In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

...Such is GOD my Lord. In Him I trust, and to Him I submit- 42:10

[25:58] You shall put your trust in the One who is Alive - the One who never dies - and praise Him and glorify Him. He is fully Cognizant of His creatures' sins.

We learn from Quran that souls progress based on the degree of dedication in upholding Quran's ethics and commands (90:4-18). If the believers are in a state of full awareness of this fact, they will grasp how crucial to seek all means to study and apply Quran, truthfully, to their lives.

[6:51] And preach with this (Quran) to those who reverence the summoning before their Lord - they have none beside Him as a Lord and Master, nor an intercessor - that they may attain salvation.

[5:35] O you who believe, you shall reverence GOD and seek the ways and means to Him, and strive in His cause, that you may succeed.

"Trusting in God" is a quality of true belief in God. Believing in God mandates that we do trust in Him as the ONLY absolute power and authority over us, and over both seen and unseen worlds around us. Trusting in God is the inner strength that makes the difficult path of redemption (90:4-18) more manageable. God urges the believers to proclaim Him as their ONLY Advocate and Supporter, and to validate that through behavior, choices, and actions.

[9:51] Say, "Nothing happens to us, except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In GOD the believers shall trust."

[33:3] And put your trust in GOD. GOD suffices as an advocate.

[29:59] They are the ones who steadfastly persevere, and trust in their Lord.

[11:123] To GOD belongs the future of the heavens and the earth, and all matters are controlled by Him. You shall worship Him and trust in Him. Your Lord is never unaware of anything you do.

Our trust in God is one of the claims that will always be tested as it is an indicator of true belief. We commit idol worship when we lack the trust in God to turn to our own fears. Fear is the negative force from our ardent enemy that keeps us powerless and static. Those who trust in God, on the other hand, are the candidates of His love and support. The more they exhibit absolute reliance on the one entity who is worthy of that, the more strength, heart assurance, and inner peace they get loaded with. This frees their souls to gallop on the straight path of redemption with confidence and ease.

[29:2] Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the test?
[29:3] We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars.

Fear: The Devil's Tool [3:175] It is the devil's system to instill fear into his subjects. Do not fear them and fear Me instead, if you are believers.

[65:3] .....Anyone who trusts in GOD, He suffices him. GOD's commands are done. GOD has decreed for everything its fate.

There is a misconception about the implications of trusting in God. Some of us have been falling in the deception that relying on God implies we become neutral, mute, or do nothing in times when we need to speak up or take certain directions in life. This is not a Quran-based understanding. To the contrary, Quran sets many examples which teach us that trusting in God is the fruit of our knowledge and certainty. Therefore, it only beautifies our style of handling the truth from God and augments our dedication to pleasing God. In the following reminders, please note how trusting in God doesn't interfere with preparing, being cautious, acting and doing our best, judging based on Quran then move on to carry out righteous decisions and stand for truth:

- God teaches us that we can plan our lives ahead of time and prepare for specific situations in advance such as death. This is an invitation from God, plain and simple. After we consult and make a decision, we can carry out our plans without worrying about the outcome:

You Shall Be Prepared: A Divine Commandment [8:60] You shall prepare for them all the power you can muster, and all the equipment you can mobilize, that you may frighten the enemies of GOD, your enemies, as well as others who are not known to you; GOD knows them. Whatever you spend in the cause of GOD will be repaid to you generously, without the least injustice.

Write A Will [2:180] It is decreed that when death approaches, you shall write a will for the benefit of the parents and relatives, equitably. This is a duty upon the righteous.

[3:159] ... Once you make a decision, carry out your plan, and trust in GOD. GOD loves those who trust in Him.*

- Being cautious, or staying alert isn't an indication of weak faith, or a betrayal to our trust in God. God instructs us that we shouldn't risk our lives. These are all divine teachings:

[4:101] When you travel, during war, you commit no error by shortening your Contact Prayers (Salat), if you fear that the disbelievers may attack you. Surely, the disbelievers are your ardent enemies.
[4:102] When you are with them, and lead the Contact Prayer (Salat) for them, let some of you stand guard; let them hold their weapons, and let them stand behind you as you prostrate. Then, let the other group that has not prayed take their turn praying with you, while the others stand guard and hold their weapons. Those who disbelieved wish to see you neglect your weapons and your equipment, in order to attack you once and for all. You commit no error, if you are hampered by rain or injury, by putting down your weapons, so long as you remain alert. GOD has prepared for the disbelievers a shameful retribution.

[3:28] The believers never ally themselves with the disbelievers, instead of the believers. Whoever does this is exiled from GOD. Exempted are those who are forced to do this to avoid persecution. GOD alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone. To GOD is the ultimate destiny.

[2:195] You shall spend in the cause of GOD; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction. You shall be charitable; GOD loves the charitable.

- While going through adversity, God invites us to firmly continue with our strife and righteous deeds. He doesn't invite us to surrender to falsehood and falsifiers, claiming that we trust in Him and rely on Him:

[16:110] As for those who emigrate because of persecution, then continue to strive and steadfastly persevere, your Lord, because of all this, is Forgiver, Most Merciful.

[3:120] When anything good comes your way they hurt, and when something bad happens to you they rejoice. If you steadfastly persevere, and maintain righteousness, their schemes will never hurt you. GOD is fully aware of everything they do.

[14:12] "Why should we not trust in GOD, when He has guided us in our paths? We will steadfastly persevere in the face of your persecution. In GOD all the trustees shall trust."

[47:35] Therefore, you shall not waver and surrender in pursuit of peace, for you are guaranteed victory, and GOD is with you. He will never waste your efforts.

- We are required by God to be aware of the hypocrites and the disbelievers in order to avoid them as allies. In guarding against them, we are not exhibiting any lack of trust in God. We are simply acting upon God's teachings while totally trusting in Him alone as the only protector and supporter:

[33:48] Do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites, disregard their insults, and put your trust in GOD; GOD suffices as an advocate.

[26:216] If they disobey you, then say, "I disown what you do."
[26:217] And put your trust in the Almighty, Most Merciful.

Based on all the above reminders, trusting in God as believers doesn't mean being apathetic ones. Trusting in God shouldn't be a negative force that slows us down from being actively engaged with proclaiming and upholding God's commands, or with positively planning our lives, and pursuing our goals, but rather a source of strength, inspiration, and courage that pushes us forward to judge, choose, and act righteously. While doing that, as believers in God, we are certain that God is always on our side and that nothing would harm us against His will:

[47:7] O you who believe, if you support GOD, He will support you, and strengthen your foothold.

[58:10] Secret conspiracy is the devil's idea, through which he seeks to hurt those who believed. However, he cannot hurt them against GOD's will. In GOD the believers shall trust.

[5:11] O you who believe, remember GOD's blessings upon you; when some people extended their hands to aggress against you, He protected you and withheld their hands. You shall observe GOD; in GOD the believers shall trust.

[14:27] GOD strengthens those who believe with the proven word, in this life and in the Hereafter. And GOD sends the transgressors astray. Everything is in accordance with GOD's will.

Peaceful Friday, salaam, and God bless.