Fear Allah

Fear of Allah

The person who fears his Lord the most is the one who has the most knowledge of Him and of himself. This is why the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “By Allah, of all people, I am the one with the most knowledge of Allah, and I fear Him the most.” [Sahih Bukhari] 

Fear disciplines the limbs and encompasses the heart with submission, humility and tranquillity. Haughtiness, hatred and jealousy will flee from it, filling it with love of Allah and fear – through contemplating the punishment, so it becomes engaged with nothing else other than Allah (Exalted in Might), striving in the way of Allah. 

“Guidance and mercy for those who fear their Lord.”

(Qur'an: Surah Al-Araf [The Heights] 7, verse 154) 

“O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak the truth for He will improve your actions for you and forgive your misgivings. Whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has indeed attained great success.”

(Qur'an: Surah Ahzaab [The Clans] 33, verses 70-71)

"That is Shaitan (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his Auliya' [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and His Messenger, Muhammad SAW)], so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers." (Qur'an: Surah ali Imran [The Family of Imran] 3, verse 175)

The believer who fears their Lord will become aware of all they do, say, act and behave. They become vigilant to their selves and constantly reprimands them self for ones inner thoughts, ones actions and ones words. This is the state of a person who is overwhelmed by the fear of Allah. Always being occupied with ones self inwardly and outwardly, with the fear that his Lord is the All-Seeing, all-Hearing, the all-Knowing. 

“Surely those who live in awe out of fear of their Lord, and those who believe in the signs of their Lord, and those who do not associate partners with their Lord in their worship, and those who give what they give with reading their hearts because they are returning to their Lord – it is these who hasten to do good, and in this they are foremost.” (Qur'an: Surah Al-Mu'minun [The Believers] 23, verses 57-61) 

To have fear is not a weakness, it is a stimulant,  a warning signal goes off within the body which alerts you. This is something that as Muslims we should have, we should have awareness of our Creator and fear Him, because we will all be returned to Him for Judgement on how we were in this world, in this life. "Say, 'Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day.'" (Qur'an: Surah an-An'am [The Cattle] 6, verse 15) 

What will become of you when your hands, feet and organs etc, speak out against you? When all secrets will be revealed, every embarrassment is disclosed, every sin big and small, concealed or openly committed will be exposed. "Whether you show what is within yourselves or conceal it, Allah will bring you to account for it." (Qur'an: Surah al-Baqarah [The Cow] 2, verse 284)

"And warn by the Qur'an those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord - for them besides Him will be no protector and no intercessor - that they might become righteous." (Qur'an: Surah an-An'am 6 [The Cattle], verse 51) Having the fear of consequence is highly needed in order for discipline, without discipline there is no fear and without fear we would be destructive to ourselves and those around us.

Imagine on the Day of Resurrection, if you were one who had no fear in the All-Mighty, the Wise. Being called for Judgement ignorant to the previous warning signs, ignorant to the warnings and far from what you had hoped this Day would be. Unable to speak, yet your limbs will speak out against you, no mediator or middleman, just you and your Lord. Only now will you be fearing Allah SWT and wishing that you had only listened to those alarm bells going off within you, only now are you wishing to go back and make things aright, now that you know the truth and fear the Creator.

As for those who have fear for Allah, they are the knowledgeable ones. "Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge." (Qur'an: Surah Fatir [The Originator] 35, verse 28) Meaning those who have fear for Allah as He should be feared are the ones who have knowledge of Him, as for those who do not fear Allah SWT do not have knowledge. 

"Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, 'Are those who know equal to those who do not know?' Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding?" (Qur'an: Surah az-Zumar [The Groups] 39, verse 9)

It is important for us as Muslims to know our Creator, the more you know about Him, the more you will fear Him. And the fear of Allah will refrain you from committing sins and prepare you for the meeting with Him.

"Their reward with Allah will be gardens of perpetual residence beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever, Allah being pleased with them and they with Him. That is for whoever has feared his Lord."

(Qur'an: surah al-Bayinah [The Clear Evidence] 98, verse 8)