Sometimes, we only discover Tawakkul when life removes our safety nets. What feels like loss may actually be training—a reminder that Allah is enough, and that His promise of provision never fails.

And along the way, we learn another truth: ease given to others returns as ease from Allah.

For a long time, I lived within my comfort zone. Life felt smooth, expenses were managed, and I never thought deeply about what it truly meant to depend on Allah. Tawakkul (trust in Allah) was something I heard about, but not something I had been forced to live.

That changed a few months ago.

We were tested with hunger and financial crisis, and what made it heavier was that my children were still very young. Worry gripped our hearts: how would we feed them? How would we survive each day?

My husband began going out daily in search of work. We had no savings, no guarantees, no fallback plan—only Tawakkul. And subḥānAllāh, Allah never left us. Whatever he earned each day was just enough to cover that day. Sometimes, a friend would unexpectedly gift us something. Other times, food arrived at our doorstep without us asking. It was as though Allah was gently training us to rely on Him alone.

In those moments, I remembered the words of the Prophet ﷺ:

 'If you rely upon Allah with true reliance, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out hungry in the morning and return full in the evening.'
(Tirmidhi 2344, Hasan Sahih)


Our life became like the birds. We left each morning empty-handed, but by evening, Allah had filled our needs.

Allah reminds us in the Qur’an:

'And there is no creature on earth but that its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its place of dwelling and its place of storage. All is in a clear record.'
(Surah Hud 11:6)

The Prophet ﷺ also taught us in Sahih al-Bukhari 2442:

'A Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. He should not oppress him, nor should he hand him over to an oppressor. Whoever fulfills the needs of his brother, Allah will fulfill his needs. Whoever relieves a Muslim from distress, Allah will relieve him from distress on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever covers the faults of a Muslim, Allah will cover him on the Day of Resurrection.'

I witnessed this first-hand. Friends and loved ones stepped in with gifts and support at the right time. They relieved us in our moment of distress  and I now understand that their help was a reflection of Allah’s mercy.

And in Sahih al-Bukhari 7152, Jundub رضي الله عنه reported:

 'Whoever does a good deed only to show off, Allah will expose his intention on the Day of Resurrection. And whoever causes people hardship, Allah will cause hardship for him on the Day of Resurrection.'

These words hit my heart deeply. Our test was never meant to crush us, but to cleanse us. And it reminded me: I must never cause unnecessary difficulty for others. Just as Allah sent us people who eased our hardship, I too should be someone who makes life easier for others.

When you go on a scavenger hunt, you're given a list of things to find because in order to find something, you have to know what you’re looking for.

And that’s exactly why we struggle with tawakkul when it comes to our rizq. Because with our duas we create a list of things we want to have. A house. A job. A spouse. A number in our bank account. And once we’ve decided what it’s supposed to look like, we begin to look for those specific things.

But the issue with that is we’re expected to seek our provision during the day (78:11) but not in the literal sense.
Our seeking isn’t just physical. It’s through sabr and salah (2:45) and through our efforts and Allah’s provision. (56:63-64)

Allah ﷻ never told us to find it with our eyes. 

Allah ﷻ says:
'There is no moving creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah. And He knows where it lives and where it is laid to rest.' (11:6)

Why would Allah ﷻ say it’s His responsibility to provide for us and then say He knows where to find us?
Because we are not meant to chase or hustle or stress about our provision.
It already knows where to find you.

The Prophet ﷺ said:
'If the son of Adam were to run from his rizq like he runs from death, it would surely reach him.'
(Musnad Ahmad, 8491 – Hasan)

Your rizq comes to you.

You just need to be open-handed, open-hearted, and open-minded enough to receive it from places you never thought to look and in ways you never could’ve anticipated. (65:3)

Which is why you can’t be attached to it. You can’t love it. You can’t give it power.
It’s just a means to an end.

You can either be a treasure hunter or an explorer.
(And yes, I may or may not have recently watched the Dora the Explorer movie 🫣 lol)

When you search for something, it creates a tunnel vision that makes it difficult to see outside of, causing you to miss the real treasure that’s right in front of you.

But when you explore something without the intention to find anything other than the pleasure of Allah ﷻ and His signs, you end up finding what you didn’t think to look for because you didn’t know you needed it.

Tawakkul requires you to slow down and pay attention to what’s happening around you.
To look closer. Deeper.
To see the opportunities and possibilities Al-Fattah facilitates.
To feel the presence of Al-Malik in the way He governs.
To notice the effortless attention to detail of Al-Lateef in even the little things that seem meaningless.
To witness the precision of Al-Khaliq in all creation.

Seeing how Allah ﷻ  interacts with His creations, even outside of human beings, instills a sakinah within you, if you allow yourself to see that you are always provided for.
That whether you feel it or not, you are living in abundance.
Because everything in the heavens and everything in the earth belongs to Allah ﷻ  so when you have Allah ﷻ , what don’t you have?

'So which of the favors of your Lord will you [both] deny?' (55:13)
'Or do they possess the treasuries of your Lord, the Almighty, the Bestower?' (38:9)

Beautiful! Need to incorporate Dora in our lives for sure.

I love the way you explained our tunnel vision-it is actually quite limiting now that I think about it. Maybe that's why I get mesmerised when I look at the sky as it is so vast and never ending, and also when standing on top of a hill/mountain, you appreciate the vastness. In the same vein, if we were to zoom out of our lives and daily to do lists, we would be able to appreciate the khair that Allah has surrounded us with. ALHAMDULLILAH !!!!!

May Allah grant us all a clear understanding, honest attachment to Him only, squash our egos and become more grateful.

Ameen.

Psychology tells us there are four primary attachment styles in relationships but I’ve noticed that the Qur’an addresses these same patterns in our relationship with money.

Which one are you?

• Anxious Money Attachment
You hoard money, not out of greed, but out of fear of poverty, loss, and scarcity.
Spending feels like a risk, even on necessities. Often complaining about having to pay bills and handle responsibilities. 
Giving, whether through charity or lending, feels like self-sabotage.
You view money as the key to independence and control, refusing financial dependence on anyone. 
You constantly worry about money or watch it closely, feeling uneasy if you're not monitoring your accounts.
Frugality isn’t just a choice; it’s a defense mechanism.
Even when you have enough, you hold on tightly or chase more, tying your self-worth to how much you keep and accumulate.

But Allah ﷻ reminds you: 
'Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness and bounty from Him.' (2:268)

• Avoidant Money Attachment
Money comes in and goes right back out. 
You don’t plan long-term, don’t budget, and don’t save. 
You spend on wants even when there are needs, often treating yourself impulsively. 
Money feels like a way to gain approval or comfort, so you might overspend on loved ones or luxuries to feel worthy or maintain relationships.
Sometimes, it’s about security and validation. Overspending to seek approval or avoid feelings of inadequacy.
Other times, it’s about control. Spending excessively to avoid sharing with others.
Or you believe 'more money, more problems', so you avoid keeping it altogether. 
You’d rather not think or talk about finances, but that avoidance often leads to instability.

But Allah ﷻ warns you: 
'Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.' (17:27)

• Disorganized Money Attachment
Money feels like both a lifeline and a source of stress.
Sometimes, you save aggressively. 
Other times, you spend recklessly, driven by emotions rather than reason.
Financial planning feels overwhelming. 
Some days, you avoid checking your bank account or opening bills entirely.
Other days, you obsess over every penny, caught in a cycle of anxiety and avoidance.
You fear financial instability, yet your own inconsistency keeps you trapped in it.

But Allah ﷻ teaches: 
'Do not be so tight-fisted, for you will be blameworthy; nor so open-handed, for you will end up in poverty.' (17:29)

• Secure Money Attachment
You see money as a tool. Not a source of stress, self-worth, or identity.
You plan wisely, spend with purpose, and save without fear.
You trust in Allah’s rizq, knowing that barakah comes through moderation and appreciation.
You give freely and when needed, invest where necessary, and spend on obligations and experiences without guilt.

Allah ﷻ praises this balance: 
'They are˺ those who spend neither wastefully nor stingily, but moderately in between.' (25:67)

Your relationship with money reflects your relationship with Ar-Razzaq.
Hoarding stems from fear and anxiety.
Overspending stems from immaturity and ingratitude.
But true peace with money comes from balance, gratitude, and trust in Allah’s rizq.

'There is no moving creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah. And He knows where it lives and where it is laid to rest. All is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record. '  (11:6)

Such a thoughtful reflection. MashaAllah 

'They say, ‘Had we any control, we would not have been slain here’; say, ‘Even if you had been in your houses, those destined to be slain would have come forth to their places of slaying; and in order that Allah may test what is in your breasts and reveal whatever is in your hearts.’ And Allah knows well what lies within the hearts.' (3:154)

Death is inevitable.
So are life’s trials.
We can’t avoid them no matter how hard we try. Some of us attempt to run or hide from pain, hardship, or discomfort. But there’s nowhere to hide from Allah ﷻ when He always knows your whereabouts.

'It is upon Allah the responsibility for the provision of every creature. And He knows its place of dwelling and its place of storage.' (11:6)

Just like our rizq will come to us, so will our death and so will our tests.

This reminded me of those school days when we had tests coming up. There were times I happened to have a doctor’s appointment on a test day and was so happy, only to realize... I still had to make it up later.

Tests don’t disappear just because we avoid them.
And if you skip it without a valid excuse, it ends up being worse for you. The older I got, the more I grew to hate missing tests because of the headache of retaking them.

Life is the same. 
Our tests are like field exams. There’s study involved, then practical application. And if you try to avoid them, it only makes it harder to learn and understand the lessons.

When I started looking at life this way, it helped me take things less personally.

Now I label my life tests, create a study guide, and assign myself homework.

Asking myself:

•What could Allah ﷻ be teaching me through this struggle?
•What behavior needs to be removed?
•What person, belief, or habit do I need to let go of?
•What new thought or habit should be added or increased?
•What quality of a believer is Allah ﷻ inviting me to embody right now?

This awareness changes everything.
Because when a new situation arises, you can pause and say:
'Oh right, I’m being tested on sabr.'
And then, act accordingly.

You wouldn’t study algebra all night if the exam tomorrow was English.

So ask yourself:
•What am I being tested on?
•What is the objective of this test? What do I need to learn?

Then study for that test.

The homework:
•What are some examples of my struggles from the life of the Prophets or the Sahaba? 
•What does Allah ﷻ say in the Quran about my struggles?
•What small change can I make that would make a big difference?

I was a pretty average test taker in school.
But alhamdulillah, Allah ﷻ has taught me that when it comes to the tests that matter, He’ll allow me to learn anything that brings me closer to Him.

Very innovative, your way of explaining was awesome and easy to understand.

Somewhere in this universe, there is a dark and a mysterious place called the 'deep biosphere.'


And that somewhere is not in outer space or an extraterrestrial planet. Rather, it's a large and yet little known ecosystem that exists below our feet, deep within the earth's surface.


And it contains a vast and unknown number of undiscovered microbial species, an estimated 15 to 23 billion tons spread over about two billion cubic kilometers.


The following are some facts and numbers on that.


Scientists of the Deep Carbon Observatory (DCO), composed of more than 1,000 scientists from 52 countries around the world, estimate that 'the sheer biomass of carbon-based life lurking below our feet utterly dwarfs the amount of life roaming the Earth's surface' and that 'there is nearly 300 to 400 times as much carbon biomass underground (most of it still undiscovered) as there is in all the humans on Earth.'
https://www.livescience.com/64272-carbon-mass-in-earth-deep-biosphere.html 


'Deep, dark fractures reaching far down into the oldest rocks on Earth may seem about as hospitable to life as outer space, but some estimates suggest that microbes dwelling deep in the Earth's crust account for the majority of microbial life. These underground lifeforms, which make up what's known as the deep biosphere, could account for as much as 20% of all biomass on Earth.'
https://news.arizona.edu/news/life-less-obvious-study-sheds-light-evolution-underground-microbes 


'Deep within the surface of the earth lies a gargantuan amount of carbon in the form of various types of microbial life, which hangs onto life in environments with scarce nutrients and extreme temperatures and pressures. Together, they constitute billions of tons of carbon-based life - more than 245 to 385 times the amount within all the humans on the planet.'
https://www.labroots.com/trending/microbiology/13490/deep-biosphere-earth-teems-life 


Learning about the deep biosphere and its undiscovered species reminded me of Allah's revelation which states:


‎وَيَخْلُقُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ


'... And He creates that which you do not know.' (16:8)


Scientists are also quite amazed by how such organisms have adapted in order to be able to thrive in such a hot and nutrient-scarce environment deep below the earth's surface.


Professor Frederick Colwell of Oregon State University said that the deep biosphere is a region that we have yet much more to learn about, and then he added:


'For now, we can only marvel at the nature of the metabolisms that allow life to survive under the extremely impoverished and forbidding conditions for life in deep Earth.'


Fumio Inagaki, a geomicrobiologist, said in a statement:


'Even in dark and energetically challenging conditions, intraterrestrial ecosystems have uniquely evolved and persisted over millions of years.'


And that reminded me of another revelation where Allah said:


‎وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا


'There is no moving creature on earth whose provision is not guaranteed by Allah.' (11:6)


Even microbes and bacteria living within the earth's deep and dark layers and those moving between the tiny fractures of the underground rocks are being sustained by their Creator in mysterious ways.


And to place this in a larger context, those fluids, minerals, rocks, and the plethora of bacteria and microbes within the deep biosphere were all geochemical ingredients that contributed to the emergence of more complex life forms and, ultimately, allowed us to be here, through Allah SWT's wisdom and His wise planning. And Allah said:


‎أَلَمْ تَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُۥ ظَٰهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً


'Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and amply bestowed upon you His favors, both apparent and hidden?' (31:20)


We may be at the top of the pyramid of life, but below that, imagine how many countless things are in our service in ways that we do not even understand. 


The favors of Allah are truly beyond measure.


#DeepBiosphere

Every time I reflect, I am just awed by how Allah created means, laws of physics, and yet he is not limited by any of it. 

He created living organisms to require oxygen and water, nutrients, and a favourable environment for survival, yet he created ones that  not only survive but thrive beyond any life expectancy #deepbiosphere  

Even within humans, some people live in places where human life is almost impossible, at extremely high altitudes, above the clouds, where not even a single tree can survive. 

People live perfectly fine with just 50% of the required oxygen.  Thus, their bodies have evolved to create 2 times more blood cells as the natural human. 

 People living in heat have adaptations like Efficient body proportions with longer limbs to dissipate heat

Those living in cold climates have Shorter limbs and stockier bodies to conserve heat. 

Here is more on human adaptations: https://antropologiafisica.org/adaptation-of-humans-to-different-environments-heat-cold-altitude/

His mercy, his design, his beauty, and his power and might coexist unchaotically. 

The World of Quran

While caring for my plants, I discovered a lemon sapling under attack by tiny caterpillars. Initially, I thought they were pests, but research revealed they were butterfly larvae. I tolerated the damage, fascinated by their transformation. Now, watching them grow, I'm struck by the balance between protecting my plant and nurturing these future butterflies.

When I planted this sapling, I saw it as a means of sustenance for myself. But Allah had woven a tapestry of provision for many of His creatures from the same plant. Had I not discovered that these were butterfly larvae, I would have eradicated them as pests to safeguard my plant.

Instead, Allah granted me knowledge, and I became lost in the intricacies of His design. These larvae will continue to nourish themselves from this young sapling, and when they mature, they will become a source of sustenance for others, including humans – pollinating flowers, facilitating germination, and perpetuating life's cycles.
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ الْعَظِيمِ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

Jazakallah khyr for sharing these profound insights brother. May Allah guide us all to strive towards what actually matters. Ameen

Our research published today provides an approximate answer. We conservatively estimate our planet harbours about 20 quadrillion ants. That’s 20 thousand million millions, or in numerical form, 20,000,000,000,000,000 (20 with 15 zeroes). The 20 quadrillion tiny ants and their colonies hidden in the small crevices, pavements of sidewalks, near food deposits, trash areas, around the Earth. Allah is providing each and every single ant food to feed on 24/7 till their average lifespan from a few days to a few decades. He knows each of them intimately and how He created them, where they are moving right now, and what they are doing in real-time, Allah is not bound by the dimensions of time and place, as He created these dimensions.

۞ وَعِندَهُۥ مَفَاتِحُ ٱلْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَآ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۚ وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا يَعْلَمُهَا وَلَا حَبَّةٍۢ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا رَطْبٍۢ وَلَا يَابِسٍ إِلَّا فِى كِتَـٰبٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ٥٩

With Him are the keys of the unseen—no one knows them except Him. And He knows what is in the land and sea. Not even a leaf falls without His knowledge, nor a grain in the darkness of the earth or anything—green or dry—but is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record. — Quran 6:59

Allah is providing every single human being Rizq as of now the population of the Earth is 8 billion dispersed across 194 countries. No one is dying out of starvation except due to the governmental, political factors such as war, humans oppressing humans causing lack of food and unequal access to food such as in Africa, and other war-torn countries in the world. For example, Palestine is facing immense poverty and economic collapse due to the genocide by Israel. 

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىْءٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْخَوْفِ وَٱلْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْأَمْوَٰلِ وَٱلْأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ ١٥٥
We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure— Quran 2:155

Amazing and beautiful masha'Allah. May Allah SWT inspire you to inspire others more through your love of the Quran and your gift of writing. Ameen.

My third child, Jennah, was born shortly after I finished my PhD program and started my first corporate job. It was cool to receive all these congratulation messages, jokes, and some parenting advice from colleagues and friends. However, one question from a Colleague, Robert, stood out to me, as it represents a major difference in the way people view and plan for their kids’ future:

'So, you are saying that the age difference between Jennah and Maryam, her older sister, is less than two years?'
I said: 'Yes, what’s the big deal?' 
He replied: 'Well, for me I try to plan on having kids every four years, so I don’t have to worry about college tuition for two kids at a time.' 

I answered: 'I never thought about that! Appreciate the advice. In my case, I believe that God gifted me these beautiful children, and I have no doubt He will provide for them through me at the right time.'

In this article, I try to break down our worldview on Rizq, usign a language that hopefully addresses a universal audience (Muslims and non-Muslims):

(1) Your rizq (sustenance) is already predetermined…
(2) … So, 'Tie your camel' while placing your full trust in God
(3) … And Hustle consistently like birds
(4) … Maintain Consciousness of God throughout the Process
(5) … Shake the tree like Mary, and focus on the process not the product.
(6) … And at the end of the day, sleep like a baby!

Link:

https://open.substack.com/pub/hakeemblog/p/six-deep-quotes-about-rizq-management?r=2ixo4m&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web 

#rizq ​management #tawakkul ​ #Rizq

PS: If these reflections resonated with you, there is more at HekmahOS.com, where I provide online courses that explore how Quranic wisdom can shape the way we live and think.



‎وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ
And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allāh is its provision…
(11:6)

Rizq - a universal worry! 
Often times we make dua for barakah in our lives or to increase our rizq. 
However, we don’t truly internalise the fact that rizq isn’t always monetary.
It encapsulates emotional provision too. 

Rizq isn’t always palpable, it isn’t always in the form we expect it to be.
 
Your dua for rizq can be answered in the form of a soft heart, a content soul, mental clarity, emotional intelligence, a positive attitude, ability to join circles of knowledge, righteous company, having the dua of your parents, the laughter of children, the presence of family, the embrace of a friend, the kindness of a stranger, and more. 

May Allah grant you all this and more.

‎اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْماً نَافِعاً، وَرِزقاً طَيِّباً، وَعَمَلاً مُتَقَبَّلاً
O Allah, I ask you for knowledge that is of benefit, good provision and deeds that will be accepted.

#rizq #provision #barakah #clarity #innerpeace #contentment #gratitude #family #friends #emotionalintelligence #Dua #reminders 


 جزاك الله خيرا for your kind words 💖 

A sister in our community passed away suddenly last week (May Allah forgive her and have Mercy on her). Yesterday, her family was removing foods from the fridge that she had left behind. It made me think of this Ayah, subhanAllah. She has eaten what Allah had written for her and left behind what was not.  And now that food would become a provision for someone else or another creature. This made me think about how I sometimes eat and drink so mindlessly, without reflecting on how Allah has provided this specific food, specifically for me.

May Allah forgive us and allow us to be grateful for His provisions.

Ameen. Wa iyyakum. Alhamdullilah, all praise is due to Allah.