Such certainty bears noble fruits, foremost among them tawakkul (reliance on Allah). Tawakkul is a servant’s dependence on his Lord—Mighty and Majestic—in both outward and inward matters, seeking benefit and averting harm: “Whoever puts his trust in Allah, He will suffice him” (at-Talāq 65:3).

By combining these two stations—yaqīn (certainty) and tawakkul—a person attains his objective in this world and the Next. He finds ease, lives in serene happiness, and rests assured, for he believes with conviction in everything Allah and His Messenger have conveyed and entrusts all affairs to Allah.

The author then cites several verses on this theme, among them: “When the believers saw the confederate forces they said, ‘This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us; Allah and His Messenger have spoken the truth’” (al-Aḥzāb 33:22).

The ahzāb (confederates) were factions from many tribes who banded together against the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him. About ten thousand fighters from Quraysh and others assembled, besieging Madinah in order to eliminate the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him.

During this campaign the Companions experienced an intense crisis. Allah, Blessed and Exalted, describes it: “When eyes were dazed and hearts leapt to the throats out of fear, and you entertained (distant) thoughts about Allah … there the believers were tested and shaken with a severe shaking” (al-Aḥzāb 33:10-11).

In that grave ordeal people divided into two camps, as Allah—Glorified be He—makes clear in these verses: “There the believers were tested and shaken with a severe shaking.”

The first camp is described by Allah: “When the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is a disease said, ‘Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusion’” (al-Aḥzāb 33:12). The hypocrites are those who display faith outwardly while concealing disbelief, and those whose hearts are diseased among the believers suffer from a deficiency in their certainty.