What is Tawakkul?

A’la Hadrat Maulana Shah Imam Ahmed Raza Khan عَـلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الـرَّحْمٰن has said, ‘Tawakkul does not mean giving up sources, but rather اِعْتِمَاد عَلَی الْاَسْبَاب it means not having trust in sources.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 24, pp. 379) In other words, Tawakkul is not to give up sources, but rather Tawakkul is that one should not trust sources.

2. Better than the world and all that it has

The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰى عَـلَيْـهِ وَاٰلـِهٖ وَسَـلَّم has said, ‘As much place as a whip covers in Heaven is better than the world and its things.’

(Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 392, Hadees 3250)

Regarding this Blessed Hadees, ‘Allamah Shaykh ‘Abdul Haq Muhaddis Dihlvi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated, ‘A little space in Paradise is better than the world and whatever it has. To mention a whip refers to a custom of the past when a horseman would throw his whip at the place where he wanted to get off so that no one else would get off there.’ (Ashi’a-tul-Lam’aat, vol. 4, pp. 433)

Hakeem-ul-Ummat Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has stated that mentioning a whip implies a little place of Heaven! Indeed heavenly favours are eternal while worldly things are mortal. Worldly comforts come with troubles, whereas heavenly favours are pure (not mixed with troubles). Worldly things are inferior while those of Heaven are superior. Therefore, the world bears no comparison with even a little place of Heaven.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 7, pp. 447)

3. Those saving wealth for worldly life are unwise

Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has narrated that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰى عَـلَيْـهِ وَاٰلـِهٖ وَسَـلَّم said, ‘The world is the house of the one who has no house and is the wealth of the one who has no wealth, and the one saving for it is not wise.’ (Mishkat-ul-Masabih, vol. 2, pp. 250, Hadees 5211)