Al-Wakeel — The Universal Trustee
الْوَكِيلُ
Name 52 of the ninety-nine. The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon
Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Al-Wakeel (in Arabic: ٱلْوَكِيلُ), the one and only who can be trusted with all our affairs.
The root
From the root waw-kaf-lam (و ك ل), which has the following classical Arabic connotations: to appoint or entrust for the care or management of something, to have a commissioned agent, a guardian of one's interests, to rely upon, confide in, lean upon, submit to.
Reflection
The believer benefits from knowing that Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ is Al-Wakeel. Just like the bird who goes out in search of food every day and finds its sustenance, the one who trusts in Allah's سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ plan will be taken care of. That's not to say there won't be any struggle. The bird still has to leave the nest in search of food - principles like the early bird getting the worm still have merit.
Personal effort is a necessary precursor for change. However, the outcome of that effort is up to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ. In the Qur'an, it says, "for each one are successive [angels] before and behind him who protect him by the decree of Allah. org/surah-rad/ayat-11/)) It's unreasonable to expect different results if you continually repeat the same old habits.
If you want to see change, you have to change. Surrender to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, make du'a for whatever it is you wish, and work in pursuit towards that goal. ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمۡۖ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ خَٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ فَٱعۡبُدُوهُۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ وَكِيلٞ Zaalikumul laahu Rabbukum laaa ilaaha illaa huwa khaaliqu kulli shai'in fa'budooh; wa huwa 'alaa kulli shai'inw Wakeel English Translation: "That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him.
Where it appears
[1] Hasan (Darussalam) Jami at-Tirmidhi 2517,[2] Sahih Bukhari 4563,[3] Hasan (Darussalam) Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2344