In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
Imam al-Nawawi records in his book Meadows of the Righteous:
باب في اليقين والتوكل
Chapter on conviction and trust in Allah.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/43
Allah Almighty said:
وَلَمَّا رَأَى الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْأَحْزَابَ قَالُوا هَٰذَا مَا وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَصَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَمَا زَادَهُمْ إِلَّا إِيمَانًا وَتَسْلِيمًا
When the believers saw the enemy alliance, they said, ‘This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us. The promise of Allah and His Messenger has come true.’ And this only increased them in faith and submission.
Surat al-Ahzab 33:22
And Allah said:
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Those who were warned, ‘Your enemies have mobilized their forces against you, so fear them,’ the warning only made them grow stronger in faith and they replied, ‘Allah alone is sufficient as an aid for us and He is the best Protector.’
Surat Ali ‘Imran 3:173
And Allah said:
وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِهِ
Put your trust in the Ever-Living, Who never dies, and glorify His praises. Sufficient is He as All-Aware of the sins of His servants.
Surat al-Furqan 25:58
And Allah said:
قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَاءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَا أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَانٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَمَا لَنَا أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانَا سُبُلَنَا وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَا آذَيْتُمُونَا وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
Their Messengers said to them, ‘We are indeed only humans like you, but Allah favours whoever He chooses of His servants. It is not for us to bring you any proof without Allah’s permission. And in Allah let the believers put their trust. Why should we not put our trust in Allah, when He has truly guided us to the very best of ways? Indeed, we will patiently endure whatever harm you may cause us. And in Allah let the faithful put their trust.’
Surat Ibrahim 14:11-12
And Allah said:
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ الْقَلْبِ لَانفَضُّوا مِنْ حَوْلِكَ فَاعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْرِ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ
It is out of Allah’s mercy that you, O Prophet, have been lenient with them. Had you been cruel or hard-hearted, they would have certainly abandoned you. So pardon them, ask Allah’s forgiveness for them, and consult with them in conducting matters. Once you make a decision, put your trust in Allah. Surely Allah loves those who trust in Him.
Surat Ali ‘Imran 3:159
And Allah said:
وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بَالِغُ أَمْرِهِ قَدْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدْرًا
Whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He alone is sufficient for them. Certainly, Allah achieves His Will. Allah has already set a destiny for everything.
Surat al-Talaq 65:3
And Allah said:
إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
The true believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord.
Surat al-Anfal 8:2
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
عُرِضَتْ عَلَيَّ الْأُمَمُ فَجَعَلَ النَّبِيُّ وَالنَّبِيَّانِ يَمُرُّونَ مَعَهُمْ الرَّهْطُ وَالنَّبِيُّ لَيْسَ مَعَهُ أَحَدٌ حَتَّى رُفِعَ لِي سَوَادٌ عَظِيمٌ قُلْتُ مَا هَذَا أُمَّتِي هَذِهِ قِيلَ بَلْ هَذَا مُوسَى وَقَوْمُهُ قِيلَ انْظُرْ إِلَى الْأُفُقِ فَإِذَا سَوَادٌ يَمْلَأُ الْأُفُقَ ثُمَّ قِيلَ لِي انْظُرْ هَا هُنَا وَهَا هُنَا فِي آفَاقِ السَّمَاءِ فَإِذَا سَوَادٌ قَدْ مَلَأَ الْأُفُقَ قِيلَ هَذِهِ أُمَّتُكَ وَيَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مِنْ هَؤُلَاءِ سَبْعُونَ أَلْفًا بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
I was shown the nations before me and one or two prophets would pass by with only a few followers, another would pass by with none at all. Then, a large crowd of people passed in front of me and I said: Is this my nation? It was said: No, this is Moses and his people. Then it was said: Look at the horizon! Behold, there was a multitude of people filling the horizon. It was said to me: This is your nation from which seventy thousand will enter Paradise without reckoning.
Then, the Prophet entered his home and did not clarify who they were. The people started discussing the matter and they said, “We are those with faith in Allah and we followed His Messenger, so we are them! Or they are our children born into Islam, but we were born in the time of ignorance.” The Prophet heard them and he came out, saying:
هُمْ الَّذِينَ لَا يَسْتَرْقُونَ وَلَا يَتَطَيَّرُونَ وَلَا يَكْتَوُونَ وَعَلَى رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ
They are those who do not seek treatment by Ruqyah, nor do they believe in omens, nor do they brand themselves. Rather, they rely upon their Lord.
‘Ukkashah ibn Mihsan said, “Am I one of them, O Messenger of Allah?” The Prophet said yes. Another man said, “Am I one of them?” The Prophet said
سَبَقَكَ بِهَا عُكَّاشَةُ
‘Ukkashah has surpassed you.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5705, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to say:
اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ أَسْلَمْتُ وَبِكَ آمَنْتُ وَعَلَيْكَ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْكَ أَنَبْتُ وَبِكَ خَاصَمْتُ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِعِزَّتِكَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ أَنْ تُضِلَّنِي أَنْتَ الْحَيُّ الَّذِي لَا يَمُوتُ وَالْجِنُّ وَالْإِنْسُ يَمُوتُونَ
O Allah, I have surrendered to You and I have faith in You. I trust in You and I have turned to You. I have contested my opponents for Your sake. O Allah, I seek refuge in Your power from going astray, for there is no God but You. You are the Living who never dies, while jinn and humans die.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 7383, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ أَقْوَامٌ أَفْئِدَتُهُمْ مِثْلُ أَفْئِدَةِ الطَّيْرِ
People whose hearts are like the hearts of birds will enter Paradise.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2840, Grade: Sahih
Imam al-Nawawi commented:
قيل معْنَاهُ مُتوَكِّلُون وقِيلَ قُلُوبُهُمْ رقِيقةٌ
It is said to mean those who rely upon Allah, or those who have soft hearts.
Source: Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn 1/45
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: He took part in the military expedition with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, against Najd. When the time for afternoon rest approached, he was in a valley of thorny trees. The Prophet dismounted under a tree to rest in its shade and hung his sword upon it. The people dispersed among the trees to use their shade. While we were like this, the Prophet called for us, and we came to find a Bedouin sitting in front of him. The Prophet said:
إِنَّ هَذَا اخْتَرَطَ عَلَيَّ سَيْفِي وَأَنَا نَائِمٌ فَاسْتَيْقَظْتُ وَهُوَ فِي يَدِهِ صَلْتًا فَقَالَ مَنْ يَمْنَعُكَ مِنِّي فَقُلْتُ اللَّهُ ثَلَاثًا
This man came to me while I was asleep, and he quietly took my sword. I woke up while he stood over my head, holding my unsheathed sword. He said: Who will protect you from me? I said three times: Allah.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2910, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
In another narration, the Prophet said to the man:
مَنْ يَمْنَعُكَ مِنِّي
Who will protect you from me?
The man said, “Be better than the offender!” The Prophet said:
وأَتَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَنِّي رَسُولُ اللهِ
Will you testify that there is no God but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah?
The man said, “No, but I promise not to fight you, nor will I join anyone fighting you.” The Prophet let him go, and the man returned to his people, saying:
جِئْتُكُمْ مِنْ عِنْدِ خَيْرِ النَّاسِ
I have just come to you from the best of people!
Source: Musnad Aḥmad 15190, Grade: Sahih
Umar ibn al-Khattab reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللَّهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرُزِقْتُمْ كَمَا يُرْزَقُ الطَّيْرُ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا
If you were to rely upon Allah with reliance due to Him, He would provide for you just as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with empty stomachs and return full.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2344, Grade: Sahih
Al-Bara’ ibn ‘Azib reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
إِذَا أَخَذْتَ مَضْجَعَكَ فَتَوَضَّأْ وُضُوءَكَ لِلصَّلاَةِ ثُمَّ اضْطَجِعْ عَلَى شِقِّكَ الأَيْمَنِ ثُمَّ قُلِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ لاَ مَلْجَأَ وَلاَ مَنْجَا مِنْكَ إِلاَّ إِلَيْكَ آمَنْتُ بِكِتَابِكَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلْتَ وَبِنَبِيِّكَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلْتَ
When you go to sleep, perform ablution as for your prayer, then lie down on your right side and say, ‘O Allah, I submit my face to You, I entrust my affair to You, and I commit myself to You, in hope and in fear of You. There is no refuge or place of safety but with You. I believe in the Book You have revealed, and in the Prophet You have sent.’
Then, the Prophet said:
وَاجْعَلْهُنَّ مِنْ آخِرِ كَلاَمِكَ فَإِنْ مُتَّ مِنْ لَيْلَتِكَ مُتَّ وَأَنْتَ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ
Make these your last words. If you died in this night of yours, you will have died upon pure nature.
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6311, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi
Abu Bakr reported: I saw the feet of the idolaters over our heads while we were hiding in the cave, fleeing to Medina. I said, “O Messenger of Allah, if one of them only looked under his feet, he would see us!” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ مَا ظَنُّكَ بِاثْنَيْنِ اللهُ ثَالِثُهُمَا
O Abu Bakr, what do you think of two for whom Allah is the third?
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2381, Grade: Sahh
Umm Salamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would say when leaving the house:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ نَزِلَّ أَوْ نَضِلَّ أَوْ نَظْلِمَ أَوْ نُظْلَمَ أَوْ نَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيْنَا
In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah. O Allah, we seek refuge in You from misstepping or being led astray, from wronging or being wronged, from abusing or being abused.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3427, Grade: Sahih
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
مَنْ قَالَ يَعْنِي إِذَا خَرَجَ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ يُقَالُ لَهُ كُفِيتَ وَوُقِيتَ وَتَنَحَّى عَنْهُ الشَّيْطَانُ
Whoever says when he leaves his house, ‘In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah, for there is no movement or might but in Allah,’ then it will be said to him that you have been sufficed and protected, and the devils will be far from him.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3426, Grade: Sahih
Anas ibn Malik reported: There were two brothers in the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, one of whom would attend the lessons of the Prophet and the other would engage in business. The businessman complained to the Prophet about his brother, and the Prophet said:
لَعَلَّكَ تُرْزَقُ بِهِ
Perhaps you are granted provision because of him.
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2345, Grade: Sahih
Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.
