Umar bin al Khattab heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: `If you were to put your trust in Allah as you should, you would be given provision like the birds: they go out hungry in the morning and come back with full bellies in the evening.”
Tafsir of the Hadith from Musnad `Umar b. al-Khattab (ra)
This noble tradition, recorded in Musnad Ahmad 205, contains profound wisdom regarding reliance upon Allah (tawakkul). The Prophet (ﷺ) draws a magnificent analogy with birds to illustrate perfect trust in divine provision.
The Nature of True Tawakkul
True reliance upon Allah is not mere verbal affirmation but a state of the heart that manifests in action. The birds do not remain in their nests awaiting sustenance; they venture forth seeking what Allah has decreed for them, yet their hearts are attached not to the means but to the Provider.
As Imam Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali explains: "Tawakkul does not mean abandoning means and causes, rather it means the heart's dependence upon Allah while utilizing permissible means."
The Bird's Example
Birds depart at dawn with empty stomachs, trusting that Allah will provide. They do not hoard food for months nor despair if one day's search yields little. Their state reflects contentment with daily provision and unwavering certainty in their Creator's promise.
Ibn al-Qayyim writes in "Miftaah Daar as-Sa'aadah": "The bird's example teaches us that provision comes through seeking while relying, not through sitting while claiming reliance."
Practical Implementation
The believer must combine effort with trust - working as if everything depends on one's effort, while trusting as if everything depends on Allah. This balance distinguishes Islamic tawakkul from fatalism or negligence of means.
As recorded in Musnad Ahmad and other collections, this teaching of `Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra) reminds us that our sustenance, like the birds', is guaranteed by Allah when we combine righteous effort with sincere reliance.