Faith In Allah: The Ultimate Source Of Strength

Faith in Allah is a central tenet of Islam. The Arabic word for 'trust in Allah' is tawakkul, which means to place one's affairs in the hands of another. In the Quran, Allah is referred to as Al-Wakeel, or the Disposer of Affairs, 14 times. Muslims are instructed to place their trust in Allah alone, as He is the Best Sustainer and will guide and protect them in times of hardship. This trust in Allah is not passive, but rather involves belief, dependence and action. While Muslims are instructed to have faith in Allah's plan, they are also expected to take practical measures to solve their problems. This concept of tawakkul is a requirement for Muslims, who are told to seek provision from Allah while also worshipping and striving for their sustenance.

Patience and faith in Allah

Muslims are expected to have faith and trust in Allah, and to believe that He is the Creator of all things, with the power to create whatever He wants. This faith is called Tawhid, or Tawakkul, and it is an integral part of being a Muslim.

Tawakkul is the trust and reliance Muslims place in Allah. It is the belief that Allah will decide the outcome of all things and Muslims must accept this, regardless of the result. Tawakkul is a requirement for Muslims, as stated in the Quran: "And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed" (Quran, 5:23).

How to Achieve Tawakkul

Muslims must strive and work with the attitude that Allah will take care of them and help them through their trials. This is an act of physical and spiritual worship. While Muslims must trust in Allah, they should not confuse this reliance with laziness or complacency. They must still take practical measures to solve their problems and not neglect their duties, such as applying for jobs or attending interviews. This is illustrated in the story of the Prophet Muhammad and the Bedouin. When the Prophet asked the Bedouin why he had not tied his camel, the Bedouin replied that he trusted in Allah. The Prophet then said: "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" (At-Tirmidhi).

Benefits of Tawakkul

Tawakkul can relieve Muslims of unnecessary anxiety and worry, and the resulting depression that daily challenges may bring. By believing that their affairs are in Allah's hands, Muslims can leave the results to Him and accept His decree, whatever it may be.

Patience in the Face of Adversity

Muslims should not despair, even in the most difficult moments. They must remain in a positive state of mind and look for wisdom in their trials, as they believe that Allah has the power to create whatever He wants. Any trying times they face are seen as a God-sent test.

Muslims should also have patience at the time of calamity for the sake of Allah, as this is one of the means of entering Paradise. They must remember that Allah's help is always near, and that He will help them against their disbelieving enemies.

Trust in Allah in All Situations

Muslims should trust in Allah in all situations, whether happy or sad, successful or facing difficulties. Allah knows everything and is with Muslims wherever they are. He is all-powerful and merciful. As Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, said:

> "Allah says in the Qur'an, 'Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, declare the praises and glory of Allah. He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He gives Life and Death and He has Power over all things. He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden and He has full knowledge of all things. He is with you wherever you may be. And Allah sees well all that ye do. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and all affairs are referred back to Allah.'" (Al-Hadid: 1-6)

Trust and reliance on Allah

Tawakkul is derived from the Arabic word 'tawakkul', which means to place one's affairs in the hands of another. In the Quran, Allah is referred to as Al-Wakeel, or the Disposer of Affairs, emphasising His role as the one who controls all matters.

Muslims are commanded to put their trust in Allah alone and not His creation. This trust is an act of worship and a demonstration of monotheistic belief. By trusting in Allah, Muslims express their faith and acknowledge that He is the only true source of support and guidance.

There are several levels of Tawakkul:

• Belief in Allah as the All-Knowing and All-Capable Sustainer, recognising that nothing occurs without His Will and Instructions.
• Understanding that every matter has a cause or means. While Muslims trust in Allah, they should also utilise the means and resources available to them to achieve their goals.
• Firm reliance on Allah alone, without feeling forced to do so.
• Wholehearted dependence on Allah, leading to a sense of tranquility and peace.

The benefits of Tawakkul are significant. It provides Muslims with a sense of hope and resilience, knowing that Allah's wish is behind every occurrence, and that He will not burden them beyond what they can bear. This trust in Allah also fosters humility, as Muslims recognise that all achievements and successes are ultimately due to His grace.

Trusting in Allah also brings peace and contentment, as Muslims surrender to His Infinite Will and accept His decisions. They understand that Allah is wise and merciful, and that He will guide them through trials and grant them success in this world and the Hereafter.

In times of joy or sadness, ease or difficulty, Muslims are encouraged to remember Allah's words: "Naught befalleth us save that which Allah hath decreed for us. He is our protecting Friend. In Allah let believers put their trust!" (At-Tawbah: 51). By maintaining strong faith and trust in Allah, Muslims can face life's challenges with resilience and positivity, never losing hope in the mercy and power of their Lord.

Dignity and self-esteem

Self-esteem is defined as feeling worthy of the respect of others. All human beings have an innate desire to be respected and liked, and self-esteem brings confidence in one's abilities, helping to achieve one's goals. It boosts the spirit and produces noble characters and lofty ideas.

However, self-esteem should not lead to arrogance or vanity. In Islam, arrogance is defined as ridiculing and rejecting the truth and despising people. Vanity, on the other hand, is being proud of one's qualities and abilities and thinking oneself to be better than others.

Instead, Muslims are encouraged to have dignity ('izzah). This involves recognising the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon them and walking humbly with a recognition of those blessings without deeming themselves better than others.

Muslims are also warned against debasement (dhul), which involves allowing others to walk over them and take away their rights. While Islam encourages humility (tawadu'), this does not mean giving up one's rights or allowing others to treat one without respect.

To increase self-esteem, Muslims are advised to:

• Put their trust in Allah and seek support from Him
• Identify their strong points and increase them, and their weak points and try to deal with them
• Look with gratitude at the skills and characteristics Allah has given them
• Set specific goals and work towards achieving them
• Seek righteous companions who will encourage and guide them
• Not be distracted by previous difficult experiences or failures but learn from them

By following these guidelines, Muslims can achieve a healthy sense of self-esteem and dignity, which will help them in their spiritual and worldly endeavours.

Modesty and humbleness

Humbleness Before God

Humbleness before God implies faith in Him and total submission to His will and commands without feeling haughty. This means having faith in God's plan and accepting the results that He decides, regardless of the outcome. This is known as Tawakkul, or trust and reliance on Allah. In the Quran, Allah says:

> "And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever places his trust in Allah, Sufficient is He for him, for Allah will surely accomplish His Purpose: For verily, Allah has appointed for all things a due proportion." (Quran, 65:3)

Humbleness With People

Humbleness with people involves being modest, lacking pride, and not being boastful or excessively self-assertive. In the Quran, it is stated that the only basis for varying degrees of honour among people is their piety:

> "O humankind! Lo! We have created you male and female, and we have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Lo! the noblest of you, in the sight of Allah, is the best in conduct." (Al-Hujurat 49:13)

Since piety and God-consciousness are internal, and only God can know whether a person is pious, believers should observe modesty and humbleness as basic traits. Modesty is mentioned in the Quran as a characteristic of those whom God loves most:

> "O you who believe! If any from among you turn back from his Faith, soon will Allah produce a people whom He will love as they will love Him,— lowly with the believers, mighty against the rejecters." (Al-Ma’idah 5:54)

The Prophet Muhammad as a Role Model for Humbleness

The Prophet Muhammad's personal life exemplified humbleness. When asked about the Prophet's behaviour at home, his wife, A'ishah, said that he used to help with household chores and would go to the mosque to pray when he heard the call to prayer.

Whenever the Prophet entered a room, he would sit wherever there was space and did not try to place himself in the forefront. When he entered Mecca after its conquest, a victorious moment for Islam, he lowered his forehead on his camel in prostration and thanked God.

The Importance of Modesty and Humbleness

Practicing Modesty and Humbleness

Muslims are instructed to be humble towards one another and not to boast or look down on others. This includes accepting the truth from anyone, regardless of their age or status, and being patient and kind in response to rudeness or arrogance from others.

In conclusion, modesty and humbleness are essential virtues in Islam, reflecting a person's faith and closeness to God. By practising these virtues, Muslims can attain God's pleasure and elevate their status in the hereafter.

Morality, tolerance and open-mindedness

Morality, tolerance, and open-mindedness are central tenets of Islam, and these values are derived from the Quran and the Hadith, the central religious texts of the faith.

Muslims are called to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong, and the Hadith quotes Muhammad as saying, "I was sent to perfect the ethical conduct". The Quran also states that everyone is created by God, and so everyone must be treated with honour, respect, and loving-kindness, regardless of faith, race, ethnic origin, gender, or social status.

Islam teaches that it is by Divine Will that humans follow different religions, or no religion at all, and that freedom of religion is a God-given right. The Quran also makes clear that God loves justice, especially towards those who are different from us, including in matters of religious belief.

The Quran and the Hadith outline many virtues and good character traits that are encouraged, including kindness to people and animals, charity, forgiveness, honesty, patience, justice, and respect for parents and elders.

Muslims are also instructed to maintain decency in speech and to avoid misuse of the tongue, excessive talking, and useless gossip. Muhammad is reported to have preferred maintaining silence over engaging in meaningless talk.

In Islam, honesty is seen as a religious obligation and is to be maintained in private as well as in public. Dishonesty is considered a major sin and a departure from religion.

Islam also places importance on tolerance, both at a personal level and at a societal level. When faced with ill-treatment, Muslims are taught to be tolerant and not seek vengeance. During the initial years of Islam, Muhammad himself faced persecution by the Meccan pagans, but he advised his companions to be tolerant.

The Quran also recognises the diversity among people and reminds Muslims of their shared humanity, urging them to rise above racial and national divisions and accept differences in social, cultural, political, financial, and religious spheres to secure a peaceful coexistence.

Frequently asked questions