The words, “O Allah, make what You have permitted sufficient for me so that I have no need of what You have forbidden,” mean that when something suffices a person, it makes him independent of everything else. Thus, he asks Allah to make what is lawful sufficient for him, so that he has no need of what is forbidden.

The words, “And through Your bounty make me independent of everyone besides You,” mean: Let Your bounty—the blessings, goodness, and provision You graciously bestow upon me—make me independent of everyone besides You, so that I need no one but You and seek refuge in no one besides You.

This indicates that a servant should entrust his affairs to Allah, rely upon Him alone, seek His help—Glorified is He—and place his trust in Him in all his affairs. He—Glorified is He—is sufficient as a Trustee.

Along with supplication, one must also take the necessary means, strive earnestly to repay the debt, be sincerely resolved to fulfil it, and hasten to do so at the earliest opportunity. One must also beware of delaying and procrastinating, for a person who acts in this way is unlikely to receive help. As for one who takes the burden of his debt to heart and sincerely intends to repay it, Allah will help him and discharge his debt on his behalf.

Al-Bukhārī narrated from Abū Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him—that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “Whoever takes people’s wealth intending to repay it, Allah will repay it on his behalf; and whoever takes it intending to squander it, Allah will destroy him.”1.

Imam Ahmad narrated from Aisha—may Allah be pleased with her—that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “No servant sincerely intends to repay his debt without receiving help from Allah.”2.