Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah - Naib Amir USA & Chairman Markazi Al Islam Team
October 3, 2025
True tawakkul (reliance on God) means leaving the nest early, striving with effort—like the birds who leave hungry each morning and return content each evening—while trusting Allah's promise. The Qur'anic method for humans aligns: pray, plan, toil, then entrust the outcome to God, letting Him do what He wills.
"Seek help through patience and prayer; it is indeed hard except for the humble in spirit" (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:46).
"And consult them in matters; then when thou art resolved, put thy trust in Allah. Surely, Allah loves those who put their trust in Him" (Surah Aal-e-'Imran 3:160).
"And that man will have nothing but what he strives for" (53:40). "We have surely created man to toil and struggle" (90:5).
"And whoso puts his trust in Allah — He is sufficient for him" (Surah Al-Talaq 65:4).
Tying it all together: "And He provides for him from sources he could never imagine. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him..." (65:4).
The Promised Messiah (as) says: "God's attribute al-Rahim (the Merciful) is He Who appoints goodly rewards for efforts, endeavours, and deeds... The one who makes the effort and absorbs himself in the love and devotion to God, does become distinguished from others... Those who strive in My path, I do, ultimately, show them My path."
Rahimiyat represents God's special mercy that is reserved for those who seek Him and strive to be righteous. It is conditional. A person must demonstrate effort, worship, prayer, and purity of heart to receive this mercy. Rahimiyat is described as a continuous and enduring mercy, unlike the broad, indiscriminate nature of Rahmaniyat.
"God's actions are of two kinds. First: things like the moon and the sun, where human effort is irrelevant. Second: those where actions do have a bearing. The worshipper, the devout, and the pious ones worship and then attain their reward."
"It is utter foolishness to rely on God and sit idle. The life of the Holy Prophet (sa) shows a constant interplay of earnest effort and reliance on God."
Qur'anic tie-in: "And those who strive in Our path—We will surely guide them to Our ways" (Surah Al-'Ankabut 29:70).
Birds leave their nests hungry, exert effort, and return content, never despairing about sustenance. Their example combines planning (leaving at dawn), effort (searching for food), and contentment and gratitude with whatever Allah provides. Merely trusting without action is not tawakkul. Combining sincere work with unwavering trust is the prophetic model.
"Hast thou not seen that it is Allah Whose praises all who are in the heavens and the earth celebrate, and so do the birds with their wings outspread? Each one knows his own mode of prayer and praise. And Allah knows well what they do" (24:42).
"The seven heavens and the earth and those that are therein celebrate His praise; and there is not a thing but glorifies Him with His praise; but you do not comprehend their glorification. Verily, He is Forbearing, Most Forgiving" (17:45).
The Prophet Muhammad (sa) combined prayer, deliberation, hard work, and finally complete reliance upon Allah, as taught in the incident of tying the camel—"Tie it and trust in Allah."
Act as birds do: rise early, make effort, end the day content and with thanks. For humans, combine prayer, strategy, hard work, and then tawakkul as shown in the Qur'an, the teachings and example of The Prophet (sa) and the clear instructions of the Promised Messiah (as): "You do what you have to, and let God do what He has to."
Allahu A'alam
