Sometimes a person reaches a point where there are no words left to say and no strength left to act. Prayers fall silent, plans unravel, and hope slips through your fingers like smoke. And right there—somewhere deep inside—a quiet voice whispers, “Let it go. Leave it all to Allah.”
But it isn’t easy, is it? When the mind is spinning with a thousand questions and the heart feels like a storm, how do you truly let go?
Allah reminds us:
“And whoever puts their trust in Allah—He is sufficient for them.”
(Surah at-Talaq 65:3)
Because the one who partially surrenders to Allah still waits for something in return, while the one who truly surrenders expects nothing at all—except Allah Himself.
There are moments in life when you realise there is nothing more you can do. You have exhausted every effort, yet the doors keep closing. Someone walks away. Something comes to an end. And in that stillness, you begin to understand: surrender is not weakness—it is the deepest form of trust.
Allah says:
“Perhaps you dislike something while it is good for you, and perhaps you love something while it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.”
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:216)
You may believe this is the end. But Ibn ʿArabi teaches that in every loss, Allah is quietly drawing the servant closer to Him.
That is what we explore here: the true meaning of tawakkul—to surrender everything completely to Allah. Not as a concept spoken on the tongue, but as a reality lived in the heart and proven through action.
Allah describes the people of true reliance:
“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts tremble, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith—and upon their Lord they rely.”
(Surah al-Anfal 8:2)
By the end of this journey, you will discover that letting go is not the same as losing. It is falling into the hands of the One who never lets go of you.
Ibn ʿArabi reminds us that when people say they rely upon Allah, they often still keep a small portion for themselves—a hidden reserve they protect in their hearts.
True surrender begins only when even that final portion is released, and nothing remains but Allah alone.
Most people think that reliance upon Allah means, “I will do my best and leave the rest to Allah.” Ibn ʿArabi would smile at this and say, “You still believe your ‘best’ has power.”
Allah clarifies this reality:
“You did not throw when you threw, but Allah threw.”
(Surah al-Anfal 8:17)
True surrender is something far deeper. It is not merely leaving the outcome to Allah; it is leaving yourself to Allah.
In truth, nothing you do brings results. Only the command of Allah brings them. When this understanding finally settles in the heart, it feels like breaking free from invisible chains.
Allah says:
“No calamity befalls except by the permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah—He guides their heart.”
(Surah at-Taghabun 64:11)
Picture yourself at sea. The wind blows, the waves rise, and you grip the wheel tightly, insisting, “I am steering this ship.” But the ship was never yours. It has always been in His hands. The moment you stop fighting the waves, you realise you are safe. There is no drowning. That is salvation.
Allah reassures the surrendered heart:
“Indeed, Allah is Gentle with His servants.”
(Surah ash-Shura 42:19)
Ibn ʿArabi said that surrender is beyond even contentment with fate. Contentment is silence, but surrender is a living conversation with Allah. Many people claim to rely upon Allah, yet fear still lingers within them.
The questions arise:
What if it doesn’t work out? What if destiny is against me?
But the one who truly surrenders does not speak this way. They know what Allah has promised:
“Allah does not wrong the people at all, but it is the people who wrong themselves.”
(Surah Yunus 10:44)
They know Allah never goes against them—He goes with them. He does not abandon; He rescues.
Their prayer is no longer,
“O Allah, give me what I want,”
but,
“O Allah, make me pleased with what You want.”
And Allah promises such hearts:
“Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
(Surah ar-Raʿd 13:28)
From this surrender comes a peace that no words can fully describe—only a heart can taste it.
Oooooo
True Tawakkul and Taslīm in the Darqāwiyyah–Shādhiliyyah Path
Sometimes a person reaches a point where there are no words left to say and no strength left to act. Prayers fall silent, plans unravel, and hope slips through your fingers like smoke. And right there—somewhere deep inside—a quiet voice whispers, “Let it go. Leave it all to Allah.”
In the Shādhiliyyah and Darqāwiyyah path, this moment is recognised as the collapse of tadbīr—the breaking of the servant’s inner planning and self-management. It is not a failure; it is an opening.
But it isn’t easy, is it? When the mind spins with questions and the heart feels like a storm, how does one truly let go?
Allah answers:
“And whoever places their trust in Allah—He is sufficient for them.”
(Surah at-Talāq 65:3)
From Tadbīr to Tawakkul
Imam Abū al-Ḥasan al-Shādhilī taught that the root of anxiety is attachment to one’s own tadbīr—the belief that safety lies in planning, control, and foresight. The Shādhili path does not reject action, but it rejects reliance on action.
Because the one who partially surrenders to Allah still waits for reassurance, results, or security—while the one who truly surrenders expects nothing except Allah Himself.
There come moments when every effort is exhausted, yet the doors continue to close. Someone leaves. Something ends. And in that stillness, the seeker begins to understand: surrender is not weakness—it is the deepest form of trust.
You may think this is the end. But Ibn ʿArabi teaches that every loss is a veiling lifted, drawing the servant closer to Allah.
Allah reminds the heart:
“Perhaps you dislike something while it is good for you… Allah knows, and you do not know.”
(Surah al-Baqarah 2:216)
The Darqāwiyyah Teaching: Drop the Self
Shaykh al-Darqāwī repeatedly warned against hidden attachment to the self. He taught that true tawakkul cannot coexist with self-reliance.
Thus Ibn ʿArabi said:
“If you think you have left matters to Allah while still clinging to yourself, you are still behind the veil.”
This is central to the Darqāwiyyah path: the veil is not the world—it is the self that still claims authorship.
By the end of this journey, the seeker realises that letting go is not losing. It is falling into the hands of the One who never lets go.
And when you truly let go, nothing that leaves you can harm you, because you have placed yourself where loss cannot reach.
Allah says:
“No calamity befalls except by the permission of Allah. Whoever believes in Allah—He guides their heart.”
(Surah at-Taghābun 64:11)
The Illusion of “I’ve Got This”
Reflect deeply. How many times have you said, “I’ve got this,” believing your plans were secure—only for life to scatter them like dry leaves in the wind?
The Shādhili masters teach that these moments are not punishments. They are divine reminders—gentle but firm whispers from Allah:
“Let go. I am the One who acts.”
Allah makes this clear:
“You did not act when you acted, but Allah acted.”
(Surah al-Anfāl 8:17)
For Ibn ʿArabi, and for the Darqāwiyyah-Shādhiliyyah way, taslīm (complete surrender) is the highest station. It is not passivity—it is freedom.
The more you try to control life, the more you are imprisoned by fear.
The more you surrender, the more you are released.
Beyond ‘Do Your Best’
Many people say, “I will do my best and leave the rest to Allah.” Ibn ʿArabi would smile and say, “You still believe your ‘best’ has power.”
Imam al-Shādhilī clarified this station:
Act with adab, but rely only on Allah.
True surrender is not merely leaving outcomes to Allah; it is leaving yourself—your claims, fears, and expectations—with Allah.
In truth, nothing you do produces results. Only Allah’s command brings them. When this settles in the heart, the chains of anxiety fall away.
The Ocean of Taslīm
Picture yourself at sea. The wind blows, the waves rise, and you grip the wheel tightly, insisting, “I am steering this ship.” Yet the ship was never yours. It has always been in His hands.
The Darqāwiyyah teach: stop struggling against the waves of decree. When you release control, you discover safety. There is no drowning in surrender. That is salvation.
Allah reassures the surrendered servant:
“Indeed, Allah is Gentle with His servants.”
(Surah ash-Shūrā 42:19)
Surrender Beyond Contentment
Ibn ʿArabi said surrender is beyond even contentment with fate.
- Contentment is silence before the decree.
- Surrender is an intimate conversation with Allah within the decree.
Many claim tawakkul, yet fear remains. The heart still asks:
What if it fails? What if destiny is against me?
But the one who has truly surrendered knows:
“Allah does not wrong the servants.”
(Surah Āl ʿImrān 3:182)
Allah never goes against His servant—He goes with them.
Thus the prayer of the Darqāwiyyah-Shādhili seeker changes:
Not “O Allah, give me what I want,”
but “O Allah, make me pleased with what You want.”
And Allah promises:
“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.”
(Surah ar-Raʿd 13:28)
This is the fruit of true tawakkul and taslīm:
a peace not explained by words,
but known by the heart.
Just tell me.
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