A Trust That Walks, Not Waits

The Parable of a Drowning Man

A man was trapped in his house during a flood. He began praying to God to rescue him.

His neighbor urged him to leave and offered him a ride to safety. The man yelled back, “I am waiting for God to save me.”

As the water began rising in his house, he had to climb up to the roof.

A boat came by with some people heading for safe ground. They yelled at the man to grab a rope they were ready to throw and take him to safety. He told them that he was waiting for God to save him. They shook their heads and moved on.

The man continued to pray, believing with all his heart that he would be saved by God. The floodwaters continued to rise.

A helicopter flew by and a voice came over a loudspeaker offering to lower a ladder and take him off the roof. The man waved the helicopter away, shouting back that he was waiting for God to save him. The helicopter left.

The flood water came over the roof and caught him up and swept him away. He drowned.

When he reached heaven and asked, “God, why did you not save me? I believed in you with all my heart. Why did you let me drown?”

God replied, “I sent you a pick-up truck, a boat, and a helicopter and you refused all of them. What else could I possibly do for you?”

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In my previous article (Anchored in Trust), I highlighted the unwavering trust of the Companions in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, particularly through the story of Uqasha ibn Mihsan. His immediate acceptance of the Prophet’s command—taking a mere branch into battle—was presented as the epitome of Tawakkul (trust in God). However, this naturally raises some critical questions: Does such trust not verge on blind faith? Does it not discourage rational thinking and personal responsibility?

This is precisely why I began this discussion with the parable of the drowning man. The man trusted in God but dictated how divine help should arrive, ignoring the practical means provided—his neighbor’s truck, a boat, and a helicopter. This illustrates a fundamental error: trust in God does not mean neglecting the means He places at our disposal. Islam does not advocate passive reliance on miracles but rather a trust that coexists with action and reason.

With this perspective in mind, let us now explore the balance between trust in Allah and the means He has placed at our disposal.

No Room for Blind Trust in Islam

At first glance, the story of Uqasha may appear to support blind trust, as if he merely obeyed without thinking. However, a deeper analysis reveals otherwise. Uqasha’s trust was not blind at all. It was built upon his experience as a companion of the Prophet ﷺ, witnessing again and again that whatever the Prophet commanded was always true. His conviction was not based on wishful thinking but on previous knowledge and experience that had erased all doubts.

This principle is further reinforced by the incident of Mi‘raj (the Night Journey). When people heard that the Prophet ﷺ traveled to the heavens in a single night, many doubted. However, Abu Bakr (RA) did not waver. He reasoned that if he already believed Muhammad ﷺ was a Prophet who received revelation from the heavens, then believing that he could be taken physically to the heavens was simply an extension of an already established truth. His faith was not blind—it was rooted in certainty and logical consistency.

The Prophetic Principle: Tie Your Camel First

The Prophet ﷺ himself emphasized personal responsibility. When a man asked if he should leave his camel untied and rely on Allah for its safety, the Prophet ﷺ replied: "Tie your camel first, then trust in Allah" (Tirmidhi). This profound hadith encapsulates the true nature of Tawakkul: trusting God while simultaneously using the resources He has provided.

The same principle applies to earning a livelihood, seeking medical treatment, and making life decisions. The Prophet ﷺ advised people to work hard, take precautions, and engage with the world while maintaining their trust in Allah. The birds that the hadith mentions in my previous article—"They go out hungry in the morning and return full in the evening"—do not sit idle; they search for food, exert effort, and yet their sustenance is still from God.

Don't Dictate How God Should Help You

Often, people expect divine help in a specific way and reject it if it comes differently. This is arrogance and a lack of understanding of God’s wisdom. The man in the parable wanted God to intervene on his terms, instead of submitting to God’s wisdom.

Prophet Jesus (AS) had taught us how to handle such foolish expectations through the following event from his life:

Once, Jesus (AS) met Iblīs (Satan), and Iblīs said,

"Is it not true that only what has been decreed will happen?"

Jesus (AS) replied, "That is true."

Iblīs then challenged him, "So throw yourself down from the top of this mountain and let us see if you live or not!"

Jesus (AS) answered with wisdom, "The servant does not test his Master; rather, it is the Master who tests His servant." (Taken from Walk on Water an artcile by Sheikh Hamza Yusuf)

This exchange highlights an essential principle of faith: trusting in God does not mean recklessly expecting divine intervention on our own terms. Instead, true faith is about submitting to God’s wisdom and recognizing that He guides us in ways we may not expect.

Trust in God is an Inner State of the Heart

At its core, Tawakkul is an inner state of the heart—a state of quiet assurance that everything unfolds as it should, in accordance with divine wisdom. It is not a passive resignation, but a deep-seated contentment that allows the heart to remain unshaken regardless of external circumstances. It is a heart that neither panics in loss nor boasts in gain. It moves forward with diligence, but rests in the certainty of the following Hadith Qudsi where Allah Most High has said:

“And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.” (40 Hadith Nawawi)

The one who possesses Tawakkul is neither reckless nor restless. He walks the path of effort but entrusts the destination to Allah. He plans, he strives, but he does so with the peace of one who knows that whatever comes is, in the end, precisely as it should be.

Reconciling Trust & Means

True Tawakkul is neither fatalism nor foolishness. It does not reject reason; rather, it refines it. It is not the denial of effort, but its completion. To dismiss the intellect in the name of trust is no act of devotion—it is a rejection of the very faculties Allah has bestowed upon us. It is akin to the drowning man rejecting the boat and the helicopter while still expecting divine rescue. If we abandon the intelligence and effort required to solve our problems, while still asking for divine intervention, we are essentially refusing the help that Allah has already provided.

The Companions of the Prophet ﷺ did not sit idle, waiting for miracles. They strategized, toiled, fought, built, and persevered—yet their hearts remained steadfast in trust that the outcome rested with Allah.

Thus, the balance is clear: trust in Allah fully but also tie your camel. Work with the hands, but keep the heart anchored in certainty. Plan, strive, and exert effort— But do so with the calm assurance that whatever unfolds is ultimately just as it is meant to be.

And therein lies the secret to a life unburdened by anxiety, free from the torment of 'what ifs' and 'if onlys.' It is not just a way to live—it is the way to live well.

Disclaimer: Bloggers are typically not experts in any specific field. They simply share their thoughts on a subject to spark discussion or offer their readers something to ponder. Therefore, for reliable and informed opinions on any topic, it is always best to consult experts in the field.