The power that keeps alive: Tawakkul
Written in Turkish by Mehmet Yaşar KANDEMİR
Translated into English by Emir Esat Temiz
We start to work on something; we get into panic as soon as we realize that we can’t overcome that. In that case we start looking for someone we can say ‘help me’. We trust him/her when we find. In other words, we consider them as a guide.
Al-Wakeel, one of the beautiful names of Allah the Greatest, is one of the Al Asma Ul Husna. It means ‘The Trustee’ and ‘The Disposer of Affairs’. The one who trusts the Wakeel is called mutawakkil.
Mutawakkil is also one of the names that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had. As Allah said to His Apostle: “(...)I have named you "Al-Mutawakkil" (who depends upon Allah)(…)” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Sales and Trade]
Why He named him mutawakkil is because he relied upon his Lord [al-Anfal, 8/2]. “And put your trust in the Living, the One who never dies, and celebrate His praise. He suffices as the All-Informed Knower of the faults of His creatures.”[al-Furqan, 25/58]. “(…) Whoever relies on God—He will suffice him” [at-Talaq, 65/3] 
Practical Reliance Lesson
Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) taught us tawakkul (perfect trust in God and reliance on Him alone) as well as everything other than that. His hejira is one of the reliance lessons. In order to avoid being seen by misbelievers, he went in night rather than going in daytime. He was going to go to Madinah although he went towards Mount Thawr not Madinah. He had hidden in a cave located there. Nevertheless, misbelievers found them and stood still. Haven’t precautions been helpful? His fellow traveler was desperately worried. He said “It is inevitable that they will see us if one of them just looks at one’s foot”. However, the Apostle of Allah’s heart was so relieved because he took measures and left the rest to Allah. Thereupon he said:Abu Bakr, what can befall two have Allah as the third One with them.”
Misbelievers did not see them. To be more exact, Allah the Almighty did not show them. Therefore, precautions they took and tawakkul they made resulted in a good way.
Reliance on Al-wakeel
The depth of our beloved Prophet’s tawakkul is seen better in his prayers. Let’s try to perceive his immense tawakkul and intimate gesture of submission:
“O Allah! I surrender (my will) to You; I believe in You and depend on You. And repent to You, And with Your help I argue (with my opponents, the non-believers) And I take You as a judge (to judge between us). Please forgive me my previous and future sins; And whatever I concealed or revealed And You are the One who make (some people) forward and (some) backward. There is none to be worshipped but you.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Prayer at Night (Tahajjud)].
Prayers he used to make before going to bed show his tawakkul and reliance as clear as black and white:
“O Allah, I turn my face towards Thee and entrust my affair to Thee. I retreat unto Thee for protection with hope in Thee and fear of Thee. There is no resort and no deliverer (from hardship) but Thou only. I affirm my faith in Thine books which Thou revealed and in Thine Apostles whom Thou sent.” [Sahih Muslim, The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness]
If the entire creation were to gather together
There is an understanding of tawakkul that Allah’s Messenger taught Ibn ‘Abbas. Allah’ Messenger tells his nephew:
“O boy! I will teach you a statement: Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him before you. When you ask, ask Allah, and when you seek aid, seek Allah's aid. Know that if the entire creation were to gather together to do something to benefit you- you would never get any benefit except that Allah had written for you. And if they were to gather to do something to harm you- you would never be harmed except that Allah had written for you. The pens are lifted and the pages are dried.” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Chapters on the description of the Day of Judgement, Ar-Riqaq, and Al-Wara']
As birds
Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) suggests us to trust in God as birds do. He reminds that they leave their nest in good faith, do not be possessed by fear of not being able to obtain livelihood and return to their home securely. So we should begin to make tawakkul when we leave our house as our beloved Prophet(pbuh): Bismillāh, tawakkaltu `alallāh, lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh’ .” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Supplication].
The meaning of this is beautiful: ‘In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, there is no might or power except by Allah.’ [Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Chapters on Supplication].
Allah is Sufficient for me
“Allah is Sufficient for us and He is the Best Disposer of affairs," was said by Abraham when he was thrown into the fire showing how gratefully he made tawakkul.
The same prayer was said by the Prophet Muhammad. It was right after Uhud defeat. When they said “Enemies are preparing to attack again”, Allah’s Messenger: “hasbuna llahu wa-ni’ ma l-wakil”.
The Apostle of Allah also taught us that we should say it when we are afraid and sad. One day he was having conversation with his companions.
He reminded them that The Day of Resurrection is soon. No healthy person can remain carefree and griefless, then added:
“How can I be comfortable when the one with the horn is holding it to his lip, his ears listening for when he will be ordered to blow, so he can blow.' It was as if that was very hard upon the Companions of the Prophet (saw), so he said to them: 'Say: "Allah is sufficient for us and what a good protector He is, and upon Allah we rely."
We shall always bring up this prayer repeatedly.
Click on the link for the Turkish translation of the article: https://www.siyerinebi.com/tr/prof-dr-m-yasar-kandemir/ayakta-tutan-guc-tevekkul