Look at the gigantic work that the bee has to do in order to produce its honey: The bee finds out the most inaccessible places, in the hills, in the trees, and even among the habitation of men. It assimilates the juice of various kinds of flowers and fruit, and forms within its body the honey which it stores in its cells of wax. The different kinds of food from which it makes its honey give different colors to the honey. Now could not Allah provide for the bees their sustenance without them going through all this labor? Of course He Almighty could! Could not Allah create springs and rivers of honey as he created springs and rivers of water? Of course He Almighty could! But by observing the work cycle of the bee and by tasting its sweet and wholesome honey, one can understand and appreciate better the nature and behavior of the bee. A behavior whose ingredients are hard work and complete trust in Allah: And that is the real Tawakkul.

Tawakkul of the birds:

Let us look at another creature of Allah: the bird. Allah Says (what means):

(Qur’an 67:19)

As He did for all of His creatures, our Lord Almighty provided for the birds just those conditions that are best for their lives; He Almighty also inspired them to use their physical shapes and unique movements to take off, fly and land. Thus, in order to fly, birds would have to move their wings upwards and downwards, spread them and fold them.

However, the birds know that the One Who upholds them in the air, is not their upward and downward move, nor the spreading and folding of their wings, but rather Allah Almighty. They have understood that they have to exert effort and rely on Allah alone to uphold them high. As opposed to many rebellious men, birds recognize and exercise total Tawakkul on Allah without giving up the work.

In pursuing this way of life, the birds have become the example to follow for how the Tawakkul should be and how Allah would reward the one who exercises Tawakkul as the birds do.

The Prophet  said:

[At-Tirmithi]

Did the birds remain in their nest waiting for Allah’s provision? Of course not! Did they claim that since they were engaged in Tasbeeh (praising of Allah), they would not have to strive for their subsistence? Of course not! So praised is Allah Who inspired the birds to set forth to seek provisions for themselves and for their little ones. Praised is He Who taught them Tawakkul so they would not expect provision but from Him.

Tawakkul of Lady Maryam:

Let me bring you back to the world of mankind to put before you an ultimate example of Tawakkul. This is the story of an expectant mother who retired with her conceived baby to a remote area. The pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree. She was alone with no one to attend her. She was hungry, thirsty. She cried:

“And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, “Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten.“

(Qur’an 19:23)

But a voice cried to her from beneath the palm-tree: “But he called her from below her, “Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.” (Qur’an 19:24) She knew now that Allah would deliver her from her hunger and thirst and release the pain of her pangs. But the Most High wanted her to initiate an action to benefit from Allah’s provisions: “And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates.”

(Qur’an 19:25)

 Now that she fulfilled the physical part of her duties – by shaking the tree, she had to fulfill the spiritual part – relying on Allah for deliverance. Allah’s help was prompt: the fresh dates were now falling upon her: “So eat and drink and be contented…” (Qur’an 19:26)

This is the story of Maryam (Mary) whom Allah has destined to be the mother of Prophet ‘Eesaa (Jesus), may Allah exalt their mention. And when she conceived her baby and entered the pains of childbirth with no one to attend her; when she got hungry and thirsty with no visible help for food and drink; when she became weak and anguished; she was asked to shake a palm-tree for her provision.

A weak, tired, hungry and thirsty woman shaking a strong, deeply rooted palm-tree. Could not Allah send with Jibreel (Angel Gabriel) enough food and drink for her? Could not Allah send down from the heavens a ready-to-eat plate of dates? Or could not Allah say to the dates ‘fall upon Mary!’, upon which they would? After all, is not Allah the only One Who, when He wills a thing, only says to it, “Be” – and it is? Yes, He Almighty is! But Allah’s way is that the effort has to be made, and the reliance has to be complete; the Tawakkul has to be fulfilled.

These were some examples of Allah’s creatures putting their trust in Him. The wisest course for us, therefore, is to follow their example. So let us use all lawful means and exert reasonable effort to secure our needs, and let us remain faithful to Allah by putting all our affairs in His Hands and hope and expect for the best outcome. Let us say like the early believers said, as Allah informs us in the Quran Saying (what means):

(Qur’an 67:29)

Allah also Says (what means):