Hadith: If only you relied on Allah the way you should, He would provide for you as He provides for birds; they set out hungry in the morning and return satiated in the evening

عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ:
«لَوْ أَنَّكُمْ كُنْتُمْ تَوَكَّلُونَ عَلَى اللهِ حَقَّ تَوَكُّلِهِ لَرَزَقَكُمْ كَمَا يَرْزَقُ الطَّيْرَ تَغْدُو خِمَاصًا وَتَرُوحُ بِطَانًا».
[صحيح] - [رواه الإمام أحمد، والترمذي، والنسائي، وابن ماجه، وابن حبان في صحيحه، والحاكم] - [الأربعون النووية: 49]

‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
"If only you relied on Allah the way you should, He would provide for you as He provides for birds; they set out hungry in the morning and return satiated in the evening."
[Authentic hadith] - [رواه الإمام أحمد والترمذي والنسائي وابن ماجه وابن حبان في صحيحه والحاكم] - [الأربعون النووية - 49]

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) urges us to rely upon Allah Almighty in bringing about benefits and warding off evils in terms of worldly and religious affairs, for indeed, no one gives or withholds and causes harm or brings benefit except He, Exalted be He. And that we should pursue the proper means to achieve the benefits and avert the evils while relying on Allah. Once we do this, Allah will provide for us as He provides for birds, who go hungry in the morning and return in the evening with full bellies. This practice of the birds falls under the pursuit of the proper means of seeking sustenance without lethargy and passive reliance.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. The Hadīth highlights the merit of reliance upon Allah and that it is one of the best means whereby sustenance can be obtained.
2. Reliance upon Allah does not contradict the pursuit of the proper means, as he informed that true reliance does not run counter to going out in the morning and returning in the evening in search of sustenance.
3. The Shariah devotes attention to the acts of the heart, as reliance upon Allah falls under this category.
4. Attachment to the means alone constitutes a deficiency in one's religion, and abandonment of the means denotes a deficiency in one's reason.