Were You To Depend

Question :

Please explain this Hadith so that we have a correct understanding of it:
"Were you to depend upon Allah with true dependence, He would have provided for you like he provides for the bird; early in the morning he leaves hungry, but returns at the end of the day with a full stomach."

Answer:

The Hadith from 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet said:
"Were you to depend upon Allah with true dependence, He would have provided for you like he provides for the bird; early in the morning he leaves hungry, but returns at the end of the day with a full stomach.

was recorded by Imam Ahmad, At-Tirmithi, An-Nisa'i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hadith Majah, Ibn Hibban, and Al-Hakim, and At-Tirmithi said, "This Hadith is Hasan Sahih."

The (Arabic) word (in the Hadith is) "Tawakkul," means to depend sincerely in one's heart upon Allah Almighty, for bringing blessings and warding off harms, for this world and the Hereafter. If people were to sincerely trust and depend upon Allâh to bring them that which benefits them and to keep away that which harms them, and if they take reasonable, practical steps themselves, Allâh will send their provision to them by the simplest of means. Just as Allah Almighty gives the bird provision when it simply leaves in the morning, seeking its sustenance, and returns at the end of the day. Yes, it does go out to search, but it is an easy effort. Tawakkul in reality does not deny actually working and striving for provision, for Allâh Almighty has decreed that we should work and it is from His ways that he gives people when they strive. In fact, Allah Almighty ordered us to both depend upon Him and to work, to take the necessary steps needed to achieve our goals, and so the act of striving for our sustenance is an act of physical worship while trusting and depending upon Allâh is faith in Him. He said:
"And in Allah let believers put their trust"

He made Tawakkul like Taqwa which is to establish the means. that have been ordered, while depending upon Allâh. Depen- dence without working and striving is mere impotence, even though, when one does this, he may appear to depend on Allâh to a certain degree. No one, then, should transform his trust into mere impotence and weakness. One should rather deem his trust in Allâh to be like working and striving: it is one of the necessary steps one must take to achieve his goal.

And with Allâh is the facilitation to do what is right. May Allah send peace and blessings upon Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

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