Belief in Destiny & Putting One’s Trust in Allah
The advantages of belief in Taqdeer (Destiny) and
Tawakkul (Trust – Here meaning the Trust in Allah) are as follows:
No matter what hardship or misfortune
befalls one, it will be accepted without panic and the heart will remain strong
in the face of such hardships. Strong belief in Taqdeer will indicate
that Allah’s wish is in operation and it cannot be opposed. The hardship will
disappear only when so desired by Allah the Almighty. Thus the man of Taqdeer
[i.e. who truly believes in Taqdeer] accepts what comes his way with contented
resignation.
One who has understood and accepted
this conception of Taqdeer will not be overcome with frustration at the
delay in the passing of the hardship. He will not become despondent and lose
hope when the misfortune endures for any length of time. He will banish weakness.
The adherent of Taqdeer will not adopt unlawful ways and means of combating the difficulty, for he knows that the adversity has been brought about by Allah (twt). He understands well that elimination of the hardship is not possible without the Will of Allah (twt). He therefore realizes the futility of his efforts in trying to eliminate what Allah (twt) has willed. He will thus not unnecessarily court the displeasure of Allah by the adoption of unlawful measures. Why court Allah’s Wrath when one’s purpose cannot be achieved even after having displeased Him?
The believer in Taqdeer and Tawakkul
will not rely solely on material and mundane measures, but will resort to duahs
[invocations to Allah] as well. He believes that nothing can be gained without
His Will. He thus derives greater hope and strength by supplicating to Allah (twt).
An additional benefit of engaging in duah is the strengthening of one’s
relationship with Allah (twt). A strong bond of love with Allah (twt) is the
basis of peace and all comfort.
The believer in Taqdeer will
not attribute success, accomplishment and excellence to his efforts. He will
attribute everything to the Will and Pleasure of Allah (twt). He will thus be
imbued with humility. Such a man will not be arrogant and haughty.
The believer in Taqdeer and Tawakkul
will be grateful in times and occasions of success and prosperity, and he will
be patient when failure and adversity overtake him. This is the great advantage
which Allah (twt) points to in the following verse: “...so that
you do not lose hope over what you have lost nor do you become elated because
of what you have gained.” (Al-Hadid 57: 24)
The Islamic conception of Taqdeer
should not be misconstrued and the essential and correct ways and means for
worldly affairs should not be discarded on the pretext of resignation to Taqdeer.
Discarding the lawful means and agencies which Allah (twt) has created for
worldly affairs is weakness as well as erroneous. Such error and weakness have
been criticized in the following Hadith.
Hazrat Awf Bin Malik (ra) narrated
that once when the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) decided a dispute, the one against
whom the verdict went, exclaimed: “Sufficient for me is Allah and He is a good
Protector.” This exclamation was
intended to convey that Allah’s Pleasure was the cause of the setback which he
suffered. Hearing this, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Allah (twt) does not like weakness. Be alert!” (Abu Dawud)
Here the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)
exhorted that one should harness the correct means for one’s case and activity.
However, if in spite of instituting the correct measures, failure results, then
one will be justified in saying: “Sufficient for me is Allah and He is a
good Protector.”
Now, I will relate to you some Hadiths on Taqdeer:
Hazrat Jaabir (ra) narrates that the Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) said: “You can never be a
believer [Mu’min] as long as you do not believe in Taqdeer - in its good and its
bad - to such an extent that whatever is to happen will not be warded off and
whatever is not to happen will not occur.” (Tirmidhi)
Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated: “I
was (once) behind the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) when he said to me: ‘O son!
I shall inform you of a few things. Remember Allah and He will protect you. Remember
Allah and you will find Him close to you. When you have to ask for something,
ask of Allah (twt). When you require help, seek His Help. Believe firmly that
if all creation desires to benefit you in anything, they can never benefit you
but that which Allah has decreed for you. If they all unite to harm you, they
will not be able to harm you in anything, but that which Allah has decreed for
you’.” (Tirmidhi)
Hazrat Abu Darda (ra) narrated that
Allah (twt) has already predestined five things for all people, viz., age [i.e.
his birth and death], sustenance, deeds, and place of burial and final
salvation or condemnation. (Ahmad, Bazzaaz, Kabeer, Ausat)
Hazrat Muawiyah (ra) narrated that the
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Do not advance to acquire something, thinking that you can acquire it
by your efforts even though Allah (twt) has not predestined it for you nor
retreat from something, thinking that you will be able to obviate it by your
efforts even though Allah (twt) has predestined it for you.” (Kabeer and Ausat)
Whatever Allah (twt) has predestined,
will come to pass no matter what efforts are made by man to gain or ward it off.
Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) narrated that
the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Strive to acquire what is beneficial
for you; seek the help of Allah; do not lose courage
and if a setback overtakes you, do not say: If I had done this then it would
have happened like this (i.e. not what had happened).’ Instead, say: ‘Allah has
ordained this. Whatever He has willed has happened’.” (Muslim)
Allah (twt) states in the Holy Quran: “(After
you have consulted) and when you have firmly decided, then have trust on Allah
(and proceed to do what you have decided to do). Verily, Allah loves those who
place reliance (on Him).” (Al-Imran 3: 160)
What greater wealth does one require
than the love of Allah? Those whose trust and, reliance are in Allah, have
secured His love. There is no doubt in the success of such people. From this
verse it is also manifest that along with Tawakkul should be Tadbeer
(i.e. employment of the correct agencies, means and ways). Consultation which
is mentioned in the verse is in fact a way for deciding an affair. However, one
should not repose reliance on Tadbeer. Even after having instituted the
ways and means, reliance must be placed on Allah (twt).
Allah says in the Holy Quran: “They (i.e.
the Sahaba) are such (sincere) people that when some persons said to them: ‘These
people (i.e. the Kuffar of Makkah) have made (great) preparations for you (i.e.
for fighting you) You should therefore fear them’, their (the Sahaba) faith
became stronger.
Allah is sufficient and is best. Unto Him affairs are assigned. Thus these
people (the Sahaba) returned loaded with the bounties of Allah. No grief
overtook them and they remained following the Pleasure of Allah. Verily, Allah
is most Munificent.” (Al-Imran 3:
174-175)
In these verses is a reference to a
particular incident from which the Sahaba benefitted both materially as well as
spiritually. Allah indicates here that both these benefits were the consequence
of Tawakkul.
Allah (twt) orders the Messenger of
Allah (pbuh) in the Holy Quran to say: “Say (O
Muhammad!): Nothing can overtake us, but that which Allah has ordained for us.
He is our King. All Believers should assign their affairs to Allah.”
(At-Tauba 9: 51)
Since Allah (twt) is the King, the
servant should be pleased with whatever the King chooses. This should be the
condition of all Muslims. Both prosperity and adversity are beneficial for
Muslims. Times and conditions of hardship prove beneficial for Muslims in
relation to the end result. In enduring the hardships, ranks increase and sins
are forgiven. Thus, it matters not which condition a Muslim is in. Both
conditions, viz., prosperity and adversity, are advantageous for believers.
This shows that even if a Muslim is overtaken by difficulty and hardship, he is
not reduced to despondency and frustration, for he considers the state of
adversity also beneficial to him. If the benefits of adversity do not manifest
in this world, then for a certainty, these will be manifested in the
Hereafter. The Hereafter is our actual and original home and goodness and benefit
there will be to our perpetual advantage.
Allah (twt) says: “Musa (when he saw the Bani Israel in fear and suffering
because of the cruelty of the Pharaoh) said: ‘O
my people! If you have (true) faith on Allah, then have trust in Him, if indeed
you are obeying Him.’ They said: ‘We have reposed trust on only Allah.’ (They
then supplicated): ‘O our Lord! Do not make us the target of these oppressors;
save us by your mercy from these unbelievers’.” (Yunus 10: 85-86)
From this verse it is learnt that
along with Tawakkul, duah is very efficacious. Allah (twt) says: “Whoever
has trust on Allah, He is sufficient for him.”
Allah (twt) dispenses all affairs of
those who have trust on Him, be them affairs of a physical or spiritual nature.
This is indeed a wonderful promise made to those who adopt Tawakkul.
Hazrat Sa’d (ra) narrates that the
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The good fortune of a person is that he remains
pleased with what Allah has ordained for him. The misfortune of a person is
that he refrains from asking Allah for goodness and that he is displeased with
what Allah has ordained for him.” (Ahmad,
Tirmidhi)
Hazrat Amr Bin Aa’s (ra) narrates
that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The heart of man lingers after
everything. Allah does not care for a man who puts his heart at the disposal of
everything; he may be destroyed in any place (and way - Allah cares not for
him). Whoever has trust on Allah, Allah suffices for him in all affairs.” (Ibn Majah)
This Hadith points out that such a
man whose trust is reposed in Allah does not become despondent and is not
smitten by worry.
Hazrat Imran Bin Haseen (ra) narrates
that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “Whoever
remains aligned to Allah with his heart, Allah will be sufficient or him in all his affairs. Allah will
bestow on him sustenance from such quarters which he did not even think of. Whoever
aligns himself with the world, Allah hands him over to the world.” (Targheeb Wa Tarheeb)
Hazrat Anas (ra) narrates that the
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said to a man: “Tie your camel and
trust in Allah.” (Tirmidhi)
Thus, Tawakkul does not
envisage the abandonment of the lawful
means and agencies which Allah (twt) has created
for the execution of activities. One has
to trust in Allah and not repose confidence in the means and ways.
Hazrat Abu Khuzaamah (ra) narrates
that someone asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh): “Do incantations
and medicine alter Taqdeer?” The
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “This
too is included in Taqdeer.” (Tirmidhi,
Ibn Majah)
According to this Hadith, the benefit
which will result from medicine, etc. is also dictated by Taqdeer. You make the
effort for the cure by taking the medicine and you rely on Allah for it is Him
Who gives cure [Shifa].
The sum total of the subject on Taqdeer
and Tawakkul is that Muslims should never become despondent and
frustrated in difficult situations. Take lesson from what has been said in
these verses and Ahadiths and do not become weak in your Deen. Put all
your trust on Allah (twt). If Allah is your focus, then everything will set
right in your lives, despite the many trials and tribulations you may encounter
along the way. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 22 July 2022 ~22 Dhul Hijjah 1443 AH delivered by Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim (aba) of Mauritius.