Trust – a real trust that is sincere, honest,
and based upon Taqwa (the fear of Allah) – is a fundamental pillar in
the life of a Muslim. In Islam, it is not a mere inner sentiment, but a
spiritual path that connects the heart of the believer with Allah, and which
gives him moral and social strength in his daily life. A believer is commanded
to live with trust in himself, trust in his family and companions, and above
all, absolute trust in his Creator – Allah, the One Who controls everything.
Allah says in the Qur’an: “And whoever places his
trust in Allah, He is sufficient for him.”
(At-Talaq 65: 4). This verse clearly shows that trust in Allah is not an
empty word, but a divine guarantee that opens the door to tranquillity and
success.
Self-confidence, that is, when a believer
believes in his own abilities, remains a necessary condition to progress in
life. Without self-confidence, a person remains paralysed by fear and
uncertainty. But Islam teaches that self-confidence must always be accompanied
by the awareness that all strength and success come only by Allah’s permission.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “The strong one is not the one who
overcomes others by his strength, but the strong one is the one who controls
himself when he is angry.” (Bukhari, Muslim). This shows that true
self-confidence is not found in physical strength, but in self-control, inner
discipline, and in entrusting ourselves – all of us – entirely to Allah.
Trust in parents and in one’s surroundings also
has great value. That environment must be worthy of trust. A society rests upon
mutual trust; without trust, there is neither stability nor respect. In Islam,
respect and trust towards parents remain a sacred obligation. Allah says in the
Qur’an: “And We have enjoined upon man to treat
his parents well.” (Al-Ankabut 29: 9).
But human trust, despite its importance, remains limited; absolute trust, the one that never disappoints, is trust in Allah.
In a Hadith reported by Hazrat Abu Huraira
(ra), we find a very interesting anecdote that our beloved Prophet (pbuh)
narrated about the beauty of trust in Allah. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“A man from the Israelites asked another man
from the Israelites to lend him a thousand dinars. The second man said: ‘I need
witnesses.’ The first replied: ‘Allah is sufficient as Witness.’ The second
said: ‘I need a guarantor.’ The first replied: ‘Allah is sufficient as
Guarantor.’ The second said: ‘You are right,’ and he lent him the money for a
certain time. The debtor crossed the sea. When he had finished his work, he
sought a ship to return and repay his debt, but he found none. So he took a
piece of wood, hollowed it out, placed the thousand dinars and a letter inside
for the lender, and sealed it well. He brought that piece of wood to the sea
and said: ‘O Allah! You know well that I borrowed a thousand dinars from
so-and-so. He asked for a guarantor, and I said You are sufficient as
Guarantor, and he accepted. He asked for witnesses, and I said You are
sufficient as Witness, and he accepted. Certainly, I have made great effort to
find a ship to repay him, but I have not found one. So I entrust this money
into Your hands.’ He threw the piece of wood into the sea, and went away.
Meanwhile, he continued to seek a ship to go to the country of the one to whom
he owed the money. One day, the lender went out of his house to see if a ship
was coming with his money. Suddenly, he found that piece of wood. He took it
home to burn it. When he cut it, he found his money and the letter inside.
Shortly afterwards, the debtor came with another thousand dinars and said: ‘By
Allah, I tried with great effort to find a ship to bring you your money, but I
did not find one before the ship by which I came.’ The lender asked: ‘Did you
send me anything?’ The debtor replied: ‘I am telling you I did not find any
ship except the one by which I came.’ The lender said: ‘Allah Himself has
delivered for you [to me] the money you sent in that piece of wood. So you may
keep your (new) thousand dinars and go assured that you are on the right
path.’” (Bukhari)
Thus, this anecdote shows the power of trust in
Allah; when a sincere servant entrusts his situation to Allah, Allah never
disappoints him.
The lesson we must retain is that
self-confidence gives courage to act; trust in others – those truly worthy of
trust – builds society; but trust in Allah opens the path to eternal success. A
Muslim is commanded to do his part, to act with discipline and sincerity, but
he must never forget that the final result depends only on Allah’s will. Allah
says in the Qur’an: “And place your trust in the
Living One, Who never dies.” (Al-Furqan 25: 59). This verse reminds
us that all creatures of Allah are mortal, but only Allah alone is Eternal;
therefore absolute trust must be placed in Him alone.
It is here that the concept of Tawakkul
takes its full meaning. Tawakkul is when we entrust ourselves completely
to Allah alone, but it does not mean that when we place our trust and entrust
ourselves to Allah, we make no effort. No! It means acting with effort, doing
all that is necessary, and then entrusting the result to Allah. Tawakkul
means acting, going out, and seeking means of livelihood, but with the
certainty that Allah will complete what is lacking. Tawakkul is a
balance between human action and divine trust.
In modern life, many people suffer from stress,
uncertainty, and a lack of confidence. Islam gives a clear remedy: strengthen
faith, practise prayer (Salat), and place our trust and entrust our
affairs, our situations, to Allah. When a believing Muslim practises Tawakkul,
he gains an inner peace that does not depend on external circumstances. He
understands that every difficulty is a test, and every solution is a gift from
Allah.
Allah says in the Qur’an: “And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out
and will provide for him from where he does not expect.” (At-Talaq
65: 3-4). This verse shows that trust in Allah not only brings serenity, but
also opens doors that a believer would not have expected to be opened for him.
Therefore, a believing Muslim must be a person
worthy of trust. In a society where trust has disappeared, he must become a
light that gives people hope that the future can be better as long as there are
trustworthy people on this earth. And a person who is trustworthy, and at the
same time, a loyal servant of Allah then possesses a powerful sense of Tawakkul
within him that attracts Allah’s pleasure and closeness.
Thus, I call upon all my disciples, and all
Muslims across the world, to become people worthy of trust and to build trust
in places where trust has been destroyed or disappeared. Make Islam shine in
the world through your good character and your unity, and become true servants
of Allah, so that when others look at you, they see Allah with you. Build your
lives upon Islam and trust, and make Islam worthy of trust through your
efforts, and re-establish Tawakkul for Allah in the hearts of people
through your example.
Man is weak, but with constancy and effort, and
at the same time praying to Allah with hope, it is Allah Himself Who will help
him to accomplish his mission on earth. Your mission is to show the beauty of
Islam and invite people towards Allah and towards His pure religion, Islam,
with peace and in full submission to Allah, and to place your trust in Him
alone, and make trust alive just as in that anecdote that Hazrat Muhammad
(pbuh) narrated about those two Israelites who had Taqwa and who took
Allah as their Guarantor. Become people who are truly believers, who have true
faith and trust in Allah, and when others look at you, they see you as people
worthy of trust, and when that happens, whatever may come, do not break that
trust that they have placed in you, of course, if that trust is not against
what Allah has commanded. Insha-Allah, Ameen.
---Friday Sermon of 27 March 2026~ 07 Shawwal 1447 AH delivered by Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius.