The Struggle to Surrender: Becoming True Muslims
The very word Muslim means one who submits and surrenders to Allah. Yet, paradoxically, one of our greatest struggles as Muslims is to completely surrender to His will. We hold on to control, we resist, we question, we hesitate—because surrendering means giving up what our nafs desires in favour of what Allah commands. And that is not always easy.
But here’s the truth: surrendering to Allah is not a loss; it is the ultimate freedom.
Why Do We Struggle to Surrender?
1. The Illusion of Control
We like to believe that we are in control of our lives. We plan, we strive, we hold on tightly to our expectations. And when things don’t go our way, we resist. We ask, “Why me?” “Why this?” “Why now?” But true peace comes when we realise that control is an illusion. Allah is the One who controls all things.
“And Allah is the best of planners.” (Qur’ān 8:30)
When we surrender, we are no longer burdened by the anxiety of trying to control everything. We do our part, but we leave the outcome to Him.
2. Fear of the Unknown
We hesitate to submit because we don’t know what’s ahead. We want guarantees before we trust Allah’s plan. But faith is not about knowing the future—it’s about knowing Who controls it.
“Whoever puts their trust in Allah, He will suffice them.” (Qur’ān 65:3)
Trusting Allah means believing that even when we don’t see a way, He has already paved one for us.
3. Attachment to Dunya
We struggle to surrender because we are deeply attached—to people, to status, to wealth, to our own desires. We fear losing what we love. But surrendering to Allah doesn’t mean losing; it means letting go of what isn’t meant for us and making space for what is truly ours.
“And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out and provide for him from sources he never expected.” (Qur’ān 65:2-3)
4. The Nafs and Shayṭān’s Whisper
Our nafs (ego) wants control. Shayṭān feeds our doubts. He makes us think, “If I fully surrender, what if I lose out?” He wants us to fear that submission means restriction. But the reality is, the more we surrender, the more we find true peace, because we align with the One who created us.
The Beauty of Surrender
Surrendering to Allah is not about giving up—it is about gaining:
• Gaining inner peace because we no longer fight against what is already decreed.
• Gaining divine ease because we stop forcing outcomes and trust that Allah’s plan is always better.
• Gaining closeness to Allah because true submission means walking the path He has chosen for us.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever submits to Allah, Allah will suffice him. Whoever seeks His protection, He will protect him. And whoever places his trust in Allah, He will be enough for him.” (Tirmidhi)
How to Surrender to Allah Completely
1. Recognise His Power – Remind yourself: Allah is in control, not me. He knows what I do not.
2. Let Go of the Need to Control – Do your best, then leave the rest to Allah.
3. Trust His Plan, Even When It’s Hard – Know that delays, difficulties, and detours are part of His wisdom.
4. Increase Tawakkul (Reliance on Allah) – Ask yourself, “Am I trusting my efforts more than I trust Allah?”
5. Make Du’ā for Contentment – Ask Allah to help you surrender and grant you peace with His decree.
Surrendering to Allah = True Freedom
True surrender doesn’t mean life will be free of hardships. It means that when hardships come, you trust that they are bringing you closer to where you’re meant to be. It means you stop fighting against Allah’s plan and instead, walk in harmony with it.
When you fully submit to Him, you are no longer a slave to your worries, your desires, or the opinions of people. You become free—because you are fully trusting in the One who holds your soul.
“Indeed, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” (Qur’ān 6:162)
Ask Allah to help you surrender completely. Close your eyes and visualise a box in front of you. Now, take whatever is weighing on your heart—the worries, the fears, the need for control—and place it inside that box. See yourself gently closing it, and then imagine releasing it, letting it go to Allah, trusting that He will take care of it in the best way. As you do this, recite:
لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Lā hawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh
“There is no power and no strength except with Allah.”
Feel the weight lifting off your shoulders, knowing that surrendering to Allah doesn’t mean losing—it means freeing yourself from the burden of what was never in your control to begin with.
The moment you surrender is the moment you find true peace.