02. Tauheed The Essence Of Ima'an (faith)

True believers (Mo’mineen) are those who,’ when Allah is mentioned, feel a tremor in their heart And when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them, these increase their Faith (lmaan). And they put their trust in Allah alone; those who establish Salaat, and spend (freely) of that which We have bestowed upon them. Such in truth are the Believers. For them, there are high rank of honour with their Lord, and Forgiveness88 (of sins) and generous provision. (al·Anfaal: 2.:4)

A Mo’min (true believer), puts his trust in Allah Ta’ala alone and entertains no hopes of getting help from any being other than Allah Ta’ala.

As a reward for attaining to this perfection of Faith, Allah Ta’ala promises that: (a) He will exalt the believers to high ranks of dignity (in Jannah), (b) forgive their sins and (c) grant them honourable sustenance.

Each one of these promised favours is of extreme value and, as such, each one should be taken as sufficient incentive for the cultivation of this supreme virtue i.e. ‘Tawakkul’. And, as Allah Ta’ala has promised three great favours for those who are characiterised by this quality, no measure of struggle should be deemed too much for its achievement.

Ibne Abbas Radhiallaho anho says: ‘Tawakkul’ implies entertaining no hopes from anyone other than Allah Ta’ala”.

Sa’eed bin Jubair Rahmatullah alaihe says: “Tawakkul is the sum and substance of lmaan i.e. Faith”.

In the entire Holy Qur’an, if there had been only one Ayat on the subject of faith and trust in Allah Ta’ala, it would have been sufficient. Nevertheless, there are frequent references---far more frequent than all mentions to any other subject —to keeping full trust in Allah Ta’ala, having sole reliance on Him and none else, seeking His help in all one’s needs and adversities and concentrating all one’s hopes on Him alone.

And, by way of exhortation, reference has been made to the lives of the pious and favoured beings of Allah Ta’ala); who, possessed this virtue par excellence.

As a matter of fact,‘Tawakkul’ is the fruit of ‘Tauheed’ (the belief in the oneness of Allah Ta’ala),

the more firmly grounded anybody is in his belief in ‘Tauheed’, the more advanced he will be in ‘Tawakkul’. And, since

‘Tauheed’ is the fundamental creed of Islam and the essence of Imaan (faith),

no virtue is of any value in the sight of Allah Ta’ala unless it is based on a true belief in the oneness of Allah Ta’ala. The entire body of religious beliefs as well as the code of Islamic Law (the Shariah) is founded on ‘Tauheed’. It is, obviously, owing to the extreme value of this quality that the subject has been treated, specifically and emphatically, at various places in the Holy Qur’an.

As for ‘Tawakkul’, Allah Ta’ala has promised His acceptance and pleasure to those who possess this virtue—a boon which far excels all other rewards---which everyone must aspire to achieve, even if he has to sacrifice his life for it.

Says Allah Ta’ala in the Holy Qur’an: ‘Verily Allah loves those who put their trust in Him’. (Ale-Imran: 159)

Can any spiritual value excel the privilege of being loved by Allah Ta’ala? Imagine a human being rising to the status of becoming the loved one of Allah Ta’~la, Who is the Sovereign of the Universe, the Lord of this world and the Hereafter.

Is there any other glory or pride, of this world or the Hereafter, which can ex.:!el this privilege? What is more, Allah Ta’ala Himself takes the resJronsibility and promises that He will suffice him who puts his trust in Allah (i.e. adopts ‘Tawakkul), Whose help should such a person require for the fulfilment of his needs? On the same subject, there is a Hadith to the following effect:

Rasulullah Ballallaho alaihe wasallam says: “If you were to put all your trust in Allah as He should be trusted, He would grant you your sustenance, as He does to the birds”.

It has been narrated in another Hadith, to the effect that: “He who cuts off and turns himself away from the world (i.e. takes no thought of receiving any help from any created being), and turns to Allah Ta’ala alone, Allah Ta’ala is sufficient (Protector) for him against all mannf’1:S of afflictions, and He provides for him from sources he never could imagine”. (ahyaa-ul-Uloom)