The Difference between Planning and
Reliance on Allah. Javed Ahmed Ghamidi

[Hassan Ilyaas] What is the essential
difference between

using your intellect to plan versus
reliance in the divine will?

We are often told to have faith, reliance
in Allah,

but then we set about a plan,
we analyze the pros and cons,

and limitations in order to
achieve the desired result.

If we always end up planning everything, 
where does reliance in God fit in?

What is the difference
between the two?

[Javed Ahmed Ghamidi] In this world, 
do all the plans we undertake

and opinions we form, lead to the
same uniform results as, say,

like water, when it is split, maintains
the same level throughout.

The way results come about
in moral affairs

are not the same as the results which come
about due to physical laws.

Often we end up putting in all our effort
and strength into something

but we don't end up achieving
the desired result.

Therefore, we have been taught that
all results in this world

can only be achieved through
diligent planning.

Therefore, one must plan and gain 
worldly knowledge.

If one wants to achieve something, 
one must delve deep and obtain

the requisite scientific knowledge to 
achieve the correct results.

Scientific knowledge refers
to obtaining knowledge through

observations and experience of the
facts.

One must not slack in one's effort
in planning.

But since the outcomes of all our schemes
are not determinately correlated,

one must be satisfied and have faith that
every outcome is by the Will of Allah.

It is imperative for man to leave the
eventuality in the hands of Allah;

this enables man to not lose hope
and move onwards to the next plan.

[Hassan] We are told of this event
attributed to Syeda Ayesha;

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has
instructed us to ask Allah

for something even as trivial as
a broken shoe lace.

This means that while one has to make 
an effort,

one should also pray to Allah to give one
the fruit of one's labour and

protection from any afflictions, whether 
natural or human, on the way to the market

[Ghamidi] One's stepping out, having the 
will to do so, the money to buy the laces,

the money being secure is, all of this,
by the permission of Allah.

Man is dependent on Allah each
and every step of the way.

Therefore, he (pbuh) had said, that 
one must have faith in Allah when

embarking for any task.

He in no way told us to
just stay at home

raising our hands in prayer, 
hoping the laces would fall from the sky.

No, one must leave go out for this, 
one must have money for it,

make a trip to the market, 
and search for the laces.

However, he said, that a devout Muslim 
needs to understand that all this

can be possible to attain only through
Allah's permission, and grace.