Trust does it
Tawakkul is an Arabic word that is used for trust in and complete reliance on Allah. The Quran says, “And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. And if any one puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah will surely accomplish his purpose: Verily, for all things has Allah appointed a due proportion.”
This assertion about God simply means that He is in charge of everything. At the same time, God wishes to guide humanity to ultimate happiness, the fulfilment of human destiny. Among the things that God measures out is freedom and guidance. We are free to accept or reject the guidance.
The Quran speaks of tawakkul, or trust, in 40 verses and in every case the object is God. A famous saying of Prophet Mohammed suggests that trust in God means that people should always have a good opinion of Him, believing He is merciful, loving, compassionate, forgiving and gentle. We must recognise God as the ultimate reality, which implies that God’s mercy predominates His wrath.
Tawakkul involves belief, dependence and righteous action. There is a famous Hadith in which Prophet Mohammad said to the Bedouin, who had left his camel without tying it, to “tie your camel and place your trust in Allah.” The people of righteousness know the balance between action and trust in Allah.
One of my favourite stories is that of the Rabia of Basra, the woman Sufi of the eighth century CE.
Once two pious men came to pay their respects to Rabia. She had two loaves of bread and placed them before her guests. Just then Rabia heard a beggar cry out for food. She took the bread and gave it to the beggar.
Within minutes, the servant girl of a neighbour bought Rabia a basket of freshly baked bread loaves, saying, “The lady of the house has sent these for you.” Rabia counted and found that there were 18 loaves. She said, “You have made a mistake, take them back.”
The girl took the loaves back to her mistress and told her the story. The lady added two more loaves and sent the basket back. When Rabia counted the 20 loaves, she kept them and placed them before her guests. The men ate the bread and later asked her the secret behind her act.
She said, “When you came, I knew you were hungry and did not wish to put just two loaves before you. When the beggar came, I gave it to him, and prayed, ‘O my God, you have said, for each thing given in My name, trusting you I have given two loaves and am certain you will provide 10 fold.’ So when the girl brought 18 loaves, I knew they were not meant for me, but when she bought 20 I was sure the loaves were meant for me.”
Comments
Trust in Allah is adorable.
Partha Roy
12 Jul 2012 - 12:58
Trust in Allah is adorable. But reality is sometimes different . In 1991 ,I upheld dignity of entire journalists community in India ,media owners ,Government of India , Political & industrial elite of India by pointing out error of Mr Naresh Mohan then President of Indian Newspaper Society 1990-91. But my seniors in Hindustan Times suggested I should make quick biological exit in silence. Mr Ashis Bagga currently CEO ,Business Today of India Today group twice attempted to murder me in entrapped condition In modern time Trust in Allah perhaps need to be moderated by pragmatic & prudent approach to life.
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