Mutawakkil
Definition
The mutawakkil is the spiritual type al-Ghazali holds up as an exemplar in this book — the person who has genuinely internalized trust in God and lives from that trust in daily affairs. What distinguishes the mutawakkil from the merely pious is not outward behavior but inner state: the mutawakkil's heart does not flutter with anxiety when plans fail, wealth decreases, or opposition arises, because the heart is anchored in something deeper than circumstances. Al-Ghazali traces the characteristics of the mutawakkil with care: they work diligently, they plan wisely, they use all lawful means — but their inner peace is not contingent on the success of those efforts.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Mutawakkil.
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"اللّٰه commanded His Messenger to rely on Him and encouraged both him and the believers to do so. One of the names of the Prophet مُحَمَّد, peace be upon him, is "Al-Mutawakkil," meaning the one who relies on اللّٰه. His reliance on اللّٰه is the greatest form of reliance. As اللّٰه says in سُورَة النَّمْل: "So rely upon اللّٰه; indeed, you are upon the clear truth." This command, along with the affirmation of being upon the truth, indicates that the entirety of religion is encompassed in these two matters: being upon the truth in words, actions, beliefs, and intentions, and relying on اللّٰه."
— Ibn al-Qayyim, Volume Two
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"Umm al-Darda asked Ka'b al-Ahbar, How do you find the description of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, in the Torah? He replied, We find him, Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, his name is al-Mutawakkil. He is not harsh or rude, nor is he loud in the markets. He has been given the keys, and Allah will open blind eyes, deaf ears, and will set right crooked tongues through him, until they bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, one without partner, who aids the oppressed and protects them."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 2 — From the Israelite Prophets to Pre-Islamic Arabia
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"The graves of the Abbasid Caliphs, may Allah be pleased with them, are at al-Rusafa, each marked with its occupant's name. The graves of al-Mahdi, al-Hadi, al-Amin, al-Mutasim, al-Wathik, al-Mutawakkil, al-Muntasir, al-Mustain, al-Mutaz, al-Mutadi, al-Mutamad, al-Muqtadid, al-Muqtadir, al-Qahir, al-Radi, al-Mustaqfi, al-Mutilillah, al-Tai, al-Qaim, al-Qadir, al-Mustajir, al-Mustarshid, al-Muqtaf, al-Mustanjid, al-Mustadi, al-Nasir, al-Zahir, al-Mustansir, and al-Mustasim, who was their last."
— Ibn Battuta, Volume One: From Tangier to the Lands of the East
Appears in
1 book in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses Mutawakkil the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.