Meaning of the Word ‘Tawakkul’
However, its etymology in Semitic languages and its usage, especially with the preposition “Alaa” reinforce the idea that a person entrusts their work to a being that is immensely powerful, knowledgeable, and capable, with whom one can have trust and confidence.
“Tawkil” means appointing someone as an agent and entrusting them with a task. However, many linguists believe that in Arabic, Tawakkul conveys the meaning of expressing helplessness in a task and relying on someone else.
The same usage for the root words “Wakala” and “Wukkal” can refer to a man of weakness who hands over his work to another, or “Wakkil” describes a cowardly, helpless, and foolish person.
Raghib and Ibn Manzur believe that when “Wakala” is used with the letter “laam”, it signifies submission to authority, while when it is used with “Alaa”, it conveys a sense of helplessness and reliance on others.
Fakhr al-Din, in Majma' al-Bahrain, states that Tawakkul (trust in God) is an expression of helplessness and desperation in one’s actions, and its name is Taklan. Tawakkal Alaa Allah refers to the servant’s detachment from all created beings and turning towards the Almighty God in pursuit of what is desired from creation. It is also said to denote the abandonment of effort in matters where human capability is insufficient.
It seems that these later meanings are related to the period following the revelation of the Quran.
According to Semitic data and linguistic reconstruction methods, the root “wkl” in ancient Semitic languages has two meanings. In some languages (Hebrew and Aramaic), it means to be capable or powerful. This is why a “Wakil” (representative or lawyer) is someone who is skilled and knowledgeable in a particular task. The other meaning (in Aramaic, Syriac, Akkadian, and Amharic) refers to having trust and relying on something.
The importance of this distinction in translating the root lies in the fact that reliance, based on expressing human helplessness and incapacity, conveys a very different meaning than reliance based on belief in the power and knowledge of the Creator. In fact, reliance is not based on recognizing human weakness. Rather, its usage with the preposition “Alaa” emphasizes that a person entrusts their affairs to a being that is immensely powerful, knowledgeable, and capable of providing trust and reliability, and relies on Him in all matters.
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In other words, Tawakkul is based on the knowledge of God and His role in the universe, not on the expression of human helplessness. Interestingly, despite this difference in the translation of the root “wkl”, the technical definition of the term shows little variation. Reliance, in a technical sense, means having confidence in God, despairing of people, being submissive to God, and relying solely on Him.
The author of “Maaani al-Akhbar” considers “Ttawakkul Alaa Allah” to be the understanding that a creature has neither the power to harm nor the ability to benefit. It neither grants nor can prevent a grant. Therefore, a truly Mutawakkil servant has despair and hopelessness towards people, works for no one other than the Almighty God, and has hope or expectation in no one but Him.
Translated by Seyed Hossein Beheshti Shakib
