Philosophy behind Tawakkul
In other words, why should a person place their trust and confidence in God, and what is the philosophy behind this trust?
In response, it should be said that when a person feels a need for something, they strive to fulfill their innate and instinctual desire in that area. However, from the early stages of life, they realize that they cannot meet all their needs on their own, and as their desires grow, they come to understand this even better.
The ways in which people seek to satisfy their needs differ from one another, and this difference stems from the variations in their existential perspectives.
If someone does not believe in the existence of God or the supernatural, or is unaware of this concept, they will try to use their own abilities to enlist others to serve them and meet their needs. The peak of such efforts may lead them to exert power or use weapons to exploit others.
However, those who have some belief in supernatural forces will attempt in various ways to seek their assistance, even if their beliefs may be entirely misguided. Different forms of idolatry and polytheism arise from this. For example, some try to connect with spirits or jinn to seek help for their needs. God says in the Quran, “Certain human beings sought refuge with certain jinn and this increased the rebelliousness of those jinn.” (Verse 6 of Surah Al-Jinn)
Prophets came to guide humanity toward the Almighty God and to demonstrate that no one can help humans better than Him. By showing the way to connect with God, they encouraged people to rely on Him instead of turning to idols or jinn. The essence of true faith in the Almighty God requires that a person acknowledges His influence in their life, meaning that after believing in the concept of creation, they must also have faith in His divine lordship.
In fact, having a correct understanding of how God influences the world is essential for true Tawakkul (reliance on Him). What the Almighty God creates through the celestial order, which transcends all other systems, is not subject to anything and cannot be overpowered by any other cause.
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“Nothing in the heavens or the earth can challenge God. God is All-knowing and All-powerful.” (Verse 44 of Surah Fatir)
Therefore, if we come to believe that there are systems beyond the causal and effectual frameworks of the natural world, we can then aspire to truly have Tawakkul and rely on God. The more a person’s beliefs in this regard deepen, the greater their level of Tawakkul will become.
