Whoever puts his trust in Allah, He is enough for him.
Qur’an 65:3 · Surat al-TalaqThe Library › Book 35
Quarter 4 · Things That Save the Heart · Ready nowDivine Oneness & Trust in Allah
Five stories inspired by Book 35 of Imam al-Ghazali’s Ihya’, for children ages 4 to 8. Listen along, talk together, and see what the Imam teaches.
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The five stories, read aloud.
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Chapter 1 of 5
Who Is in Charge?
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Chapter 1 of 5
Who Is in Charge?
Sami wakes up to the sun and wonders who makes it all work. Mama answers one gentle question at a time.
“Allah is in charge.”
Talk Together
- AskWhat did Sami see out of his window? Who made it all?
- AskSami jumped when the thunder went BOOM. What sounds make you jump?
- Say itAllah is in charge.
- Try itPut your hand on your heart. Feel it go lub-dub. Who makes it beat?
For ParentsWhat Imam al-Ghazali teaches
Imam al-Ghazali begins the Book of Divine Oneness and Trust by saying that trust (tawakkul) grows from one root: tawhid, the oneness of Allah. It means seeing that Allah alone creates and runs everything. He describes levels of tawhid, from saying “there is no god but Allah” with the tongue, to believing it in the heart, to truly seeing all things come from the One. Your part is to help your child notice: the sun, the wind, their own heartbeat all point to Him.
Chapter 2 of 5
The Bird Who Was Not Worried
A little sparrow flies out hungry and comes home full. Sami learns that Allah takes care of the birds, and of him.
“Allah takes care of the birds, and Allah takes care of me.”
Talk Together
- AskWhere did the little bird find food? Who sent it to her?
- AskDid the bird stay in her nest and wait, or did she go and look?
- Try itPut out a dish of water for the birds. Each time you check it, say, “Allah takes care of the birds, and Allah takes care of me.”
- Thank youAl-HamduliLlah, thank You, Allah, for my food.
For ParentsWhat Imam al-Ghazali teaches
Imam al-Ghazali quotes the Prophet ﷺ: “If you trusted Allah as He truly deserves, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out hungry in the morning and return full in the evening” (al-Tirmidhi 2344, graded Hasan Sahih). The bird goes out. Trust is not sitting still. Provision is written by Allah, and seeking it in the way He has arranged the world is part of obeying Him.
Chapter 3 of 5
Tie Your Camel
At Jiddo’s farm, Sami hears why we tie the camel and then trust Allah, and finds out what happens when he forgets the coop.
“Do your part. Then trust Allah.”
Talk Together
- AskWhy did Jiddo tie Warda, even though Allah is in charge?
- AskWhat happened when Sami forgot to close the coop? What did he do the next time?
- Say itDo your part. Then trust Allah.
- Try itTonight, close and lock the front door together. Then say, “We did our part. Now we trust Allah.”
For ParentsWhat Imam al-Ghazali teaches
Much of Book 35 explains what a person who trusts Allah actually does. Imam al-Ghazali teaches that taking the means Allah placed in the world (working, locking the door, carrying provisions for a journey) does not weaken trust. Leaving obvious means and waiting for a miracle, he says, is ignorance rather than trust. The heart relies on Allah; the hands do their part: “Tie her, and trust” (al-Tirmidhi 2517).
Chapter 4 of 5
When It Feels Scary
A fever, a clinic and one little shot. Sami finds the words to say when he is afraid.
“HasbunAllah. Allah is enough for us.”
Talk Together
- AskHave you ever felt scared? What can you say when you feel scared?
- AskWhat two things did Sami do when he was sick?
- Say itHasbunAllah. Allah is enough for us.
- Try itBrave breaths: breathe in slowly… breathe out and whisper, “HasbunAllah.” Do it three times together.
For ParentsWhat Imam al-Ghazali teaches
Imam al-Ghazali discusses medicine directly. The Prophet ﷺ sought treatment and told his Companions to seek it, so taking reliable medicine does not contradict trust in Allah. When fear comes, the believer turns to Allah. When Ibrahim, peace be upon him, was thrown into the fire, he said: “HasbunAllahu wa ni’mal wakil” (al-Bukhari 4563), and Allah made the fire cool and safe for him (Qur’an 21:69). Feeling afraid is not a lack of faith; turning to Allah is the answer to it.
Chapter 5 of 5
The Peaceful Heart
A little ant, a crayon and a quiet rainy afternoon show Sami who is really behind everything.
“Allah is in charge. And Allah is enough.”
Talk Together
- AskWhy did the ant think the crayon was drawing by itself?
- AskWhat things in the story are like the crayon? Who is behind them all?
- Say itAllah is in charge. And Allah is enough.
- Try itDraw a picture of things Allah gives you, write “Allah is in charge” on it, and hang it where you’ll see it at bedtime.
For ParentsWhat Imam al-Ghazali teaches
Imam al-Ghazali tells of an ant crossing a page that thinks the pen is doing the writing, until it learns to see the hand, and beyond it the One who moves all hands. Rain, medicine and rope are like the pen. He also describes a level of trust like a small child’s trust in its mother: the child does not stop to think, “Should I go to her, or to someone else?” When it is afraid, it simply runs to her. The Qur’an tells us where such a heart finds rest: “Indeed, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (13:28).
For the whole family
The five things Sami learned
Read them aloud as one chain. By the end of the week, your child will say it with you.
Allah is in charge.
Allah takes care of the birds, and Allah takes care of me.
Do your part. Then trust Allah.
HasbunAllah. Allah is enough for us.
And my heart feels peaceful.
Talk together, one question each night
- Which story was your favorite? Why?
- What do you see every day that Allah takes care of?
- What is one “part” you do, like Sami closing the chicken coop?
- When you feel scared, what can you say?
- Who takes care of you every single day?
Printable chart
A Week of Trust
One tiny practice for every part of the day. Print it, put it on the fridge, and mark a star each time you do it.
| When | Tiny practice | Say together |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | Look out the window: who made the sun come up? | “Allah is in charge.” |
| Mealtime | Name one food and thank Allah for it. | “Al-HamduliLlah.” |
| Going out | Do one part: shoes, seat belt, lock the door. | “Do your part. Then trust Allah.” |
| When scared | Three brave breaths together. | “HasbunAllah.” |
| Bedtime | Hand on heart: lub-dub. | “Allah is enough.” |
For parentsThe heart of this book
Imam al-Ghazali’s picture of the small child running to its mother is the heart of this book. When your child runs to you frightened, hold them first, then say the words: “HasbunAllah. Allah is taking care of us.” You are teaching trust in Allah through the trust they already have in you.
O Allah, place light, trust, and love of You in the hearts of our children. Ameen.
Words of Trust from the Qur’anوَيَرۡزُقۡهُ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ لَا يَحۡتَسِبُۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسۡبُهُۥٓۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمۡرِهِۦۚ قَدۡ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدۡرٗا وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٖ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱللَّهِ رِزۡقُهَا وَيَعۡلَمُ مُسۡتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسۡتَوۡدَعَهَاۚ كُلّٞ فِي كِتَٰبٖ مُّبِينٖ وَإِذَا مَرِضۡتُ فَهُوَ يَشۡفِينِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِۗ أَلَا بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ
The verses behind this book
Read them together, in Arabic and in English. The Arabic shows each full verse; the English gives the part this book quotes. English renderings are interpretive.
There is no creature on earth but that its provision is from Allah.
Qur’an 11:6 · Surat HudAnd when I am sick, it is He who heals me.
Qur’an 26:80 · Surat al-Shu’ara’Indeed, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.
Qur’an 13:28 · Surat al-Ra’dRecitation audio will be added here.
References
Sources
- Imam al-Ghazali, Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din, Kitab al-Tawhid wa al-Tawakkul (Book 35).
- Birds go out hungry and return full: al-Tirmidhi 2344 (Hasan Sahih).
- “Tie her, and trust”: al-Tirmidhi 2517.
- HasbunAllahu wa ni’mal wakil, said by Ibrahim, peace be upon him, when he was thrown into the fire: al-Bukhari 4563.
- The fire made cool and safe for Ibrahim: Qur’an 21:69.
- “When I am sick, it is He who heals me”: Qur’an 26:80.
- Hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah: Qur’an 13:28.
- Provision for every creature: Qur’an 11:6.
- Whoever trusts Allah, He is enough: Qur’an 65:3.
The section references from the Arabic original are being checked and will be added to each For Parents note.
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