Short answer
Tawakkul means relying on Allah in your heart for the outcome while you take the normal means with your hands. The Prophet ﷺ told a man to tie his camel and then trust in Allah. Trusting Allah is required of every believer, and it never means giving up effort.
Tawakkul of the heart is wajib and part of iman: "upon Allah rely, if you should be believers" (5:23). Taking lawful means does not weaken it, and some means are themselves required, like earning for your family. Treating illness is permitted and often encouraged.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
Tawakkul comes from wakala, to entrust. You hand the result over to Allah, al-Wakil, the One who takes care of affairs. "Whoever relies upon Allah, then He is sufficient for him" (65:3). The Prophet ﷺ said that if you relied on Allah as you truly should, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds: they go out hungry in the morning and return full in the evening. Notice that the birds go out. Tawakkul includes the going out.
A man asked whether he should tie his camel and trust Allah, or leave it untied and trust Allah. The Prophet ﷺ said, "Tie it and trust" (Tirmidhi, who called this chain gharib; with a supporting report from Amr ibn Umayya al-Damri, scholars such as al-Albani graded it hasan). The Quran says the same to him: consult people, decide, "then rely upon Allah" (3:159). The means are what you do; the result is from Allah.
So tawakkul is not:
- Skipping work and waiting for provision.
- Refusing medicine or a doctor. See Is taking medicine against tawakkul?
- Worrying as if everything depended on you alone.
It is: doing your best, then letting go of the outcome with a calm heart, and accepting what comes as Allah's choice for you. "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector. And upon Allah let the believers rely" (9:51). When afraid, say "Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal wakil" (3:173). Learn the name al-Wakil and read Hasbiyallahu.
The evidence
Quran, Surah At-Talaaq 65:3
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا ﴿٣﴾
And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
Allah suffices the one who trusts Him.
Quran, Surah Aal-i-Imraan 3:159
فَبِمَا رَحْمَةٍۢ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ لِنتَ لَهُمْ ۖ وَلَوْ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلْقَلْبِ لَٱنفَضُّوا۟ مِنْ حَوْلِكَ ۖ فَٱعْفُ عَنْهُمْ وَٱسْتَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَشَاوِرْهُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ ۖ فَإِذَا عَزَمْتَ فَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلِينَ ﴿١٥٩﴾
So by mercy from Allah, [O Muhammad], you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].
Effort and decision come first, then reliance.
Quran, Surah At-Tawba 9:51
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَآ إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ ٱللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَىٰنَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٥١﴾
Say, "Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector." And upon Allah let the believers rely.
Believers rely on Allah and accept His decree.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2344
Grading to be checked... لو أنكم كنتم توكلون على الله حق توكله لرزقكم كما يرزق الطير ...
"If you relied on Allah as He truly deserves, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds."
Shows the reward of tawakkul, with the birds still going out to seek.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2517
Grading to be checked... أعقلها وأتوكل أو أطلقها وأتوكل قال اعقلها وتوكل ...
"Shall I tie it and trust, or leave it loose and trust? He said: Tie it and trust."
Taking means is part of trusting Allah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Ihya Ulum al-Din (al-Ghazali), Kitab al-Tawhid wa al-Tawakkul. Explains that tawakkul is in the heart and does not cancel taking means.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, chapter on medical treatment. Permits treatment and explains it does not contradict reliance on Allah.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.