Class10-Relation between Dua, Tawakkul & Qadr

Class 10 
‘Relation between Dua, Tawakkul & Qadr’


Dua & Tawakkul

At-Tawakkul is to entrust your affairs and to place reliance in Allaah the Perfect and Most High, and to entrust affairs to Him, He the Perfect and Most High – this is at-Tawakkul (trust and reliance). And it is from the greatest of the types of worship, and therefore He said: وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَتَوَكَّلُوا إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ : And place your reliance and trust in Allaah if you are true believers [5:23]

So He made it a condition of eemaan to have trust and reliance upon Allaah the Perfect and Most High. And this shows that whoever does not place his trust and reliance upon Allaah, then he is not a believer. So therefore at-Tawakkul (trust and reliance) is a tremendous act of worship. So therefore the believer always places his trust and reliance upon Allaah and depends upon Allaah the Mighty and Majestic.

Putting one’s trust in Allah involves two things:

  1. Depending on Allah and believing that He is the One Who causes measures to be effective; His decree comes to pass; He has decreed all things, counted them out and ordained them, may He be glorified and exalted.
  2. Taking appropriate measures; putting one’s trust in Allah does not mean refraining from taking measures; rather part of putting one’s trust in Allah is taking appropriate measures and striving to do so. The one who refrains from doing so has gone against the laws and decree of Allah. Allah has commanded us to take appropriate measures and He encourages us to do so; He commanded His Messenger ﷺ to do that.

It is indeed a great trial for a Muslim to make du a, sincerely and properly, continually, for a long period of time, and yet see no sign of response. Here, a person’s iman in Allah is truly tested. And here is the opportunity that Shaytan uses to try to sow his whispers, and plant his doubts in a believer’s heart. In this way a person might start thinking evil thoughts about his Creator, or start doubting the wisdom of the Divine Decree.

So whoever falls into this, should immediately seek Allah’s refuge from Shay fan, and turn to Allah sincerely, making yet another dua that he be saved from Shay fan’s evil plots, and that he be granted patience to withstand the test that he is undergoing. He should also ponder over his own limited knowledge and intelligence, and realise the infinite Knowledge of Allah, and the extreme wisdom behind any Divine act.

At the same time, he should realise the great blessings that Allah has given to mankind when He guaranteed a response to all duasas long as the dua conforms to all the necessary etiquette, and there are no prohibiting factors found in the one making it. So every dua is responded by giving the doer rewards in this life and the Hereafter, and the Ways Allah responds to Duas are: –

  1. Giving what was asked, or something equivalent to it right away,
  2. Or by giving what was asked, or something equivalent to it but after a some time as it is better for the person
  3. Or by averting some evil that was to befall the one making dua
  4. Or by giving him reward equivalent to his du a on the Day of Judgement

So even when one’s du a is apparently not responded to, he should realise that the actual response might not be what he presumes, and it is, in fact, possible that his dua has already been answered, without his even knowing it!

Combating Shaytaan with Tawakkul and Dua

Without a doubt, Shay fan stoops to all levels, and tries all plots so that a person will turn away from worship of Allah. And is there any opportunity greater for him to seize than when a servant’s dua is not answered?! For here is the servant, weak and humble in front of Allah, calling and crying out to him, ‘O my Lord! O my Lord!’ Yet, there is no response! So Shaytan seizes this opportunity, and plants his whispers and seeds of doubt in the son of Adam, until he thinks every evil thought about his Lord!

But the true believer, the one who is ever- aware and cautious of Shaytan’s plots, sees the dangers of this situation, and, instead of letting it be a cause of him going away from worship of Allah, seizes it as an opportunity to attack Shaytan and increase in his worship of Allah! So he turns to Allah, again and again, and seeks refuge from Shaytan for he realizes that his only hope for safety is through Allah, and his only refuge and haven is in Allah’s Protection! So in this intense battle between Shaytan and the son of Adam, the weapon that is used is dua to Allah, and the armour that is worn is seeking refuge in Allah.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Strive to do that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless.” Narrated by Muslim, 2664.

Dua & Qadr (Preordainment)
The topic of du a and its relationship to destiny (qadr) is a very important one, and one around which much confusion exists. Many people ask: “If everything has already been destined to occur, then of what use is du a, as, if Allah has written what I want, I will get it without making du a, and if it is not written for me, then I will never get it no matter how much du al make?”

The response to this question lies in understanding that the outcome of anything is dependent on the performance of the efforts that are necessary to procure it. In other words, it has already been decreed, for example, that a seed will give fruit if planted, but this will not occur unless the farmer takes the appropriate efforts in irrigating the crop, maintaining it, protecting the seedling as it grows, and ensuring as much as he can that the factors are amenable for the plant to give fruit.

So even though a person believes in the Divine Decree, he must at the same time strive all he can to ensure that the desired goal occurs. So dua is the means that one uses to achieve the desired goal that one has, and this means in no way contradicts the destiny that has been written for that person.

Du’aa’ is very important. It can change the Divine decree and relieve distress. It is beneficial with regard to what has been decreed and what has not been decreed. This stance is clarified by the Prophet’s ﷺ ahadith

  • Nothing can change the Divine decree except du’aa’. (Narrated by Ahmad, 5/677; Ibn Maajah, 90; al-Tirmidhi, 139. Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 76687
  • Nothing increases one’s life-span except good deeds, and nothing repels Divine Decree except dua. And verily, a person may be deprived of sustenance due to a sin that he does!” (Narrated by Ibn Majah # 90, and Shaykh al-Albani said in Sahih Ibn Majah (73): “It is authentic without the addition, ‘And verily…’; see al-Sahihah, 154)

Another example of having Tawakkul but also seeking means by making the relevant Dua can be seen in the hadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ advising us to recite a dua on leaving our homes. He ﷺ said: Whoever says (the below Dua) upon going out of his home, it is said to him: “You have been sufficed, protected, and guided, and the shaytan would move aside from him, then say to another shaytan: What access do you have to a man that has been guided, sufficed, and protected?” (Reported by Abu dawood, An-Nisã’ee , and At-Tirmithi)

BISMILLAH TAWAKKALTU ‘ALA ‘ALLAH, LÁ HAWLA WA LÁ QUWWATA ‘ILLÁ BIL-LÁHI TA ÁLA  I put my trust in Allah, there is neither might nor strength, except by Allah, the Most High

Therefore, the proper response to the question posed at the beginning of the topic is, in the words of Ibn al-Qayyim (Al-Jawab al-Kafi, Ibn al-Qayyim, p. 13), as follows:

“The logical consequences of such a reasoning led to a rejection of all efforts. It can, therefore, be said to a person who holds this view, If satisfying your appetite and quenching your thirst were already decreed for you, then there is no doubt that they are going to come to pass, whether you eat and drink or you don’t. And if they were not decreed for you, they will not come to pass, whether you eat and drink or you don’t.

And likewise, if a child were decreed for you, then you will definitely receive it, whether you have sexual intercourse with your wife or you don’t. And if that was not decreed for you, then it will not come to pass. Thus, there is no need for marrying, having sexual relations and so on and so forth.” End Quote

Who says such a statement? Is it one possessing common sense or a beast? Rather, even the animal has a natural inclination (fitrah) towards seeking the means of attaining something desired.

The decreed result is preordained along with its proper means, which lead to its occurrence. One of these means is the supplication. It is not preordained just like that, without any means (leading to its occurrence), rather it is preordained along with its proper means (which will ensure its occurrence). So when a person comes across the means, the decreed matter will come to pass. And if he does not come across those means, the decreed matter is denied.

To summarise, then, Divine Decree (qadr) cannot be used as an excuse not to make du a. For, just as one strives to ensure that one attains worldly needs, of food, drink and family, so too must one strive in one’s religious deeds to attain the desired goal. Dua is intrinsically related to qadr; in fact, it is Apart of one’s qadr. So the Muslim turns to Allah and prays to Him for good and also so that any and all evil can be averted from him.

Additionally, it should be remembered that the concept of Divine Decree is one that a human can never fully understand, due to his limited intellect and finite capabilities. The true Muslim does not delve too deeply into the philosophical ramifications of Divine Decree. Rather, he accepts all that has occurred to him in the past as having been destined for him, and he strives to obtain what he desires in the future (as long as it is permissible for him). Since he does not know what has been written for him in the future, he expects the best from Allah, and does everything in his power to ensure that what he wants is granted him. Just like going to work every day will ensure, if Allah wills, that he gets his pay-cheque at the end of the month, so too does making dua ensure, if Allah wills, that he achieves his desired goal.

The Most Important Matters to Ask For
The servant asks Allah for his each and every matter, for the treasures of all matters belong to Allah. However, without a doubt, certain matters have more right to be asked than others, for not all affairs are equivalent in importance. Of the matters that one should ask continuously and without fail are the following:

1. Guidance

Every day, atleast 17 times a day, we Muslims cries out to Allah: You Alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for HelpGuide us to the Straight Path.

So it is of primary importance that we ask Allah for help in worshipping Him, and that we be guided to the Straight Path, the Path of those whom He is pleased with, and not the Path of those who have gone astray.

2. Forgiveness

No matter how pious a person becomes, or how rightly guided he is, he is bound to fall into error occasionally, for he is only human. The righteous person realises this, and is ever-quick to turn to Allah in repentance, doing so frequently and sincerely. And the Prophet ﷺ, the most perfect of the Children of Adam, informed us of his own situation, and commanded us to follow it, when he said: O Mankind! Repent to Allah and seek forgiveness, for verily I ask for Allah’s forgiveness a hundred times a day! (Sahih Muslim)

3. Paradise

The ultimate goal of every believer should be to earn the pleasure of Allah, and, through it, Paradise. So if this really is the goal of the believer, he should ask for it in every single dua that he makes, day and night, morning and evening. And if a person finds that he does not ask frequently for Paradise, then he must ask himself how important it is to him, and re-evaluate the priorities that he has made for himself.

The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “When you ask of Allaah, ask Him for al-Firdaws, for it is in the middle of Paradise and is the highest part of Paradise, and above it is the Throne of the Most Merciful, and from it spring forth the rivers of Paradise.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2637; Muslim, 2831

4. Protection from Afflictions

Abul-Fadl Al-`Abbas bin `Abdul-Muttalib (ra) reported: I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺto teach me a supplication. He ﷺ said, “Beg Allah for safety (from all evils in this world and in the Hereafter).” I waited for some days and then I went to him again and asked him: “O Messenger of Allah Teach me to supplicate something from Allah.” He said to me, “O Al-`Abbas, the uncle of Messenger of Allah! Beseech Allah to give you safety (Al-`afiyah ) in this life and in the Hereafter.” (Tirmidhi)

5. To keep us steadfast

A person always strives to protect the valuables that he has, and takes every precaution that they are not taken away from him. And without a doubt, the greatest blessing that a Muslim has been given is the blessing oilman, and hence why he continually asks Allah to protect his iman.

It was narrated that Anas said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ often used to say: “O Turner of the hearts, make my heart steadfast in adhering to Your religion.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2140) and Ibn Maajah (3834); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)

6. Praying for the Ummah

It was narrated from ‘Asim al-Ahwal that ‘Abdullah ibn Sarjis said: I saw the Prophet ﷺ and I ate bread and meat with him – or he said: thareed. He (the narrator) said: I said to him: Did the Prophet ﷺ pray for forgiveness for you? He said: Yes, and for you. Then he recited this verse: And ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women” [Muhammad 47:19].” Narrated by Muslim, 2346.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ offered the funeral prayer and said: “O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, our young ones and our old ones, our males and our females, those of us who are present and those who are absent. O Allah, whomever You keep alive, keep him alive with faith and whomever you cause to die, cause him to die in Islam. Do not deprive us of the reward and do not cause us to go astray after this.” (Narrated by at-Tirmidhi, 1024; Abu Dawood, 3201; an-Nasai, 1986).

7. A Good End

A good end means when a person was guided before his death to keep away from that which angers the Lord and to repent from sin, and to focus on doing acts of worship and good deeds, and then he died in this good state. One of the indications of this is the saheeh hadeeth narrated from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: “When Allaah wills good for His slave, He uses him.” They said, “How does He use him?” He said, “He guides him to do good deeds before he dies.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 11625; al-Tirmidhi, 2142; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani)

Also it was narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (there is no god but Allaah), seeking the Face of Allaah and that was his final action, will enter Paradise. Whoever fasts one day seeking the Face of Allaah and that was his final action, will enter Paradise. Whoever gives charity seeking the Face of Allaah and that was his final action will enter Paradise.” (Narrated by Imam Ahmad, Al-Albaani said its isnaad is saheeh).

Conclusion
What we learnt in the course, is merely a glimpse at some of the many facets of dua. Dua is a treasure that all people can possess, yet so few strive to achieve. It is a light that one can use to guide oneself out of the darkest dilemma that one may be in. It is the wind that lifts the sails of one’s hope and pushes one forth to one’s destination. It is the sword that he can use to fight any and every enemy impeding one’s path.

So ask yourself: what the status is of this affair in your life? How often do you turn to Allah? And for what matters do you turn to Him? How sincere are you in your requests? And do you ask Allah properly, conforming with the pre- requisites and etiquettes of dua? Or do you ask and ask, but not care about the ways that you have blocked its response? Are you heedless of Allah, and only turn to Him at times of need, only to forget Him when your du a is answered? Or do you despair of His Infinite Mercy and Wisdom when your dua is not responded to, forgetting and ignoring the countless other blessings that He has given you, and presuming of Allah evil thoughts?

Ponder over the answers to these questions, and change your life accordingly to better the situation that you are in.

O you who are in distress! Despair not of finding a solution to your problems. Verily, there is nothing that can overcome a sincere du a, for Allah is capable of all things. And know that the response to the du a will be proportionate to your sincerity to Allah.

All Praise is due to Allah, the Creator of all, the Giver of everything. And He is far Exalted above what others ascribe to Him. And May Peace and Blessing be upon the perfect worshipper of Allah, the Final Messenger, Muhammad ibn Abdillah ﷺ and all those who follow him.

Please remember us and the whole Ummah in your Prayers!