What did Ibn al-Qayyim say about reliance on Allah (tawakkul)?
Tawakkul is one of the highest stations in Madārij al-Sālikīn. Ibn al-Qayyim distinguished the reliance of scholars, the reliance of the elect, and the reliance that dissolves the self into the decree.
10 passages from 5 books in the library
Ibn al-Qayyim presents tawakkul (reliance on Allah) as a station of the heart with ascending degrees. The passages cite Abu Ali al-Daqqaq's description of three levels: reliance, submission, and delegation. He clarifies that true reliance is dependence on the Causer of causes, and that its state is perfected through trust in Allah and the heart's tranquillity with Him. Importantly, he explains that reliance does not mean abandoning lawful means, even using medicine to repel harm, and that renunciation of the world cannot be complete without it. He lists it among the stations alongside fear, hope, love, contentment, and self-accountability.
- Reliance (tawakkul) — entrusting affairs to Allah
- Submission — yielding to His decree
- Delegation — handing the matter over entirely to Him
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 5 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Abu Ali al-Dhaqaq described reliance as having three degrees, reliance, submission, and delegation."
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"of reliance in repelling harm, and the clarification of reliance in removing harm through medicine"
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"of the state and knowledge of reliance, which is dependence on the cause of causes, with reliance"
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"The state of reliance is perfected with trust in Allah and the heart's tranquility with"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"In the Book of Reliance, it is explained that the essence of reliance is not about completely"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Since renunciation cannot be complete without reliance, let us proceed to explain reliance."
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"A man asked him, when can I enter the shop of reliance, wear the cloak of renunciation, and sit with the renunciates?"
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"discourse, the earth his bed, piety his provision, silence his gain, patience his support, reliance"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"fear, hope, poverty, asceticism, love, contentment, longing, reliance, contemplation, and self-accountability."
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
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"a straight path. Hud expressed his complete trust in Allah, confident in his protection and support."
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