51 - الْوَكِيلُ

[Bint e Aisha]

الْوَكِيلُ

 

 

Translation

 

الْوَكِيلُ is translated as The Trustee and The Advocator. It comes from وكل  - to entrust.

 

Definition

All matters are under the trust of Allah ta’ala.

 

When one knows that all of creation is under the command of Allah ta’ala and no one else owns anything and that all of creation belongs to Him then one’s trust is also there. One realises He is the only One Who has the right to be entrusted. 

 

“Wakeel” in Arabic and Urdu can mean “Lawyer”, someone who advocates for you and whose opinion and judgment you trust.  Linguistically it means you entrust someone and make them responsible on your behalf. Allah ta’ala tells us in the Qur’an to entrust all our affairs to Him, 

 

رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا 
 

He is the Rabb of the east and the west: there is no god but Him, therefore, take Him as your Protector.
[Surah Muzzammil: 9]

 

 

In the Qur’an

It is mentioned 14 times in the Qur’an. 

 

What is Tawakkul?

We should use the necessary means, make effort and leave the outcome to Allah ta’ala and this is what Tawakkul means. 

 

Extremes in Tawakkul

Some people go to extremes one of them being when people are over confident. They will use the necessary means and then trust their own effort instead trusting in Allah ta’ala. They will have a little bit of arrogance i.e. “I planned for every possible problem.” This is not entrusting your affairs to Allah ta’ala. It is trusting in your own efforts more than in Allah ta’ala. Then when something goes wrong the person ends up blaming themselves saying they had put in so much effort and it has gone wrong. Obviously we make mistakes and cannot foretell every possible problem that can arise.

 

Another extreme is when people use Tawakkul as an excuse for being lazy and at the same time being pseudo-spiritual. They say, “I am going to trust in Allah ta’ala and I’m not going to do anything.” 

 

The middle path is true Tawakkul which is to use the means, try your best and do what is in your power and then entrust your affairs to Allah ta’ala. So if you missed your flight despite planning then not to blame others or get angry but believe that there is Kahyr in it. 

 

Make Allah ta’ala your Wakeel & do not make anyone else your Wakeel. 

In another place Allah ta’ala says,

 

وَآتَيْنَا مُوسَى الْكِتَابَ وَجَعَلْنَاهُ هُدًى لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ أَلَّا تَتَّخِذُوا مِنْ دُونِي وَكِيلًا
 

We gave Musa (Moses) the Book and made it a guide for the Children of Israel, saying: "Do not take any other protector besides Me. [Surah Al-Israa: 2]

 

Looking at these verses two things are apparent. One is where Allah ta’ala tells us to make Him our Wakeel and the other is Allah ta’ala saying not to take anyone other than Him as a Wakeel. Therefore we should make Allah ta’ala our Wakeel and not take anyone else as our Wakeel. 

 

Result of Tawakkul

Allah ta’ala says in Surah Ahzaab (Verse 3),

وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا - And put thy trust in Allah, for Allah is sufficient as Trustee.

 

This verse was revealed after the Battle of Badr. The Muslims were facing a very strong army but they did their best and trusted in Allah ta’ala and that is a high level when one’s resources are limited and the challenge in front is greater and then to trust in Allah ta’ala. This is when Tawakkul shines through. 

 

Trusting in the Asbaab

Trusting in the Asbaab is a mistake many people make. For instance if a child was diagnosed with some disease and was given a 50% chance of recovery if certain things were done, then to use those means but if the child did not recover as expected then to say, “I did what I was supposed to do , so why isn’t the child recovering?” Tawakkul is to do what one can and then trust Allah ta’ala to put an effect in it as He is the One Who grants Shifaa.

 

Tawakkul is a full hearted thing. The more your heart is into it the more you will find that He is the Wakeel for you.

 

Spiritual Stages of Surah Muzzammil

رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا
 

He is the Rabb of the east and the west: there is no god but Him, therefore, take Him as your Protector.
[Surah Muzzammil: 9]

 

Regarding this verse Scholars have said that this Surah has spiritual stages.

 

The first stage is to stand in prayer at night - قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 

 

Then to read the Qur’an “Tarteelaa” - وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا

 

Another verse says to turn away from Ghayrullaah – وَاذْكُرِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ وَتَبَتَّلْ إِلَيْهِ تَبْتِيلًا

Remember the name of your Rabb and devote yourself to Him exclusively.

 

Thereafter to have Tawakkul in Allah ta’ala – رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ فَاتَّخِذْهُ وَكِيلًا 

 

Therefore on a spiritual level to do ‘Ibaadah, use the Asbaab and then rely on Allah ta’ala. For example, in the middle of Ramadhaan when feeling low spiritually, the important thing is doing what we are supposed to do i.e. Salaah, Tilaawat, Du’a etc. then see what you should not be doing i.e. wasting time online, on social media etc. and refraining from it. This is trying from your side and then trusting in Allah ta’ala. 

 

It is not the Asbaab which are going to make you a spiritual person. It is when Allah ta’ala wants you to be spiritually progressing that it will happen. Our job is to do what is required in terms of our Deen and make Du’a for spiritual progress. 

 

Therefore Tawakkul is not just for financial or other materialistic, mundane worldly matters but it is also for our spiritual life. However we put emphasis on ourselves saying, “My ‘Ibaadah does not have enough Khushu’.” We should try to attain it and trust in Allah ta’ala and not in our ‘Ibaadah. There is an embedded arrogance in us that we think our ‘Ibaadah is good enough however the reality is that no ‘Ibaadah is going to be good enough and this gives some consolation as nothing is going to be good enough to reach Allah ta’ala. We can use the Asbaab and try and say, “O Allah! I trust in You to grant me Your Qurb.”

 

Sometimes we see that we do things half-heartedly or we put a lot of effort in and still don’t feel anything and we stress about it then suddenly out of nowhere, a small thing like a beautiful quote or a verse of the Qur’an etc. triggers a flood of tears and spiritual feelings. Therefore do what is required in all aspects of life and trust the outcome to Allah ta’ala.

 

Another verse in the Qur’an says,
 

وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ - for Allah is all sufficient for the person who puts his trust in Him. [Surah Talaaq: 3]

 

The better the quality of our Tawakkul the more Allah ta’ala will suffice. It is like a circle. It is not lack of deeds but lack of Tawakkul which is preventing spiritual progress.  

 

We are lacking in Tawakkul due to general disloyalty and being let down by people so we stop trusting in Allah ta’ala but trusting in Allah ta’ala and trusting in people are two different things. People are also Asbaab i.e. our teachers are a means to Allah ta’ala so we trust in our teachers as a means but trust is in Allah ta’ala. 

 حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ  – A Powerful Du’a in Difficulty
 

This is a very powerful Du’a to recite. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam and the Sahaba RA recited it. Ibraheem AS recited it when he was thrown in the fire. Scholars say we should recite it during difficulties. 

 

Since Tawakkul is not leaving aside the Asbaab (it is using the means and then trusting in Allah ta’ala) if something did not happen the way we wanted or it takes a long time, then we should do Sabr, and if it does happen the way we wanted then we should do Shukr. The stronger the Tawakkul, the less likelihood of depression, anxiety and tension, and the more Tawakkul, the more peace of mind there is. Trust Allah ta’ala to put the effect in the Asbaab and do not trust in the Asbaab.

 

Two people came to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam with a legal dispute and he (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) decided in favour of one of them so the other person was quiet and said the above Du’a. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam called him and said that Allah ta’ala does not like him to accept loss and give up but to use the means and then if in a helpless situation, then say حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيل. 

 

The point is that Allah ta’ala does not want us to just be helpless and weak. The person should make effort in the right way and then when there is nothing he can do, then say حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيل. 

 

A person asked the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam “Should I tie my camel and have Tawakkul (trust in Allah for her protection) or should I leave her untied and have Tawakkul.” He (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied, “Tie her and have Tawakkul.” [Tirmidhi]
 

A Scholar says that Maryam AS was told to shake the branch of a date tree while she was delivering. She did so and the dates fell. The Scholar is saying that Allah ta’ala could have let the dates drop on her but He wanted her to use the means and trust in Allah ta’ala to drop the dates. Therein is a lesson for us.

 

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, 
 

“O people, fear Allah and be moderate in seeking a living, for no soul will die until it has received all its provision, even if it is slow in coming. So fear Allah and be moderate in seeking provision; take that which is permissible and leave that which is forbidden.” [Ibn Majah]

 

How to do Tawakkul?

 

فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ

and when you make a decision to do something, then put your trust in Allah (hold fast to your decision). Allah loves those who put their trust in Him. [Surah Aali ‘Imraan:159]

 

Allah ta’ala is teaching us how to do Tawakkul. When a person has looked at all the options regarding something and then decides, now do Tawakkul. Therefore do not be wishy-washy and say, “What if” but do Tawakkul. If something happens which is not what you wanted, then do not cry over spilt milk and do not go back and say “If”.

 

Ibn Qayyim (Rahimahullah) said “Tawakkul is half of Deen.” The reason is just as all of the Qur’an is in Surah Faatihah and all of Surah Faatihah is in “Iyyakana’budu wa iyyaa kanasta’een”, so Deen is in two parts. One is ‘Ibaadah and the other is to seek Allah ta’ala’s help and ‘Ibaadah is turning to Allah ta’ala and seeking Allah ta’ala’s help is Tawakkul. 

 

Therefore doing what we can and then trusting in Allah ta’ala is actually asking Allah ta’ala’s help and it keeps us protected from Shirk. 

 

It is mentioned in a Hadith in ibn Majah “The heart of man lingers after everything. Allah does not care for a man who puts his heart at the disposal of everything; he may be destroyed in any place (and way – Allah cares not for him). Whoever has trust on Allah, Allah suffices for him in all affairs.”

 

We are scattered in so many directions with different ideas in the heart and we are left nowhere. That person who tries to stick to one thing and trusts in Allah ta’ala then He will make that enough for him. 

 

Benefits of Tawakkul

One of the benefits of Tawakkul is that one’s doubts and “ifs” and “buts” will be alleviated. Life becomes easier with less stress, anxiety etc. 

 

A famous Scholar of the past, Fakhruddeen Razi (Rahimahullah) said in his Tafseer of Surah Yusuf relating his own experience that when a person really trusts someone other than Allah ta’ala then He will put the person through a lot of difficulty and effort and if a person trusts in Allah ta’ala then he will find everything working out beautifully. He stresses that we should trust only in Allah ta’ala and not in people. 

 

It is not that we do not trust people, we do. For example we trust a doctor but the doctor is the means for cure or we trust our teacher being the means of us becoming better people. 

 

Sometimes we trust people too much/wholeheartedly, more than Allah ta’ala and he will use that as a trial for us. Sometimes we trust abstract things i.e. our efforts, abilities, intelligence etc. and Allah ta’ala will use that as a trial for us. Sometimes a person trusts in his health saying how healthy he is and then he gets sick. Therefore saying or feeling something which Allah ta’ala dislikes or wholeheartedly putting trust in something instead of in Allah ta’ala, it becomes a trial. These trials bring a person back to trusting in Allah ta’ala. We also trust in our own good deeds i.e. when we think it is our deeds which will take us to Jannah.

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said to the Sahaba RA that none of them will enter Jannah because of their deeds. They asked if they should stop doing deeds and Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam replied that they should continue doing deeds and they will bring the mercy of Allah ta’ala. 

 

No One Will Enter Paradise By Virtue Of His Deeds

The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam said,

“Observe moderation (in doing deeds), and if you fail to observe it perfectly, try to do as much as you can do (to live up to this ideal of moderation) and be happy for none would be able to get into Paradise because of his deeds alone. They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: Allah’s Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in His Mercy, and bear this in mind that the deed loved most by Allah is one which is done constantly even though it is small.” [Muslim]

 

Therefore we should continue doing good deeds as they will bring the mercy of Allah ta’ala. We should think it is not our deeds themselves which will gain entry into Jannah but they are a means to Allah ta’ala  and to trust in Allah ta’ala that He will accept them and become the means of His mercy with which we will attain Jannah.

 

Three types of Tawakkul 

Mufti Shafi’ (Rahimahullah) said there are three types of Tawakkul people can have:

•    Lowest level: in terms of belief a person says he has Tawakkul on Allah ta’ala however in practical life the focus is on the means. The example he gives is that of a person who has a lawyer who he trusts to take care of his affairs however he is constantly checking up on him. 

•    The Middle level: is the person who takes care of the Asbaab (means) and puts trust in Allah ta’ala and their focus is on making Du’a. The person will find energy and inspiration to praise Allah ta’ala and make Du’a while the person with lack of Tawakkul will be so focused on the means that he will not even think of making Du’a. 

•    The highest level: is that of the Ambiyaa and Saaliheen. They have so much Tawakkul on Allah ta’ala that they do take care of the means however they are so content and at peace that they do not make Du’a regarding that matter. 

 

Du’a in Hadith

A Du’a narrated by ibn Katheer (Rahimahullah) in times of sickness or lack of provision:

 

تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى الْحَيِّ الَّذِي لا يَمُوتُ ،
 وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ وَلِيُّ مِنَ الذُّلِّ ، وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا

Second line is verse 111 of Surah 17 – Al Israa

 

Counsel

To know that Allah ta’ala is our absolute Wakeel in all things and at all times. Whoever has Ma’rifah of this name of Allah ta’ala, will find peace and will be free from depression, anxiety etc. 

 

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