The Concept of Tawakkul (التوكل على الله) in the Qur’an and Sunnah
مقدمة (Introduction)
Tawakkul, or relying on Allah (التوكل على الله), is a central concept in the life of every believer. It reflects the heart’s trust in Allah while physically taking lawful means to achieve one’s goals. True tawakkul is not passive resignation or fatalism; rather, it is an active, faithful surrender of one’s affairs to the Lord of the worlds.
Allah says:
وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ (آل عمران: 122)﴿
“And upon Allah let the believers rely.” (Āl ʿImrān, 3:122)
This verse shows that reliance on Allah is not optional it is a requirement of true faith.
1. What is Tawakkul?
Linguistically, Tawakkul comes from the root word و-ك-ل, meaning to entrust, rely, or delegate. In Islamic theology, it means to:
“Depend on Allah with the heart while striving with the limbs.” (Ibn Taymiyyah, 2005)
Thus, it is both spiritual and practical: a believer ties their camel (takes precautions) and then trusts in Allah’s will.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«اعْقِلْهَا وَتَوَكَّلْ»
“Tie it (your camel) and then rely (on Allah).”(Tirmidhi, 2517; authenticated by al-Albani)
2. Tawakkul in the Qur’an
2.1 Surah Al-Imran:
﴿إن يَنصُرْكُمُ اللَّهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَكُمْ... وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ (آل عمران: 160)
“If Allah supports you, no one can overcome you... and upon Allah let the believers rely.”
This shows that divine support is linked to sincere trust in Allah.
2.2 Surah At-Tawbah:
﴿قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ (التوبة: 51)
“Say: Nothing will befall us except what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector. And upon Allah let the believers rely.”
It emphasizes tawakkul during trials, illness, war, and fear.
2.3 Surah Al-Anfāl:
﴿إِذْ تَقُولُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَلَن يَكْفِيَكُمْ أَن يُمِدَّكُمْ رَبُّكُم... وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ﴾ (الأنفال: 10)
This verse was revealed before the Battle of Badr, reminding the believers that divine help comes when they place full reliance on Allah.
3. Tawakkul in the Sunnah
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the greatest example of reliance on Allah, lived his entire life embodying this principle.
3.1 The Hadith of the Birds:
«لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ تَتَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزُقُ الطَّيْرَ...»
“If you were to rely on Allah as He deserves, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds…”(Ibn Majah, 4164)
Birds leave early, seek food, and return full a powerful metaphor for action coupled with trust.
3.2 Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ:
When the Prophet ﷺ was hiding in the cave with Abu Bakr during migration, Allah said:
﴿إذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا﴾ (التوبة: 40)
“When he said to his companion: Do not grieve; indeed Allah is with us.”
This shows tawakkul in action, even when surrounded by mortal danger.
4. The Difference Between Tawakkul and Tawaakul
It’s essential to distinguish between:
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Tawakkul (توكل): Taking means and trusting Allah
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Tawaakul (تواكل): Abandoning effort and using “trust in Allah” as an excuse for laziness
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim wrote:
“Tawakkul is an act of the heart resting on Allah after exhausting effort, while tawaakul is false dependence without effort.” (Ibn al-Qayyim, 2003)
5. Statements from the Scholars
Imam Al-Ghazālī:
“التوكل لا يعني ترك الأسباب، بل أن لا تعوِّل على السبب أكثر من الله”“Tawakkul doesn’t mean abandoning means, but not relying on the means more than on Allah.” (al-Ghazali, 2004)
6. Real-Life Examples from the Prophets
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Prophet Ibrāhīm (عليه السلام) when thrown into the fire said:
«حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ»
“Allah is sufficient for us and the best disposer of affairs.”(al-Bukhari, 4564)
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Prophet Mūsā (عليه السلام) at the Red Sea:﴿كَلَّا إِنَّ مَعِيَ رَبِّي سَيَهْدِينِ﴾ (الشعراء: 62)
“No! Indeed, my Lord is with me; He will guide me.”
These prophets displayed trust even in the face of death.
7. Benefits of Tawakkul
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Peace of heart during hardship
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Increased provision (rizq)
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Protection from envy and harm
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Elevated faith and reliance
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Closeness to Allah through sincerity
The Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَن تَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ»
“Whoever relies on Allah, He is sufficient for him.”(Abu Dawud, 2479; Qur’an, 65:3)
8. How to Strengthen Tawakkul
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Strengthen Tawḥīd (belief in Allah’s attributes)
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Reflect on Allah’s names: Al-Wakīl, Ar-Razzāq, Al-Qawiyy
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Read stories of the Prophets
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Practice du‘ā, such as:اللَّهُمَّ اجعلني من المتوكلين عليك، ولا تكلني إلى نفسي طرفة عين
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Study the causes of fear, anxiety, and worry and contrast them with Allah’s promises
✅ Conclusion
Tawakkul is not merely a state of mind but a core spiritual practice that blends action with submission, strength with humility, and confidence with surrender. It revives the believer’s heart and leads to serenity in both ease and hardship.
📚 APA-Style References
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Al-Ghazali, A. H. (2004). Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn. Cairo: Dār al-Maʿārif.
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Al-Bukhari, M. I. (n.d.). Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī. Beirut: Dār Ibn Kathīr.
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Ibn al-Qayyim, M. (2003). al-Fawāʾid. Beirut: Dār al-Maʿrifa.
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Muslim, I. (n.d.). Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr.
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Abu Dawud, S. (n.d.). Sunan Abī Dāwūd. Beirut: al-Maktabah al-ʿAṣriyyah.
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Ibn Majah, M. (n.d.). Sunan Ibn Mājah. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr.
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Tirmidhi, M. I. (n.d.). Jāmiʿ at-Tirmidhi. Riyadh: Dār as-Salām.
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