Effort is a Sign of Gratitude

Striving with Our Own Hands: A Sign of Gratitude to ar-Razzaq

Effort, or “ikhtiar” in Arabic, is a tangible proof of our gratitude to ar-Razzaq, the Provider. This concept is beautifully articulated by Mevlana Rumi in his Mathnawi, where he emphasizes that the attribute of jabbariyyah, or complete helplessness, is something to be avoided. Islam fundamentally rejects fatalism, the belief that humans have no control over their fate.

Egyptian Mufti, Sheikh Ali Jumuah, provides essential guidance regarding effort: completely relying on effort alone is shirk (associating partners with Allah), while abandoning it entirely is ignorance. As Rumi states, “Jabbariyyah sleeps by the roadside. Don’t sleep!” We should not simply surrender to fate without making any effort.

Rejecting Fatalism: Why Effort is Essential

Jabbariyyah is a deviant belief that emerged in the 2nd century Hijri in Khurasan. This doctrine teaches that humans have no choice or effort in their actions; everything is predestined. However, the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught otherwise. He said, “If you were to rely upon Allah with the reliance He is due, you would be given provision like the birds: they go out hungry in the morning and return with full bellies in the evening” (Tirmidhi).

Birds do not stay idle in their nests. They go out to seek provision, demonstrating high levels of tawakkul (trust in Allah). True tawakkul does not mean neglecting effort; rather, it means combining maximum effort with complete reliance on Allah.

The Meaning of Effort in Islam

The etymology of the word ‘ikhtiar’ comes from the Arabic word إختيار, which means ‘to choose’. It is related to خيرة (choice) and خير (goodness). Essentially, ‘ikhtiar’ is a choice given by Allah ﷻ to us. By choosing the best path, we show our gratitude to Him.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also demonstrated the importance of effort. On many occasions, he showed that effort must always be made. During battles, he wore double layers of armor. When sick, he advised us to seek medical treatment. All these actions highlight that effort is an integral part of faith and reliance on Allah.

Effort as a Provision from Allah

The ladder in Rumi’s allegory in the Mathnawi symbolizes provision. Allah ﷻ has placed provision before us, but we must take steps to attain it. Effort is a provision from Allah, and our endeavors are the means to access it. However, we must always remember that the ultimate success of our efforts is by Allah’s will.

The example of Prophet Isa (Jesus) shows that while we must have tawakkul, we should not neglect effort. When Iblis (Satan) tempted Prophet Isa to jump off a cliff relying on Allah to save him, he refused, demonstrating that testing Allah is wrong.

Effort as a Sign of Gratitude

Every decree from Allah ﷻ is a path to knowing Him. Prophet Dawud (David) once prayed about how to show gratitude to Allah. Allah ﷻ replied that by acknowledging that every blessing is from Him, we are already being grateful. By making efforts with the awareness that our ability to strive comes from Allah, we express our gratitude.

Effort is not a struggle against destiny, but a part of destiny itself. By striving, we show our gratitude for the choices and abilities that Allah has granted us. As taught by Rumi and other scholars, our efforts are manifestations of our faith and thankfulness to the Creator.

In conclusion, let’s reflect on the importance of effort in our lives. Let us not be trapped in laziness or pessimism. Like the birds that optimistically seek their provision, let us continue to strive, relying on Allah ﷻ, and be grateful for every opportunity given by Him.

Effort itself is a provision and a sign of our gratitude to Allah ﷻ.