us to work will teaches us to make an effort that's why when we translate the word
unfortunately many people they misunderstand it they somehow believe that tawakul and reliance
on allah means that you sit back kick your legs up on a couch while hoping that allah is going
to give you all the victory of the world and all the treasures of the world that it's all
just going to fall to you reliance on allah means that i don't need to go to work tomorrow because
allah is the one who is going to provide for me reliance on allah means that i'm going to
be cured somehow miraculously and i'm not going to take any medicine you know people they make these
statements if allah wants it will happen if allah wants it will happen if allah wants it will happen
but you have to want it as well allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala says
you want change you have to first desire that change you have to walk towards that change
the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam says you come one hand span towards allah allah
will come to you on arm's length but you have to first start that journey you have to desire
it this is a very important discussion here and when we look at the lives of the companions when
you look at the lives of the prophets when you look at all the great people that came before
this was one foundational point that was developed inside all of them
and this is one thing the parents always made sure they had given their children
was to rely on allah from a young age our parents tell us that make dua allah the prophet sallallahu
alaihi wasallam said to the companions if you ever need anything you ask allah first
and the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam said until the point even if you break your shoelace
you know and you know how they have these straps that go around the foot and sandals even if your
strap if your sandal breaks the first person you ask is allah and then you go to the store you're
saying ya allah i want you to make this process of fixing my shoe easier small mundane simple things
and if allah subhanahu wa'ta'ala gives you his support of allah gives you his help in any matter
of your life that issue will become much more easier the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam
he's teaching this lesson to his companions from a young age one of the greatest examples of this
is the hadith of ibn abbas abdullah ibn abbas was a cousin of the prophet wasallam and was also
a young companion of the prophet sallallahu alaihi the story is that one day the prophet saw allah
was riding on an animal and in his passenger seat was abdullah ibn abbas young kid and he's kind of
like cruising they're taking a drive around the city together it's him and the prophet
the prophet saw allah he thought that why not make the most of this moment
he started advising this young man he said to him oh young man listen to me carefully
be mindful of allah allah will be mindful of you be careful of allah be mindful of allah and
you will find allah in front of you what does that mean finding allah in front of you meaning allah's
help will be in the pathway that you walk on the prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam said to him
if you ever need to ask ask allah first
and when you need assistance ask allah for assistance first
he's teaching this young man from a young age that you are always dependent on the loss of
and if you can drill this reality into your mind you'll always be connected to allah
but the moment you forget that you are dependent on allah then you will slowly drift away from
allah and he is drilling these pegs in ibrahim from a child he says to him i want you to know
he said to him if the entire world gathered together to give you something that allah has
not written for you they can never give it to you it's not possible and if everyone in the world
wanted to harm you but allah is on your side they can't harm you
the pen has been lifted the papers have dried
that's the promise of allah you rely on allah allah will always take care of you