Having Trust in Allah from the core of heart/ Satisfaction is the secret of eternal success & Blissful life

“If you were to rely upon Allah 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.” (Ibn e Majah)  

The word “Tawakkul” refers to that terminology of having utmost trust in Allah with heartiness for gaining worldly benefits and protection from worldly harms. 

Synopsis of the Hadith meant to be that, if a person puts his trust in Allah wholeheartedly and opts for beneficial and permissible means in search of his sustenance, Allah would surely provide him with sustenance in such a way as He provides the birds. They leave their nest in the morning empty stomachs and wander throughout the day for sustenance and return home in the evening with filled bellies.  

Having one’s trust in Allah regarding sustenance is not contradicted to adopt the means of searching sustenance. In fact, it is only the way of Allah that he commanded his servants to adopt the permissible means of sustenance and then to have solitary trust in Him. Therefore, to struggle after having adopted the means is a kind of obedience. And having utmost trust in Allah is the sign of faith. 

“And fear Allah. And upon Allah let the believers rely”. (Surah Maidah)  

In the above mentioned Ayah, Taqwa, the fear of Allah has been mentioned along with Tawakkul, which indicates that while adopting means of permissible sustenance along with Tawakkul, one must have Taqwa, the fear of Allah in his heart, and only those permissible means be adopted which are lawful and beneficial in themselves. Having merely trust in Allah, without striving for the means is a kind of helplessness and inability. On the other hand, merely striving without having slightest trust in Allah is a kind of arrogance. Therefore, one should adopt both, permissible means of sustenance along with having utmost trust in Allah. 

Dr Khalid bin Usman narrates the remark of Imam Baihaqi regarding this Hadith that birds do not lie  in their nests waiting for sustenance to come and fill the bellies with it. Rather, they strive for it and leave their nests in the morning in search of it, which is abiding on them to adopt the means ordained for them. They return to their nests by evening before darkness spreads. Hence, one with the trust in Allah is he whose heart is bound with the decree of Allah about his sustenance. And he is convinced that not a single leaf can drop down without Allah’s will, and nothing can prevent from its duty without His decision. It must be expressly borne in mind that One’s sustenance is not due to his intelligence, power, knowledge, ability and skill as is proclaimed by Qarun in the holy Quran.
“This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess”. (Surah Qasas).  There is no doubt that having such belief is straight deviation from the track of Islamic fundaments. Instead, this belief must be adopted that only Allah is the creator of all means, and all the authority of worldly affairs belongs to Him. What He wishes He does and what He wishes not, its occurrence is impossible.     

May Allah make us among the category of those fortunate people who put their trust in Him as it requires and make us independent of all, except Him. And help those who struggle for His cause everywhere. 

Such a belief causes peace and tranquil of heart. And the person does not regret for having no worldly comforts in life or losing worldly substance or not gaining the things of this unstable world. Allah with His infinite wisdom and complete knowledge provides the sustenance to whomever He wishes. Verily, a human does not know where the goodness lies for him. Only the responsibility of man is to rely on Allah and He will definitely provide him respectful sustenance and peace of heart.