by working, etc.) [Al-Jumu'ah: 10].

And say like this in all cases.

And when a man asked the Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) concerning his camel, should I tie it and rely (upon Allâh), or leave it loose and rely (upon Allâh)?" He said, "Tie it and rely (upon Allâh)" (Al-Albani graded it Hasan).

Moreover, a man came to Ahmad bin Hanbal and asked him about a man who sat in his house, and said: I will not work until my livelihood comes to me. He said: This is an ignorant man; The Prophet, (May the blessings and peace of Allâh be upon him) has said, "He has placed my livelihood under the shadow of my spear "(Al-Bukhari).

The bottom line is what the author of "At-Tahaawiyyah" said: "Some people thought that reliance (on Allâh) is contrary to acquisition and adoption of the appropriate means, and that if things have been predestined, there is no need for the means! This is corrupt".

O Allâh! Grant us the true reliance on You, prostration before You and trust in You ... O Allâh! Send your peace and blessings upon Prophet Muhammad and the family of Prophet Muhammad.