بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمين، والعاقبة للمتقين، ولا عدوان إلا على الظالمين، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وأصحابه الذين ساروا على طريقته في الدعوة إلى سبيله، وصبروا على ذلك وجاهدوا فيه حتى أظهر الله بهم الذين، وسلم تسليما كثيرا أما بعد: This is an email written by a "random girl from the Internet", someone who is "not a real Sheikh". I say: There are many random users of the Internet, and as long as they are putting it to good use, that is perfectly okay. It is also okay; quite commendable in fact in this day and age, for one to admit that they are not a "real Sheikh", and provided they are doing their best to understand the Deen, that is sufficient - it is not a condition that everyone becomes a Sheikh. However, what is not okay is for such a person to describe a fatwa issued by a real Sheikh to be "very stupid". Allah The Almighty said: {وَقُل لِّعِبَادِی یَقُولُوا۟ ٱلَّتِی هِیَ أَحۡسَنُ} “Tell My ˹believing˺ servants to say only what is best.” [Surah Al-Isrâ’: 53] And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ((المسلم من سلم المسلمون من لسانه ويده)) “A Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are safe.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. This is not proper Adab towards a fellow Muslim, let alone a person of knowledge who ought to be respected and honoured. So my first piece of advise is that you express your doubts and concerns in a more respectful manner. You said: “Just because he is a Sheikh doesn't make him right or a credible source.” I say: if the scholars were not a credible source Allah would not have instructed us to seek their verdict. Allah said: {فَسۡـَٔلُوۤا۟ أَهۡلَ ٱلذِّكۡرِ إِن كُنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ} “Ask those who have knowledge ˹of the Scriptures˺ if you do not know.” [Surah An-Nahl: 43] This doesn't mean that the verdicts of a scholar will always be right, but rather we are instructed to refer to them because they know more about the scriptures and have a better understanding of the scriptures than us. You said: “One must trust one's ability to achieve success...” I say: This is not correct! Rather one takes the correct means to achieve success while placing full reliance on Allah and believing that Allah alone has the ability to bring about success. I remind you of Allah's statement: { وَمَا تَشَاۤءُونَ إِلَّاۤ أَن یَشَاۤءَ ٱللَّهُۚ} “But you cannot will ˹to do so˺ unless Allah wills.” [Surah Al-Insân: 30] Your ability is of no avail if Allah has not willed something for you. Yes you must take the necessary means. But you must do so believing that these means cannot produce results except by Allah's leave and permission, which is why you must trust Allah rather than your own ability. In fact, the more reliance you place on a sabab (means), the weaker your Tawakkul upon Allah becomes. What's more, the evidences prove that: الاعتماد على الأسباب شرك Relying on the means (which includes relying on your own ability) is a form of shirk! You said: “God (Allah) rewards hard work...” I say: Allah rewards good deeds that are done sincerely for Him, as He said: {مَنۡ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحࣰا مِّن ذَكَرٍ أَوۡ أُنثَىٰ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنࣱ فَلَنُحۡیِیَنَّهُۥ حَیَوٰةࣰ طَیِّبَةࣰۖ وَلَنَجۡزِیَنَّهُمۡ أَجۡرَهُم بِأَحۡسَنِ مَا كَانُوا۟ یَعۡمَلُونَ} “Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter).” [Surah An-Nahl: 97] And if you meant, the harder a person works the more successful they become or the more they achieve...this is not always the case! How many are there who work hard chasing after the Dunya, and all they achieve is fatigue, stress and anxiety! The affair of rizq is not down to hard work, but rather Allah's Qadr, as Allah said: