4. Surrender | Surrender of Will to Allah
The final surrender is the surrender of will to Allah. Following the surrender of the spirit, the surrender of the physical body, and the surrender of the nafs, this process represents the highest level in the servant's relationship with Allah. As the complement and final seal of the surrenders that took place in the previous steps, surrender of will is the complete removal of one's own partial will, connecting instead with complete obedience to God’s universal, all-encompassing will.
Inner Conflict: The Mechanism of Will and Stubbornness
To fully grasp the surrender of will, one must analyze the contrast between will and stubbornness in the human inner world. Will is an inner quality (attribute) of the spirit; stubbornness is an affliction of the nafs.
- Will (Inner quality (attribute) of the spirit): It is the power of resistance that defends us against negatives, prevents us from committing sins, and can say "No!" to the intense demands of the afflictions.
- Stubbornness (Affliction of the nafs): It is the state of the nafs persistently continuing in its errors. It is the opposing force that keeps a person away from the beauties of Allah, prevents them from performing commands, and encourages them to commit forbidden acts.
Until a person surrenders their will to Allah, they are in a state of balance or conflict between these two forces. However, when the cleansing and purification of the nafs are completed—that is, when the nafs is 100% filled with light—the affliction of stubbornness is completely destroyed. Where the affliction of stubbornness is destroyed, the will remains as a power on its own and becomes ready to be surrendered.
The Critical Threshold of the Surrender Process: The Post of Righteousness (Salâh)
The surrender of will requires passing certain levels of the Post of Righteousness (Salâh). A person who has passed the stations of Ulū al-Albāb and Sincerity (Ikhlās), reached continuous dhikr, and has no afflictions left in the heart of their nafs, steps into the Post of Righteousness (Salâh) through Repentance of Nasuh. The surrender of will occurs at the 4th level of this post.
4 Stages Leading to Surrender of Will
For a saint who has reached the post of righteousness, the process works in this order:
- The forgiveness of the sins: The person's past mistakes are veiled.
- Light of Righteousness (Salâh): Allah Almighty places a circular light (Light of Righteousness) above that person's head, distinguishing them from others.
- The conversion of sins into rewards: After following a spiritual guide (murshid), the sins committed in the process before reaching continuous dhikr are converted into rewards at this stage.
- The Surrender of the Will: When the person realizes these goals, Allah Almighty takes their will into surrender.
For the person whose will has been surrendered, it is no longer a matter of functioning with their own will. That volitional structure has lost its validity for that person. At this point, the person has completely submitted to the will of Allah.
Transition from Continuous Dhikr to the State of "Tesbih"
The most prominent technical result of the surrender of will is the change in the dimension of dhikr. A person who has surrendered their will to Allah is no longer a possessor of continuous dhikr; that person has become one of the People of Tesbih.
Continuous dhikr is a continuous state that a person maintains with their own will and effort. However, when the will is surrendered to Allah, this state of continuous dhikr gives way to "Tesbih." The dhikr the person performs with their will drops to minimum standards. This is not a deficiency, but rather a change in status.
If this person is an official in the post of religious guide (like the Imam of the time), their dhikr is no longer for themselves, but to manage the spiritual journey of those who follow them. They perform dhikr, and with their dhikr, those who set out toward Allah ascend the heavenly floors.
To be Appointed and Authorized for Guidance
Surrender of will means that the person is addressed with the words, "You have been appointed and authorized for guidance." When the spirit, the face, the nafs, and the will are all surrendered to Allah, the person reaches the pinnacle of perfection. All of the Sahaba attained this great honor. The Holy Qur'ân documents their superior state as follows:
9/AT-TAWBAH-100: Those who are the foremost (competitors in piety and goodness) (those who, by surrendering their will to Allah at the post of righteousness, were appointed and authorized for guidance): Some of them were from the Immigrants (those who migrated from Mecca to Medina), some were from the Ansar (the helpers in Medina), and some were those who followed them (the Ansar and the Immigrants) with favor (divine bestowal). (Because the Sahaba possessed the post of religious guide, they were followed). Allah is pleased with them, and they are pleased with Him (Allah). Allah has prepared for them gardens through which rivers flow, and they will remain there forever. This is the greatest (mighty) reward.
Thus, the surrender of will is the last of the surrenders and encompasses an entire life. For a person who reaches this point—that is, the owner of the Post of Righteousness who has surrendered their will to Allah—it is impossible to fall from the station they have attained.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the surrender of will the "most difficult" surrender?
Because the will is the decision-making mechanism of the human being. After the surrender of the spirit, the physical body, and the nafs, it is the last fortress where a person can claim "selfhood." Surrendering this final fortress to Allah means completely giving up one's right to choose and living only what Allah wills.
Does a person who surrenders their will stop dhikr?
No, they do not stop dhikr, but they pass from the status of "continuous dhikr" to the status of "Tesbih." They no longer continue dhikr through their own volitional effort, but through the absolute control (of Allah), in a state of somewhat automated dhikr, that is, in tesbih.
What happens in the Post of Righteousness (Salâh) before the surrender of will?
Immediately before the surrender of will, 3 stages occur: 1. The forgiveness of the sins, 2. The bestowing of the "Light of Righteousness" above the head, 3. The conversion of past sins into rewards. After these are completed, the will is taken into surrender in the 4th stage.
What is the relationship between stubbornness and will?
Will is an inner quality (attribute) of the spirit, while stubbornness is an affliction of the nafs. When the cleansing of the nafs is completed and the afflictions are destroyed, "stubbornness" also disappears. When stubbornness disappears, the will becomes pure because there is no opposing force left, and this pure will is surrendered to Allah.
Does a person who surrenders their will make mistakes?
A person who has surrendered their will to Allah is at the post of "Righteousness" (peace, reconciliation, goodness) and is under the protection of Allah. Because their will has been taken into surrender by Allah, that person's actions manifest in accordance with the pleasure of Allah. Furthermore, it is impossible to fall from this station.