Tying Your Camel

In life, we often stress about outcomes—whether it's passing a test, succeeding in business, or mastering a new skill. But there's a powerful lesson in the hadith where the Prophet ﷺ said:

Anas ibn Malik (رضي الله عنه) reported that a man said to the Prophet (ﷺ):
"O Messenger of Allah, should I tie my camel and rely upon Allah, or should I leave it untied and rely upon Allah?"

The Prophet (ﷺ) replied:
"Tie it and rely upon Allah."
(توكَّل واعقِلها – Tawakkal wa i'qilha)

At first glance, this hadith teaches a simple concept: take action, then leave the rest to Allah. But through tadabbur—deep reflection—it reveals an even deeper mindset shift that brings peace.

Tadabbur: Reflection, Not Tafsir

It’s important to note that what I’m about to share is tadabbur, a personal reflection on the wisdom of this hadith, not tafsir—which requires scholarly knowledge of the linguistic and historical context. Tadabbur allows us to internalize and apply divine guidance in our daily lives while understanding that true tafsir comes from those qualified to explain it.

Effort is Your Responsibility, Not the Outcome

One of the biggest lessons I’ve realized is that my only duty in this life is to put in the work with good intentions. Whether I’m starting a business, learning Arabic, or preparing for a test, my focus should be on sincere effort—not the result.

We often stress over outcomes, but why? The qadr of Allah has already been written. No amount of worry will change what He has decreed. My role is to put in my best effort, and if something is meant for me, it will happen. If it’s not, it was never meant to be.

The Drone Story: A Personal Lesson in Sabr and Tawakkul

A while ago, I had a drone for a few weeks. I thought I was good enough to fly it indoors, but I crashed it straight into the wall. At that moment, I could have reacted like I used to—cussing, blaming the world, and getting angry at the inconvenience. That’s what we often do when things go wrong, right?

But this time, I took a deep breath and said, Alhamdulillah. I picked up my drone, accepted the situation, and moved on. Later, I found out that the replacement part was only $15 on Amazon and that I could fix it myself.

That moment made me realize something huge: had I freaked out like I did so many times before, I would have wasted time, energy, and emotions on a problem that Allah already had an easy solution for.

How many times in life do we lose our patience over something small, only to later realize that the solution was simple? The problem was never the situation itself—it was our lack of sabr.

Failure is Not Failure—It’s Redirection

Imagine studying hard for an exam and still failing. Does that mean you are a failure? Absolutely not. You tied your camel, you put in the work. That’s all Allah asked of you. The result was never in your hands.

This applies to everything—business, relationships, personal growth. If something doesn’t go as planned, perhaps Allah is redirecting you to something better suited for your growth, your character, or your akhirah.

Trusting in Qadr Brings Peace

When you deeply internalize qadr, you realize that stressing over the outcome is pointless. Allah already knows what is best for you.

So why waste energy worrying? Instead, train your mind to say:

• “I did my part, I put in the effort, and I trust in Allah.”
• “If it’s meant for me, it will happen. If not, Alhamdulillah.”

That’s true tawakkul—trusting Allah not just when things go right, but when things don’t go as we expected.

How to Apply This Mindset in Life

1. Detach from results: Focus only on effort and intention.
2. Let go of stress: If something doesn’t work out, say Alhamdulillah and move forward.
3. Keep working hard: Trust in Allah doesn’t mean sitting back—it means doing your part, then leaving the rest to Him.
4. Reflect on Qadr: Remind yourself that everything is already written, and you are exactly where Allah wants you to be.

Final Thought

Imagine how peaceful life would be if you stopped worrying about results and simply focused on putting in your best effort. The next time you face a setback, remember: you are not a failure, you are simply being redirected to something better.

So tie your camel, trust in Allah, and leave the rest to Him. That’s all you ever need to do.