Tawakkul
Definition
Tawakkul in the context of livelihood is the balance that al-Ghazali navigates with great care: genuine trust that Allah is the ultimate Provider, combined with the understanding that tawakkul does not mean abandoning the effort to earn. The misunderstood tawakkul of the person who refuses to work because 'Allah will provide' is not Islamic trust but irresponsibility. True tawakkul means making full effort through lawful means and then trusting Allah completely with the outcome — not being consumed by anxiety about results, not resorting to haram when the lawful path seems insufficient, and not attributing one's provision to one's own cleverness rather than divine grace.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
How the scholars use Tawakkul.
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"Similarly, they should consider their wealth, saying they are able to donate this specific sum of money, as they have surplus and whenever they need it, Allah will provide it anew. Alternatively, though in need now, they see that relying on the reward of altruism is greater than their need for that wealth. In this manner, one examines all of his limbs, the entirety of his body, his wealth, and even his animals, servants, and children, for all these are his instruments and means by which he can obey Allah Almighty."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 39: The Book of Contemplation
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"The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "O Abu Hurairah, encourage your family to pray, for Allah will provide for you from where you do not expect." Some scholars have likened the one observing prayer to a merchant who cannot gain profit without keeping his principal intact. Likewise, the one praying cannot have his non-obligatory prayers accepted until he has performed the obligatory ones."
— Imam al-Ghazali, Book 4: The Book of Prayer
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"Tarifa, what remains of our dirhams and we have no extravagance in them nor waste. If what we have perishes, Allah will provide us from others besides us and we do not seek sustenance. The dirham does not linger in our possession except to pass by it and then depart. Indeed, when our dirhams gather one day, they will hasten towards the paths of kindness."
— Ibn Kathir, Volume 2 — From the Israelite Prophets to Pre-Islamic Arabia
Appears in
3 books in the library
Hear the term in context.
Every book above uses Tawakkul the way the classical scholars meant it. Listen with the full Study Kit in the app.