Reliance on Allah

Allah says:
Faatir (35) 15: O mankind, it is you who are in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.

A person is incapable of independently attaining his interests and repelling harm. And he is in need of the assistance of his Creator. And Allah the Glorified is the Eternal, the Satisfier of every need, Whom all creatures turn to fulfill their needs. And Allah is completely Self-Sustaining. And all else besides Him is truly poor, in need to the utmost degree. And for this reason, from among the Prophet’s concise and comprehensive supplications in the morning and evening was:
O Living, O Self-Sustaining Sustainer! In Your Mercy do I seek relief. Put all of my affairs in good order. Do not leave me to myself even for a blink of an eye (a moment).

So know oh servant of Allah that you are in need of Allah to rectify your worldly and religious affairs. And know that no matter how much you expend of means, you will not attain your aims except through success from Allah. Rather a person may knock on a door that he believes is beneficial but it is pure harm.

Al Baqarah (2) 216, Al Baqarah (2) 232, Al Imran (3) 66, An Noor (24) 19: And Allah knows, while you know not.

If a person does not have Allah’s help, then his efforts will be the first to turn on him.

Among the greatest deeds of the heart and worships that bring one closer to the Knower of the Unseen is reliance on Allah. And entrusting our affairs to Him. And seeking His help. And Allah magnified the matter of reliance on Him and made it one of the levels of religion. And He coupled it with worship in the verse:
Hud (11) 123: So worship Him and rely upon Him.

And he made reliance on Him a means of attaining his love. Allah said:
Al Imran (3) 159: Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].

And a condition for obtaining Iman (faith). He said:
Al Maeda (5) 23: And upon Allah rely, if you should be believers.

And it was coupled with fear of Allah and an increase in Iman (faith) as Allah said:
Al Anfal (8) 2: The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely

Ibn Qayem (may Allah have mercy on him) said “Tawakul (reliance on Allah) is the foundation for all the levels of Iman (faith), Ihsan (Excellence in goodness) and all the deeds of Islam. And its relation to them is like that of the body to the head.”

Oh Muslims: Whoever relies on Allah will find in his reliance tranquility and peace of mind. Because he knows that his support in all matters is the Owner of Power, Most High.

Ash-Shu’ara (26) 217-220: (217) And rely upon the Exalted in Might, the Merciful, (218) Who sees you when you arise (219) And your movement among those who prostrate.(220) Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Knowing.

And whenever the heart turns to other than Allah, Allah entrusts him to whatever he turned to. And he becomes humiliated and disappointed. The Prophet ﷺ said:
And whoever hangs up something (as an charm/amulet) will be entrusted to it.[Sahih Tirmithi 2072]

So refer the matters to their Owner. For Allah is the Mighty King Who does not disappoint whoever seeks His help. And He does not allow those adhering to His Side to be lost. And they have good tidings of victory and empowerment from Him.

And the creation, no matter how great their affairs are, will disappoint the one whose heart turns to them for the slightest need. The poet spoke in truth when he said:
Is it with an impoverished eye, that you glance at me?

You humiliated me and from up high you cast me

You are not to be blamed, for I am blameworthy

Because I hung my hopes on other than the Almighty

Servants of Allah, whenever the person thinks well of Allah and sincerely relies on Him, Allah will not disappoint his hopes in Him at all.

And whoever is sincere in his reliance on Allah in attaining something will receive it. And whoever entrusts his affairs to the Almighty, Allah will suffice him for whatever concerns him.

Whoever actualizes reliance on His Master, Allah looks after him and does not entrust him with other than Him the Exalted.

At-Talaq (65) 3: And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him.

And the level of reliance on Allah is proportional to the degree of thinking well of the Lord and having hope in Him:
Al Imran (3) 173-175 : (173) Those to whom people [i.e., hypocrites] said, “Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, “Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.” (174) So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (175) That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.

Oh people, as the significance of the matter being sought increases, reliance on Allah is more necessary. And as what one fears increases in danger, reliance on Allah to repel it is more needed. And for this reason, among the most important matters to rely on Allah for is to safeguard one’s Iman (faith) and his Tawhid (Divine unity) from the trials, diversions and deviations from the guidance. Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

And reliance on Allah in the religious affairs is superior to reliance on Allah in the worldly affairs.

And from Allah’s safeguarding of those relying on Him is that the shaytan has no authority over them as Allah stated :

An-Nahl (16) 99: Indeed, there is for him no authority over those who have believed and rely upon their Lord.

Oh Muslims: Whoever is more knowledgeable of Allah and His attributes, his reliance on Allah is stronger and more authentic. And Allah’s safeguarding of and caring for him is greater. Omar (may Allah be pleased with him) said I heard the messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
If you were to rely upon Allah with the required reliance, then He would provide for you just as a bird is provided for, it goes out in the morning empty, and returns full. [Musnad Ahmad 370]

And Allah has ordained portions for all matters in due measure and established means for them. And if the heart inclines to these means and forgets their Originator, then this is a deficiency in tawhid (Divine unity). And denying that means are causes is defective logic and a deficiency in creed. And the one establishing tawhid (Divine Unity) and reliance on Allah is neither reassured nor places his hopes in these means. Just as he does not neglect them or deny them. Rather he establishes them looking to their Originator Glorified be He. So his limbs exert in carrying out the means. And his heart is attached to the Lord of the Worlds and the Originator of the means.

I rely on Allah my Creator for my provision

I am certain without doubt that Allah is my provider

And whatever is meant for me will not pass me

And even if it is in the deepest depths of the seas

Allah Almighty will bring it through His Grace

And even if I do not have a tongue that speaks

Then for what reason do the souls anguish?

While the Merciful has distributed the provisions of all creation

Oh Allah make us among those who rely upon You and turn to you in repentance. And do not leave us to ourselves or to the means for even a blink of the eye. And safeguard us with what you safeguard Your Righteous servants. Indeed Allah is All Hearing, Answering.

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