By Shaykh Dr Sajid Umar
16 January 2026

﷽ 

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam,

There are moments from the life of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that do not merely inform us, but shape the way we think, act, and respond to the tests of life. They show us what Iman looks like when it is lived. Not spoken, not theorised, but practised under pressure.

One such moment is narrated by Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه and recorded in the authentic books of hadith. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ once addressed his companions and said: whoever has food sufficient for two people should take a third person home with him. And whoever has food sufficient for four people should take a fifth or a sixth.

This instruction was not given at a time of abundance. It was given when resources were limited. Yet the Prophet ﷺ was cultivating something far greater than food. He was cultivating reliance upon Allah.

Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, the closest companion of the Prophet ﷺ and the best of this ummah after him, understood this instruction deeply. When he heard these words, he did not limit himself to the minimum. He decided to take three guests home with him. His trust in Allah was not theoretical; it was lived through action.

Abu Bakr did not simply rely upon intention alone. He acted. He sent the guests ahead with his son ‘Abdur Rahman and instructed him to ensure that they were fed. This was done without any prior notice to his wife. There were no messages, no preparation.

He himself remained with the Prophet ﷺ and ate with him, staying until ‘Isha or shortly after, so that the guests could eat freely at his home. When he eventually returned, he asked his wife whether the guests had been fed. She replied that they had refused to eat, insisting they would not do so until the man of the house returned.

Abu Bakr became upset and summoned his son. He reminded him of the instruction he had given. His son replied honestly: what could I do? They refused to eat until you arrived. Abu Bakr then declared that he would not eat until the guests ate, and his wife in turn said she would not eat until he ate.

At that moment, the situation became difficult, not because of a lack of food, but because of competing intentions. Abu Bakr recognised that matters were becoming unnecessarily strained. He broke his oath, intending to give the expiation later, and sat with the guests to eat.

And then something remarkable happened.

As they ate, Abu Bakr noticed that the food was not decreasing, it was increasing. He returned to his wife and asked her whether the food was the same or less. She replied, “By Allah, it is increasing.” Everyone ate until they were full – Abu Bakr, his family, and the guests – and there was still extra food remaining. That extra food was then taken to the home of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

My brothers and sisters in Islam, this narration is not a narration about food.

It is a narration about what happens when responsibility meets trust in Allah.

This is the essence of tawakkul.

Tawakkul is sincere reliance of the heart upon Allah, seeking benefit and repelling harm while believing with certainty that no one gives, withholds, benefits, or harms except Allah alone. It is not passive hope. It is not empty words. It is movement anchored in certainty.

Our scholars described tawakkul as the heart surrendering itself to Allah just as a lifeless body surrenders itself to those who wash it for janazah. One of the great scholars said that tawakkul is the very essence of iman.

This is why the Qur’an repeatedly nurtures the ummah of Muhammad ﷺ upon this principle. In worship, Allah commands us to worship Him and rely upon Him. In da‘wah, when people turn away, Allah teaches us to say: Allah is sufficient for me; there is no one worthy of worship besides Him; upon Him I rely. In matters of sustenance and provision, Allah promises that whoever has taqwa, He will make a way out for them and provide for them from places they never imagined, and whoever relies upon Allah, then Allah is sufficient for them.

In migration, Allah promises a good place in this world and a greater reward in the hereafter for those who are patient and place their trust in Him. In decision-making, Allah commands: when you have resolved upon a matter, place your trust in Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely upon Him.

If we testify that there is no god worthy of worship besides Allah, and that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah, then tawakkul must be part and parcel of that testimony. Allah Himself says: upon Allah should you rely, if you are truly believers.

I remind myself and you that one of the standout lessons of this narration is that a believer does not wait for ease before acting. The instruction of the Prophet ﷺ came first. The increase came later.

A believer moves with sincerity and taqwa, and it is that movement which invites the support of Allah.

Our responsibility is effort. Our responsibility is to move. The outcome belongs to Allah.

Tawakkul is not doing nothing. It is stepping forward even when you feel stretched, because it is the right thing to do. It is acting decisively with trust in Allah, knowing that while we take responsibility for action, Allah takes responsibility for the result. 

May Allah grant us hearts that truly rely upon Him, actions that are sincere for His sake, and certainty that He is sufficient for us in all affairs.

Ameen.

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