Tawakkul

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In the Arabic language, tawakkul (Arabic: تَوَكُّل) is a verbal noun of the verb tawakkala (Arabic: تَوَكَّلَ⁩), meaning "to put trust" or "to rely" (into or on something or someone).[1] It is also the word for the Islamic concept of the reliance on God or "trusting in God's plan".[2] It is seen as "perfect trust in God and reliance on Him alone."[3] It can also be referred to as God-consciousness.[3] In fact, the Qur'an speaks of the fact that success is only achieved when trust is in God and the believer is steadfast and obeys God's commands.[4]

Tawakkul as a theological concept was formalized by Shaqiq al-Balkhi (d. 810), who defined it as a spiritual state or hal. Tawakkul is also considered a natural result of extreme zuhd.[5] Zuhd can be described as being based on tawakkul or "trust in God alongside love of poverty."[6] This has led to an argument over whether tawakkul is a consequence of perfect faith.[7] An author wrote that someone that trusts in God is like a baby seeking its mother's breast and always finds it. He says that just like the infant, the one who trusts God is always led to God.[8]

It has been said that there are three ranks of tawakkul: the trust of the believers, the trust of the select, and the trust of the select of the select.[9] Each of these ranks are achieved through active reformation of the mind and self.[10] The trust of the believers is simply living one day at a time and not worrying what tomorrow will bring you; simply trusting in what God has planned.[9] The trust of the select is trusting God with no motives or desires. It is casting aside all wants.[9] And finally the trust of the select of the select is giving yourself over to God completely so that His desires become yours.[9] In other words, "trust in God is to be satisfied with and rely on God Most High."[8] It is said that because God created everything and therefore everything belongs to him, it is selfish to want anything other than what God wants or not want something God gives to you.[7]

The Arabic word tawakkul is a masdar (verbal noun) derived from the fifth form of the Arabic root وكل (w-k-l). It translates to "to give oneself over to, to rely/depend on, or have confidence in another".[11]

  1. ^ "توكل". August 19, 2024 – via Wiktionary.
  2. ^ "Ibn Abī al-Dunyā: Certainty and Morality". Leonard Librande, Studia Islamica, No. 100/101 (2005), pp. 5-42. Published by: Maisonneuve & Larose
  3. ^ a b "Islamic Philosophy in South and South-East Asia". Companion Encyclopedia of Asian Philosophy. 2002.
  4. ^ Eggen, Nora (2011). "Conceptions of Trust in the Qur'an". Journal of Qur'anic Studies. 13 (2): 56–85. doi:10.3366/jqs.2011.0020.
  5. ^ "The Transition from Asceticism to Mysticism at the Middle of the Ninth Century C.E.", Melchert, Christopher. Studia Islamica, No. 83 (1996), pp. 51-70. Published by: Maisonneuve & Larose
  6. ^ Kinberg, Leah (1985). "What is Meant by Zuhd". Studia Islamica. 61: 33–34.
  7. ^ a b Schimmel, Annemarie (1975). Mystical Dimensions of Islam. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. pp. 117–120.
  8. ^ a b al-Qushayri, Abu 'l-Qasim (2007). Al-Qushayri's Epistle on Sufism. Lebanon: Garnet Publishing. pp. 178–188.
  9. ^ a b c d Sells, Michael (1996). Early Islamic Mysticism. New York: Paulist Press. p. 209.
  10. ^ Hamdy, Sherine (2009). "Islam, Fatalism, and Medical Intervention: Lessons from Egypt on the Cultivation of Forbearance (Sabr) and Reliance of God (Tawakkul)". Anthropological Quarterly. 82 (1): 173–196. doi:10.1353/anq.0.0053. S2CID 145387740.
  11. ^ Scott C. Alexander, "Truth and Patience." Encyclopedia of the Quran, Leiden, Brill, 2006.