FEAR OF ALLAH
by Imâm al-Haram Usâmah Khayyat
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All praise is due to Allâh, Lord of all the Worlds. May peace
and blessings of Allâh be upon the Messenger, his household
and companions.
Fellow
Muslims! Fear Allâh and be dutiful to Him. Know that you are
going to meet Him and He will reward each person for what
he has done.
"Whoever
does an atom weight of good will see it and whoever does an
atom weight of evil will see it."
Brethren
in faith! In the course of being preoccupied with worldly
materials, man has neglected the foundations of faith and
Tawhîd which he should strictly adhere to. Man, when he is
afflicted with tribulations and hardships, a kind of fear
makes him forget himself and turns him away from what actually
benefits him. He starts to be afraid of his future as to what
it holds in hidden for him and this leads to fear that which
he should not fear. Is it then proper for a Muslim to forget
his belief in the Oneness of Allâh? How should he forget that
while he recites the Book of his Lord every morning and evening
and finds there that Allâh explains the Islâmic Monotheism
and blocks all ways that lead to associating partners with
Him. He commands man to fear none but Him and to hope for
none but Him. Allâh says,
"Verily,
We did send down the Torah to Moses, therein was guidance
and light, by which the Prophets who submitted themselves
to Allâh's Will judged for the Jews. And the Rabbi's and the
Priests (too judged for the Jews by it after the Prophets),
for to them was entrusted the protection of Allâh's Book,
and they were witnesses thereto. Therefore, fear not men but
fear Me and sell not My verses for a miserable price. And
whosoever does not judge by what Allâh has revealed, such
are the disbelievers (of a lesser degree)." (Al-Mâidah
5:44)
He
also says, "It is only Satan that suggests to you
the fear of his friends, so fear them not, but fear Me, if
you are (true) believers." (آl Imrân 3:175)
Since
the fear of Allâh occupies such a high position, there is
no wonder then that it is one of the qualities of the angels,
about whom Allâh says, "They fear their Lord above
them, and they do what they are commanded." (An-Nahl
16:50)
It
is also a quality of the Prophets, about whom Allâh says,
"Those who convey the Messages of Allâh and fear
Him, and fear none save Allâh. And sufficient is Allâh as
a Reckoner." (Al-Ahzâb 33:39)
It
is also the quality of those who maintain the Houses of Allâh,
about whom He says, "The
Mosques of Allâh shall be maintained only by those who believe
in Allâh and the Last Day, perform prayers and give Zakâh
and fear none but Allâh. It is they who are on true guidance."
(At-Tawbah 9:18)
Brethren
in Islâm! One should fear only Allâh, Who is the sole Controller
of the affairs of all creatures. He is the Living Who never
dies, the Sustainer of all creatures Whom they are all in
need of. Others are weak, incapable and mortal and none of
those whom people fear besides Him is capable of benefiting
or harming himself nor does he has power over death, life
or resurrection. The heart of His slave is between two of
His Fingers which He turns as He wills, as it is narrated
in the hadîth.
All
creatures are actually no more than means to what Allâh has
pre-decreed of the fates of His slaves. The Messenger of Allâh
said in his popular admonition for Ibn Abbâs,
"Know
that if all the people gather to benefit you with something,
they cannot benefit you except with something which Allâh
has written down for you and if they gather to harm you with
something, they cannot harm you except with something that
Allâh has pre-decreed on you. The pen has been raised and
the book is dried." (Ahmad)
It
is by this hadîth that we know the error of the person who
claims that he fears Allâh and yet fears those who do not
fear Allâh. Man must rather fear Allâh alone. As for him who
does not fear Allâh, he is too mean to be feared, for he is
a wrong-doer and one of the friends of Satan. Allâh has commanded
that such a person should not be feared. As to the fear of
his potential harm, that cannot be except by the confirmation
of Allâh and if Allâh wants to prevent his harm and evil,
He prevents it, for all affairs belong to Him; and he is only
given power over his victim because of the latter's sins.
But when man fears his Lord, fulfills his duty to Him, puts
His trust in Him, returns to Him in repentance and seeks for
His forgiveness, Allâh protects him from the evil of every
man and will not give anyone power over him. Allâh says,
"And
whoever puts his trust in Allâh will suffice Him." (At-Talâq
65:3)
He
also says, "And Allâh would not punish them while
you (Muhammad) are amongst them, nor will He punish them while
they seek (Allâh's) forgiveness." (Al-Anfâl 8:33)
Brethren
in Islâm! The benefits of fear of Allâh are clear and their
impacts are obvious. The fear of Allâh leads to sincerity
in one's deeds and constancy. It leads to good manners and
keeps one away from bad manners. It is the way to happiness
in this world and the Hereafter, leads to security against
the greatest horror and to the Paradise and safety from Hell.
Allâh says,
"(The
believers are) those unto whom the people (hypocrites) said:
'Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you, therefore,
fear them.' But it (only) increased them in faith, and they
said, 'Allâh (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best
Disposer of affairs (for us).' So they returned with grace
and bounty from Allâh. No harm touched them; and they followed
the good Pleasure of Allâh. And Allâh is the Owner of Great
Bounty." (آl Imrân 3:173-174)
Brethren
in faith! There is indeed in the Word of Allâh, "It
is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear
Allâh." (Al-Fâtir 35:28)
a
clear evidence of the impact of the knowledge about Allâh
in creating His fear in the hearts of His slaves. The more
man knows about Allâh, the greater his fear of Him becomes.
This, therefore, makes it necessary that utmost attention
must be given to this knowledge and that no effort must be
spared to acquire it, spread it, and call to it. |