Relying on Allah

Human beings are the best of creations of Allah. In the Quran, man's elevated status is clearly expressed in verse 30 of Surah Al Baqarah: "Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: 'I will create a vicegerent on earth.' They said: 'Wilt Thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?- whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?' He said: "I know what ye know not."

Allah has given man 'limited free will' which no other creator has. Man has been bestowed with knowledge, intelligence and the ability to distinguish between right and wrong – qualities that set him apart from other creations of Allah.

And yet, man is powerless in front of the Almightly Allah. He uses all his wisdom, knowledge and free will to make plans and decisions, and yet all his abilities and plans are dependent on Allah’s will and power.

This brings us to the oft-repeated line from the Quran "Tawakaltu-ala-Allah", which means "Put your trust in Allah". When we start an important task, or make a major decision, or find ourselves in the midst of an unexpected crisis, we have to "put our trust in Allah". Because Allah has all knowledge, all power and He wishes the best for us. So, when certain events or incidents leave us shocked and shaken, we have to re-gather our strength and faith by "putting our trust in Allah". We have to trust Allah that all that happens, even if it seems strange and overwhelming, is the best for us. We may not be able to make sense of it as it overwhelms us, but at the end of it, we have to trust in Allah's Plan and Wisdom.

When circumstances force us to make difficult decisions, we have to "put our trust in Allah" that what lies ahead would disprove our current anxieties and fears.

At Baradari, we offer wall art that has "Tawakaltu-ala-Allah" and "Inni Tawakaltu ala Allah" (Indeed, I have put my trust in Allah) written in Thuluth calligraphic style. Printed on high-quality canvas or matte paper, this wall art can serve as important spiritual reminder.