A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
Truths pertaining to reliance upon Allah (tawakkul).
First: Reliance upon Allah is a necessary requirement of one’s submission to Allah the Exalted.
Allah the Exalted says:
“And Moses said: O my people! If ye have believed in Allah then put trust in Him, if ye have indeed surrendered (unto Him)!” (10:84)
Second:
Reliance is not realized in the heart merely by knowing its definition and reality.
For the knowledge of reliance is one thing, and the state of reliance is quite another.
Knowledge may be purely intellectual.
However, achieving true reliance requires that it be firmly established in the heart to the level of certainty.
If you were to ask anyone about reliance upon Allah,
they would affirm it and claim to rely upon Him.
Yet, when faced with trials and hardships,
many fail in their claim of reliance.
You see them becoming distraught,
and rushing to others besides Allah, seeking to be delivered from their affliction and distress.
They forget to turn to Allah in such moments.
They are like those who answer you by saying that the Provider is Allah,
but if someone constricts their work or trade,
they complain and say,
"So-and-so wants to cut off my provision."
Does this statement not indicate a weakness in the certainty that Allah alone is the Provider?
As for the people of truth,
you find them, during times of hardship, relying upon Allah with true reliance.
When the disbelievers reached the cave where the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was hiding,
along with Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him,
the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said to Abu Bakr:
“If ye help him not, still Allah helped him when those who disbelieve drove him forth, the second of two; when they two were in the cave, when he said unto his comrade: Grieve not. Lo! Allah is with us. Then Allah caused His peace of reassurance to descend upon him and supported him with hosts ye cannot see, and made the word of those who disbelieved the nethermost, while Allah's Word it was that became the uppermost. Allah is Mighty, Wise.” (9:40)
He turned to Allah and relied upon Him.
Third:
Depending on worldly means and leaning upon them,
along with fear and panic over their loss,
is evidence of weak reliance.
It is as if the means themselves could independently benefit or harm.
Fourth:
While leaning upon worldly means is a weakness in reliance,
utilizing them does not contradict reliance or certainty in Allah’s decree and His promise.
Allah the Exalted inspired the mother of Musa to return her son to her.
Allah the Exalted says:
“And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: Suckle him and, when thou fearest for him, then cast him into the river and fear not nor grieve. Lo! We shall bring him back unto thee and shall make him (one) of Our messengers.” (28:7)
“And We inspired the mother of Moses, saying: Suckle him and, when thou fearest for him, then cast him into the river and fear not nor grieve. Lo! We shall bring him back unto thee and shall make him (one) of Our messengers.” (28:7)
"We will return him to you and make him one of the messengers."
Yet, this did not prevent her from taking the necessary means and searching for him,
after she had carried out what Allah had inspired her to do,
and cast her son into the river,
and said to his sister, "Follow him."
“And she said unto his sister: Trace him. So she observed him from afar, and they perceived not.” (28:11)