Tawakkul (Trust in Allah)

Tawakkul (Arabic: توكل) means "to place one's trust in" or "to rely on" and refers to the believer's total trust in Allah in all of life's matters. Tawakkul is not passivity, but an active combination of doing one's best and then entrusting the result to Allah.

The Quran commands tawakkul: "And put your trust in Allah, if you are believers" (Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:23). And: "Whoever puts their trust in Allah — He is sufficient for them" (Surah Al-Talaq 65:3). Tawakkul is one of the pillars of faith (iman) and a prerequisite for inner peace.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him) said in Nahj al-Balagha: "Tawakkul is not to refrain from action, but to not attach one's heart to anything other than Allah, even while acting." Imam al-Sadiq (peace be upon him) explained: "Tawakkul is that you fear none except Allah" (Al-Kafi, vol. 2, Kitab al-Iman). And he said: "Tawakkul has degrees — the lowest is that you do not worry about what is in others' hands."

In the context of prayer, tawakkul is the inner state that should accompany every du'a. When the believer asks Allah for something, they should have trust that Allah will respond — either with the desired outcome, with something better, or by averting some harm. Imam Sajjad says in Sahifa al-Sajjadiyyah (Du'a no. 28): "O Allah! To You alone I entrust my affair." Tawakkul is the believer's compass in an uncertain world.