“Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Maula (Lord, Helper and Protector). And in Allah let the believers put their trust.” Surah Taubah Ayah 51

“I possess not for myself any harm or benefit except what Allah should will. For every nation is a [specified] term. When their time has come, then they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it].” Surah Yunus verse 49

It was narrated by Ibn ‘Abbas who said:

When (Prophet) Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said: “Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and, He is the Best Disposer of affairs.” So did Messenger of Allah Muhammad (ﷺ) when he was told: “A great army of the pagans had gathered against him, so fear them”. But this (warning) only increased him and the Muslims in Faith and they said: “Allah (Alone) is sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)”. [Al-Bukhari].

We can take the same passage and have two different interpretations depending on the perspective we hold.

A pessimistic person will read these passages and say, what’s the point in even trying. I am not going to study for that test, I am not going to do the necessary preparation to succeed, I am not going to wake up early and try my best.

This is wrong.

What putting your faith in Allah means is believing and accepting in his plan. You will do everything that is within your capacity. What happens next is irrelevant, the result is predetermined by Allah.

We must take the good and the bad and be grateful to Allah in both situations. We must learn to live through it and love it. To move on and become better because of it.

hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa hu alayhi tawakkaltu dua in Arabic

Here’s the dua from hadith of Sunan Abu Dawood 5081,

حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

Transliteration: HasbiyAllahu laa ilaaha illa huwa alayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa Rabbul arshil adheem.

Translation of this dua:

The meaning of hasbiyallahu la ilaha illa hu alayhi tawakkaltu… is:

“Allah is sufficient for me. There is none worthy of worship but Him. I have placed my trust in Him. He is the Lord of the Majestic throne.”

Reciting seven times according to Hadith:

The trouble can come in the belief in the hadith which says “if anyone says seven times morning and evening […] Allah will be sufficient for him against anything which grieves him, whether he is true or false in (repeating) them.”

The belief that in reciting this seven times whatever he desires will come true. This is obviously false, in the Quran it says “Every prayer is answered” which does not mean “I accept every prayer of you.”

In Surah Baqarah ayah 216 Allah through his infinite wisdom says,

“But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not.”

Another Dua to say Allah is sufficient for us is from Surah Taubah in Quran:
Hasbunallahu Wa Nimal Wakeel