The Connection Between Taqwa and Tawakkul
Opening
In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, ask His help, ask His forgiveness, and rely on Him. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our deeds. Whosoever Allah guides, there is no one to misguide him. We bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is One, and has no partner. We bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and His messenger.
A Reminder of Our Mortality
I begin with a personal experience that occurred this morning – a powerful wake-up call. One of my closest friends of nearly fifty years, who lived in Oakwood, Chicago, passed away at 3 AM. I had hoped to meet him after completing my work here, but Allah’s decree came first. Let us make dua for him:
Allahumma aflahu wa arhamahu wa aafihi wa afwanahu wa kareem nuzulahu wa wasi muzikallahu wa ghusilhu il ma’i wa saj wa al barat wa naqihi min al qataya kama qayt al thawwil abiyatun min al danas Allahumma adhukilhu fi jannatil firdausil ala bidoon hisab wa a’idhu hu wa a’ifiz hu min adhabi al qabri wa min al naar
Understanding Taqwa
Allah SWT commands us in the Quran:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
“Ya ayyuhalladheena amanu taqullaha haqta tukatih, wa la tamutunna illa wa antum muslimun.”
“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.” [3:102]
What is taqwa? Is it merely fear? The English translation often presents it as “fear Allah as He should be feared.” However, taqwa is not simply fear – it is much deeper than that. Fear is a negative emotion; what you fear, you tend to hate. But Allah SWT says about the believers that they love Him ashad (most intensely).
The Relationship Between Love and Taqwa
Taqwa is the fear of disappointing the One whom we love the most. The more we love Allah, the more we fear disobeying Him. This is not out of terror, but out of deep love and respect. This brings us to a crucial question: How can we love someone we don’t know?
Knowing Allah SWT
We come to know Allah in two primary ways:
1. Through His Self-Introduction
Allah SWT introduces Himself through:
- Ayatul Kursi
- Suratul Ikhlas
- His Beautiful Names and Attributes
When we reflect on His glory and majesty, our hearts fill with khashiyah (reverent awe).
2. Through Gratitude (Shukr)
We recognize Allah by reflecting on His countless blessings:
- The earth beneath our feet
- The mountains that stabilize
- Our sleep and waking
- Our sustenance
- Our families
- The rain and crops
The Test of Faith
Allah SWT provides a framework in Surah Al-Anfal:
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, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone).” [8:2]
The test of our faith lies in:
- When Allah’s name is mentioned, do our hearts tremble?
- When His verses are recited, does our faith increase?
- Do we place our complete trust (tawakkul) in Him?
The Practice of Islam
Islam is not merely a philosophy or ideology – it is a practice. A Muslim is one who practices Islam, with Salah being the primary manifestation of this practice. Allah promises two things for true believers:
- Elevated stations (darajaat)
- Forgiveness (maghfirah)
The Power of Tawakkul: The Story of Hatim al-Asam and His Daughter
Hatim al-Asam رحمه الله, a contemporary of Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal and who lived during the time of the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mutawakkil, was renowned for his exceptional tawakkul (reliance on Allah). His life principle was simple yet profound: whatever exceeded his basic needs, he would give away in charity. As a result, his household maintained only the essentials of life.
One day, his young daughter found him in tears. Upon inquiring, Hatim explained his dilemma: he had a strong desire to perform Hajj, but his wife had refused permission unless he left sufficient provisions for the family’s sustenance during his absence. This was no small matter, as in those times, Hajj wasn’t a brief journey of days but rather a voyage of several months.
The daughter, with the characteristic determination of a young child, told her father, “Don’t worry, I will take care of it,” and somehow convinced her mother to allow the journey. Hatim joined a caravan and departed for Hajj.
Early in the journey, Divine intervention manifested when the caravan chief was bitten by a scorpion. Knowing Hatim’s spiritual status, people requested him to make dua for the chief. Through Allah’s mercy, the chief was immediately cured. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the chief returned Hatim’s caravan fees and offered to sponsor his entire Hajj journey, including all expenses and return travel.
Meanwhile, back home, the family began experiencing financial difficulties. Everyone blamed the young daughter, saying, “This is your fault. Because of you, father had to leave.” But remarkably, the girl responded with laughter. When questioned about her seemingly inappropriate reaction, she displayed profound wisdom beyond her years:
“Who left us?” she asked. “Al-Marzouk (the one who receives provision) or Al-Razzaq (The Provider)?”
“Al-Marzouk,” they replied.
“Then why worry?” she smiled. “Al-Razzaq (Allah) is still present.”
As if in immediate response to her unwavering faith, there was a knock on their door. It was an officer from the governor’s entourage, requesting water for the governor who was passing by. They provided water from their well, and by Allah’s grace, the governor found it exceptionally sweet and refreshing. Upon learning it was from Hatim al-Asam’s house, the governor, unaware of Hatim’s absence for Hajj, declared the family under his personal care until Hatim’s return.
But Allah’s provision didn’t stop there. The governor rode to their house wall, removed his gold-and-silver-laden belt filled with coins, and threw it over the wall. Then, in an unprecedented display of generosity, he commanded his entourage, “Whoever loves me, do as I did.” Soon, the courtyard was showered with pouches of gold coins – enough wealth to sustain several generations.
When everyone rushed to share the good news with the daughter, they found her weeping. Surprised, her mother asked, “How strange you are! You laughed when we were starving, but cry when we have received such abundance?”
The daughter’s response encapsulates the essence of true tawakkul: “I cry because when one Abdullah (slave of Allah) looked upon us with kindness, this is the result. Imagine what we will receive when we stand before Allah, Akram ul Akrameen (the Most Generous of the generous), Rabb ul Alameen (Lord of all worlds)!”
Conclusion
True taqwa leads to genuine tawakkul – complete reliance on Allah SWT. When we maintain this focus on Al-Rabb ul-Alameen, we understand that He is the source of all provision and protection. May Allah grant us true taqwa and tawakkul, and may He accept our worship. Ameen.
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