FEAR (OF ALLAH)
ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA,
NIGERIA
http://variousislamicdawadocuments.blogspot.com
Emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com;
abba.abana@gmail.com
TO BE DELIVERED IN SHAA ALLAHU ON
SATURDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2017 CE AND 28TH JUMAADA
AWWAL 1438 AH
Bismillah
Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum
Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek
refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds.
Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves
astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah,
and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
The Arabic word for the “fear of Allah” is taqwâ . It comes from the root word meaning “to protect from something, to prevent”. Indeed, a person exhibits the fear of Allah by seeking to prevent Allah's punishment by carrying out what Allah has commanded of him and abstaining from what Allah has prohibited him.
Allah had called upon all people in every era to fear Him. Allah says: “And We had enjoined upon those who were given the Scripture before – as well as yourselves – to fear Allah.” [ Sûrah al-Nisâ' : 131].
Allah, the Exalted, says:
۬ وَإِيَّـٰىَ
فَٱتَّقُونِ (٤١)
"And fear none but Me". (Holy
Quran Chapter 2:40)
إِنَّ بَطۡشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ (١٢)
"Verily, (O Muhammad (PBUH)) the
Grip (punishment) of your Rubb is severe". (Holy Quran Chapter 85:12)
(١٠١) وَكَذَٲلِكَ أَخۡذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَآ أَخَذَ ٱلۡقُرَىٰ
وَهِىَ ظَـٰلِمَةٌۚ إِنَّ أَخۡذَهُ ۥۤ أَلِيمٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ (١٠٢) إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَةً۬ لِّمَنۡ خَافَ عَذَابَ
ٱلۡأَخِرَةِۚ ذَٲلِكَ يَوۡمٌ۬ مَّجۡمُوعٌ۬ لَّهُ ٱلنَّاسُ وَذَٲلِكَ يَوۡمٌ۬ مَّشۡهُودٌ۬ (١٠٣) وَمَا نُؤَخِّرُهُ ۥۤ إِلَّا لِأَجَلٍ۬ مَّعۡدُودٍ۬ (١٠٤) يَوۡمَ يَأۡتِ لَا تَڪَلَّمُ
نَفۡسٌ إِلَّا بِإِذۡنِهِۦۚ فَمِنۡهُمۡ شَقِىٌّ۬ وَسَعِيدٌ۬ (١٠٥) فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ شَقُواْ فَفِى ٱلنَّارِ لَهُمۡ فِيہَا زَفِيرٌ۬ وَشَهِيقٌ (١٠٦)
"Such is the Seizure of your Rubb
when He seizes the (population of) towns while they are doing wrong. Verily,
His Seizure is painful, (and) severe. Indeed in that (there) is a sure lesson
for those who fear the torment of the Hereafter. That is a Day whereon mankind
will be gathered together, and that is a Day when all (the dwellers of the
heavens and the earth) will be present. And We delay it only for a term
(already) fixed. On the Day when it comes, no person shall speak except by His
(Allahs) Leave. Some among them will be wretched and (others) blessed. As for
those who are wretched, they will be in the Fire, sighing in a high and low
tone". (Holy Quran Chapter 11:102-106)
وَيُحَذِّرُڪُمُ ٱللَّهُ نَفۡسَهُ ۥۗ
"And Allah warns you against
Himself (His punishment)". (HOLY QURAN CHAPTER 3:30)
(٣٣) يَوۡمَ يَفِرُّ ٱلۡمَرۡءُ مِنۡ
أَخِيهِ (٣٤) وَأُمِّهِۦ وَأَبِيهِ (٣٥) وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَبَنِيهِ (٣٦) لِكُلِّ ٱمۡرِىٍٕ۬ مِّنۡہُمۡ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ شَأۡنٌ۬ يُغۡنِيهِ (٣٧) وُجُوهٌ۬ يَوۡمَٮِٕذٍ۬ مُّسۡفِرَةٌ۬ (٣٨)
"That Day shall a man flee from
his brother. And from his mother and his father. And from his wife and his
children. Every man that Day will have enough to make him careless of
others". (Holy Quran Chapter 80:34-37).
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱتَّقُواْ رَبَّڪُمۡۚ إِنَّ زَلۡزَلَةَ ٱلسَّاعَةِ
شَىۡءٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ (١) يَوۡمَ تَرَوۡنَهَا تَذۡهَلُ
ڪُلُّ مُرۡضِعَةٍ عَمَّآ أَرۡضَعَتۡ وَتَضَعُ ڪُلُّ ذَاتِ حَمۡلٍ حَمۡلَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلنَّاسَ سُكَـٰرَىٰ وَمَا هُم بِسُكَـٰرَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنَّ عَذَابَ ٱللَّهِ شَدِيدٌ۬ (٢)
"O mankind! Fear your Rubb and be
dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour (of Resurrection) is a
terrible thing. The Day you shall see it, every nursing mother will forget her
nursling, and every pregnant one will drop her load, and you shall see mankind
as in a drunken state, yet they will not be drunken, but severe will be the
Torment of Allah". (Holy Quran Chapter 22:1,2)
(٤٥) وَلِمَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ جَنَّتَانِ (٤٦)
"But for him who fears the
standing before his Rubb, there will be two Gardens (i.e., in Jannah)". (Holy
Quran Chapter 55:46)
۬ (٢٤) وَأَقۡبَلَ بَعۡضُہُمۡ عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ يَتَسَآءَلُونَ (٢٥) قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا ڪُنَّا قَبۡلُ فِىٓ أَهۡلِنَا مُشۡفِقِينَ (٢٦) فَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡنَا
وَوَقَٮٰنَا عَذَابَ ٱلسَّمُومِ (٢٧) إِنَّا ڪُنَّا مِن قَبۡلُ نَدۡعُوهُۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡبَرُّ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٢٨)
"And some of them draw near to
others, questioning. Saying: `Aforetime, we were afraid (of the punishment of
Allah) in the midst of our families. So Allah has been gracious to us, and has
saved us from the torment of the Fire. Verily, we used to invoke Him (Alone and
none else) before. Verily, He is Al-Barr (the Most Subtle, Kind, Courteous, and
Generous), the Most Merciful.". (Holy Quran Chapter 52:25-28). REF. Hadith
No. 50/402 - Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous).
Hadith
No. 50/396 - Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the
Righteous)
`Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be
pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH), the truthful and the
receiver of the truth informed us, saying, "The creation of you (humans)
is gathered in the form of semen in the womb of your mother for forty days,
then it becomes a clinging thing in similar (period), then it becomes a lump of
flesh like that, then Allah sends an angel who breathes the life into it; and
(the angel) is commanded to record four things about it: Its provision, its
term of life (in this world), its conduct; and whether it will be happy or
miserable. By the One besides Whom there is no true god! Verily, one of you
would perform the actions of the dwellers of Jannah until there is only one
cubit between him and it (Jannah), when what is foreordained would come to pass
and he would perform the actions of the inmates of Hell until he enter it. And
one of you would perform the actions of the inmates of Hell, until there is
only one cubit between him and Hell. Then he would perform the acts of the
dwellers of Jannah until he would enter it."[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith deals with the problem of
fate in which Faith is essential. What it means is that Almighty Allah already
knows about every person, whether he will be pious or impious, whether he will
go to Jannah or Hell. He has already recorded all this. But it does not mean
that man is absolutely helpless and is deprived of will and power, as is
believed by some deviant sects who have gone astray. Fate is in fact a
manifestation of the Knowledge of Allah and it has nothing to do with the will
and intention of a person. Allah has not created man as a helpless creature,
but has endowed him with the freedom of will and action, because in the absence
of these two qualities, there would be no justification for his trial. He could
only be put to test if he was granted not only the ability to choose between
good and evil but also the freedom to act. For this purpose, Almighty Allah,
has clearly indicated to man both the paths and granted him freedom to choose
whichever he likes. He has also told him the ultimate end of each. The Noble
Qur'an says:
"Verily, We showed him the way,
whether he be grateful or ungrateful". (76:3)
"Then whosoever wills, let him
believe; and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve". (18:29).
But by mentioning this Hadith in the
chapter relating to the fear of Allah, Imam An-Nawawi has warned that we should
be fearful of Allah, pray for His Help, and an auspicious end of our life. He
has advised us to adopt whatever means are available to us. In other words, we
should make Faith and piety a way of life because one can find the means and
resources according to one's capacity. Since nobody knows the result of his
endeavours, one should leave it to Allah and rest assured that He Who has
created him with a purpose will also create the ways and means to attain it. He
who adopts piety, the ways to piety will open for him; and he who adopts evil,
the ways to evil will open for him.
A Muslim should never go towards evil
at any stage of his life, lest his life comes to an end suddenly and he is
deprived of the reward of all the good deeds he has done during his life and
consequently he is consigned to Hell rather than Jannah. May Allah save us from
a bad end and such actions which lead one to Hell.
Hadith No. 50/397
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Ibn Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Hell will be brought on that Day (the Day
of Resurrection) with seventy bridles; and with every bridle will be seventy
thousand angels, pulling it".[Muslim].
Commentary:
Commentary:
This Hadith deals with the hidden
matters relating to the Unseen world. Muslims are ordained by Allah to believe
in them. It is wrong to hold them as metaphorical. They are realities but we can
not imagine them.
Hadith No. 50/398
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Nu`man bin Bashir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The least tortured man on the Day of
Resurrection is one underneath whose feet will be placed two live coal, and his
brain will be boiling, and he would think that he is the most tortured, while
he is the least tortured",[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Commentary:
Commentary:
According to the narration in Muslim,
the straps of shoes to be worn by the inhabitants of Hell would be of fire
which will make their brains boil like a cooker placed on oven. Some narrators
have stated that the man alluded to will be Abu Talib, the real uncle of the
Prophet (PBUH) and his most kind and sympathetic supporter. But since he had
died as polythiest, he will be sent to Hell. May Allah save us from it.
Hadith No. 50/399
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Samurah bin Jundub (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Prophet of Allah (PBUH) said, "Among the people of Hell are there those
who will be emersed in fire to their ankels, some to their knees, some to their
waists, and some to their throats".[Muslim].
Commentary:
Commentary:
This Hadith tells us that the
inhabitants of Jannah will be classified into different categories and enjoy
different kinds of luxuries according to their merits. A similar classification
will also be made in the inhabitants of Hell and they will suffer torments
according to their misdeeds.
Hadith No. 50/400
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) as saying, "Mankind will stand before Allah, the
Rubb of the worlds (on the Day of Resurrection), some of them will stand
submerged in perspiration up to half of their ears".[Al-Bukhari and
Muslim].
Commentary:
Commentary:
This Hadith gives us a glimpse of the
horrible scene of the Resurrection when people will stand in awe before Allah.
Hadith No. 50/401
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Anas bin Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) delivered a Khutbah to us the like of which I had
never heard from him before. He said, "If you knew what I know, you would
laugh little and weep much". Thereupon those present covered their faces
and began sobbing.[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) heard of something about his Companions upon which he addressed them and said, "Jannah and (Hell) Fire were shown to me and I have never seen the like of this day in good and in evil. If you were to know what I know, you would laugh little and weep much". His Companions experienced such suffering on that day that had no equal. They covered their faces and began to weep. [Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
Another narration is: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) heard of something about his Companions upon which he addressed them and said, "Jannah and (Hell) Fire were shown to me and I have never seen the like of this day in good and in evil. If you were to know what I know, you would laugh little and weep much". His Companions experienced such suffering on that day that had no equal. They covered their faces and began to weep. [Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
1. We learn from this Hadith that
Jannah and Hell do exist. The Prophet (PBUH) was shown both of them.
2. Excessive laughing is improper
because it indicates that one is careless and forgetful of the Hereafter, while
a Muslim is required to be all the time alert and careful about it.
3. To weep out of fear of Allah, is
praiseworthy because it indicates that one's heart is full of fear and he is
worried about the Hereafter.
Hadith No. 50/403
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with
him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "The people will perspire
on the Day of Resurrection and their perspiration will be seventy cubits down
in the earth and it will reach up to their ears (they will be bridled with
it)".[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Hadith No. 50/404 - Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the
Righteous)
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: We
were in the company of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) when we heard a bang.
Thereupon Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said. "Do you know what this (sound)
is?" We said, "Allah and His Messenger know better." He (PBUH)
said, "That is a stone which was thrown into Hell seventy years before and
it has just reached its bottom".[Muslim].
Commentary:
Commentary:
One can imagine the torments and
horrors of Hell from its depth.
Hadith No. 50/405
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
`Adi bin Hatim (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Everyone of you will speak to his Rubb
without an interpreter between them. He will look to his right side and will
see only the deeds he had previously done; he will look to his left and will
see only the deeds he had previously done, and he will look in front of him and
will see nothing but Fire (of Hell) before his face. So protect yourselves from
Fire (of Hell), even by giving half a date-fruit (in charity)".[Al-Bukhari
and Muslim].
Commentary:
Commentary:
This Hadith has already been mentioned.
Here it has been repeated in the context of the fear of Allah because it also
has an inducement for fear of Allah and warning against the horrors of Hell.
Hadith No. 50/406
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous
Abu Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "I see what you do not see and I hear what
you do not hear; heaven has squeaked, and it has right to do so. By Him, in
Whose Hand my soul is, there is not a space of four fingers in which there is
not an angel who is prostrating his forehead before Allah, the Exalted. By
Allah, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little, weep much, and you
would not enjoy women in beds, but would go out to the open space beseeching
Allah".[At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary:
Commentary:
1. This Hadith also highlights the
importance of fear of Allah because the more awareness a Muslim has of the
Majesty and Magnificence of Allah, the greater shall be the terror in his heart
for His punishment and hope of His Mercy. With this state of mind, he will
perform greater acts of obedience and abstain more rigidly from sins.
2. The Hadith also mentions the heaven
teeming with angels who are all the time prostrating before Allah in worship.
When this is the condition of the angels, who do not slack for a moment in the
obedience of Allah, how important it is for man to worship Him because he is
all the time violating commands of Allah. It is, therefore, incumbent on man to
obey Allah and always seek His Help and Refuge.
50/407 - Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Abu Barzah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "Mans feet will not move on the Day of
Resurrection before he is asked about his life, how did he consume it, his
knowledge, what did he do with it, his wealth, how did he earn it and how did
he dispose of it, and about his body, how did he wear it out."[At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary:
Commentary:
1. This Hadith first of all highlights
the importance and value of this transitory life, every breath of which is
invaluable. Not a moment of it should, therefore, be wasted in the disobedience
of Allah because one shall also be made to account for it.
2. Man shall also be answerable for his
knowledge. Here, we find an inducement for acquiring religious knowledge
because that alone is beneficial for him. He should make use of his knowledge
for winning the pleasure of Allah. If he does not do that then he must think
about the justification for not doing so. He must also think how he would be
facing Allah on the Day of Resurrection.
3. The question in respect of wealth
raised in this Hadith clearly shows that one should earn wealth by legitimate
means only and spend it strictly in a lawful manner. If he takes to unfair
means of income or squanders it, he will be sinful and required to account for
the violation of the Divine injunctions.
4. One should protect his body from
everything that is unlawful and force himself to submit to the Divine
injunctions. When he is asked to account for neglecting them, it will be
difficult for him to escape the consequences of accountability.
In short, this Hadith makes one conscious of the accountability so that one keeps it all the time in view so that he will be saved from humiliation on the Day of Resurrection. How nice would it really be if one bears the accountability of the Day of Resurrection always in mind!
In short, this Hadith makes one conscious of the accountability so that one keeps it all the time in view so that he will be saved from humiliation on the Day of Resurrection. How nice would it really be if one bears the accountability of the Day of Resurrection always in mind!
Hadith No. 50/408
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) recited, "That Day it (the earth) will reveal
its news (about all that happened over it of good or evil)." (99:4). Then
he (PBUH) inquired, "Do you know what its news are?" He was told: "Allah
and His Messenger know better". He said, "Its news is that it shall
bear witness against every slave man and woman they did on its back. It will
say: `You did this and this on such and such day. Those will be its news."[At-Tirmidhi]
Commentary:
Commentary:
This Hadith makes evident the perfect
Omnipotence of Allah by telling us that He will bestow power of speech on the
earth and it will bear witness to the acts committed on its surface. It has
stern warning for people that however they may try to hide their sins from
others, they will not be able to save themselves from Allah and His system of
accountability.
Hadith No. 50/409
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him)
reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "How can I feel at ease when the
Angel of the Trumpet, (Israfil) has put his lips to the Trumpet and is waiting
for the order to blow it". He (PBUH) perceived as if this had shocked his
Companions, so he (PBUH) told them to seek comfort through reciting: "Hasbunallah
wa ni`mal-Wakil [Allah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best
Disposer of affairs (for us)]".[At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary:
Commentary:
1. This Hadith tells us about the fear
of Allah and the fright of the Hereafter entertained by the Prophet (PBUH) and
his Companions. It has a lesson for us that how, in spite of being innocent and
having the assurance of the forgiveness of Allah, they were always fearful of
Allah and the horrors of the Day of Resurrection. As against them, we are
immersed in sins, neglect and violate the Divine injunctions day and night but
even then we have neither the fear of Allah nor the fright of the Day of
Resurrection.
2. In the event of fear and anxiety one
should seek the help of Allah and frequently recite the Verse of the Noble
Qur'an "Hasbunallahu wa ni`mal Wakil" [Allah (Alone) is Sufficient
for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us).] (3:173).
Hadith No. 50/410
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I
heard Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "He who is afraid of the pillage
of the enemy, sets out in the early part of the night; and he who sets out
early, reaches his destination. Be on your guard that the commodity of Allah is
precious. Verily the commodity of Allah is Jannah".[At-Tirmidhi].
Commentary:
Commentary:
Imam At-Taibi has stated that the
Prophet (PBUH) mentioned this example for travellers to the Hereafter, because
Satan is sitting on this passage and man's self and his false desires are his
helpers. If a person is wide-awake in his travel and exercises caution in his
activities, he is not only saved from the vices of Satan, but his own false
desires also do not stand in his way. The Prophet (PBUH) also pointed out that
the way to the Hereafter is very hard and littered with great impediments and
obstructions and it is by no means easy to traverse it. Jannah is an invaluable
gift and unless man gives the sacrifice of his life and wealth, he will not
become eligible for entering it. "Allah has purchased the lives and
properties of Muslims for Jannah". (Tuhfatul Ahwadhi).
This Hadith encourages us to observe obedience of our Rubb and to spare no effort to desist from all acts of disobedience in order to achieve the lofty goal of entering Jannah, by Allah's Leave.
This Hadith encourages us to observe obedience of our Rubb and to spare no effort to desist from all acts of disobedience in order to achieve the lofty goal of entering Jannah, by Allah's Leave.
Hadith No. 50/411
- Riyad Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous)
`Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported: I heard
Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, "The people will be assembled on the Day
of Resurrection barefooted, naked and uncircumcised". I said, "O
Messenger of Allah! Will the men and the women be together on that Day; looking
at one another?" Upon this Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "O Aishah,
the matter will be too serious for them to look at one another".[Al-Bukhari
and Muslim].
Commentary:
Commentary:
This Hadith mentions the horrors and
torments of the Day of Resurrection which makes its connection with this
chapter obvious. What this chapter, and Ahadith mentioned in it, make clear is
that a Muslim should never be unmindful of the preparations for the Hereafter
nor should he ever lose sight of the fact that he has to appear before Allah on
the Day of Resurrection and account for all his actions. In order to save
himself from the humiliation on that Day, he should lead a life of Faith and
fear of Allah. Those who do not do so and lead a life free from fear of Allah
and torments of the Hereafter, will have no hesitation in disobeying Allah,
which will inevitably lead them to humiliation, disgrace and heavy punishment
in the Hereafter.
Abû
Dharr al-Ghifârî and Mu`âdh b, Jabal relate that the Prophet (peace be upon
him) said: “Fear Allah wherever you are. Follow up a bad deed with a good deed
and it will blot it out. And deal with people in a good manner.” [ Sunan
al-Tirmidhî ]
The importance of this hadith:
Ibn Rajab says: “This is powerful advice, bringing together the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants.”
The fear of Allah
The Arabic word for the “fear of Allah” is taqwâ . It comes from the root word meaning “to protect from something, to prevent”. Indeed, a person exhibits the fear of Allah by seeking to prevent Allah's punishment by carrying out what Allah has commanded of him and abstaining from what Allah has prohibited him.
Allah had called upon all people in every era to fear Him. Allah says: “And We had enjoined upon those who were given the Scripture before – as well as yourselves – to fear Allah.” [ Sûrah al-Nisâ' : 131]
The importance of this hadith:
Ibn Rajab says: “This is powerful advice, bringing together the rights of Allah and the rights of His servants.”
The fear of Allah
The Arabic word for the “fear of Allah” is taqwâ . It comes from the root word meaning “to protect from something, to prevent”. Indeed, a person exhibits the fear of Allah by seeking to prevent Allah's punishment by carrying out what Allah has commanded of him and abstaining from what Allah has prohibited him.
Allah had called upon all people in every era to fear Him. Allah says: “And We had enjoined upon those who were given the Scripture before – as well as yourselves – to fear Allah.” [ Sûrah al-Nisâ' : 131]
It is Allah's right
over His servants that they fear Him as He ought to be feared. Allah says: “O
you who believe! Fear Allah as He ought to be feared and do not die except as
believers.” [ Sûrah Âl `Imrân : 102]
Ibn Mas`ûd explained what it means to fear Allah as He ought to be feared by saying: “It means that He is to be obeyed not disobeyed, remembered not forgotten, and shown gratitude not ingratitude.”
The fear of Allah is the path to forgiveness, salvation, and the attainment of Allah's mercy. Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.” [ Sûrah al-Nahl : 128]
“And My mercy encompasses all things, and I shall decree it for those who fear Me.” [ Sûrah al-A`râf : 156]
“He is worthy of being feared and worthy of granting forgiveness.” [ Sûrah al-Muddaththir : 56]
“And whoever fears Allah – He will pardon him his sins and grant him a great reward.” [ Sûrah al-Talâq : 5]
“Indeed, those who fear Allah will be among gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth near an All-Powerful Sovereign.” [ Sûrah al-Qamar : 54-55]
Allah promises those who fear Him that He will provide for their needs and grant them a way out of their worldly difficulties. Allah says: “And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from whence he could never imagine.” [ Sûrah al-Talâq : 2-3]
This is Allah's promise. We should draw strength from it when we are tried in life with difficulties that tempt us to resort to what Allah has forbidden.
The relationship between knowledge and the fear of Allah
Allah says: “It is only those who have knowledge among Allah's servants who fear Him.” [ Sûrah Fâtir : 28]
There are two ways in which knowledge and the fear of Allah are related. The first is that true fear of Allah comes about as the result of having proper knowledge of Allah and His perfect attributes.
Ibn `Abbâs said about this verse: “They are those who know that Allah is capable of all things.”
He also said: “The verse means: The only people who fear me are those who know my power, my might, and my dominion.”
Ibn Kathîr says in his commentary of this verse: “The only people who fear Allah in the true sense are those who are knowledgeable about Allah. This is because the more knowledge a person has about the Almighty, the All-Powerful and All-Knowing, who possesses the attributes of perfection and the best of names – the more perfect and complete this knowledge is – the greater and more total his fear of Allah will be.” [ Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr ]
The second way that the fear of Allah and knowledge are related stems from the fact that the fear of Allah is to seek to prevent Allah's punishment by carrying out Allah's commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. Consequently, a Muslim needs to have knowledge of these matters in order to fear Allah properly. An ignorant Muslim may have a sense of fear, but he will not be able to fully carry out what that fear requires of him.
Ibn `Abbâs said: “To have knowledge of the Most Merciful is to be someone who associates nothing as a partner with Him, who deems lawful what He has made lawful, who prohibits what He has prohibited, who preserves what He has enjoined upon him, and who has certainty that he shall meet Him and that his actions will be accounted for.”
Follow up a bad deed with a good deed
The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us that the performing a good deed wipes away the sin incurred from perpetrating an evil one. Scholars have disagreed whether the “good deed” being referred to here refers specifically to the context of repentance or whether it is general for all good works.
The strongest view is that all good deeds can wipe away evil deeds. Allah says: “And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good works do away with evil deeds. That is a reminder for those who take heed.” [ Sûrah Hûd : 114]
A man once came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and informed him that he had contact with a woman like a husband has with his wife, except that he did not go so far as to fornicate with her. This man had just prayed the Fajr prayer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Have you prayed with us the Fajr prayer?” When he replied that he had, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited: “Indeed, good works do away with evil deeds.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî (526) and Sahîh Muslim (2763)]
However, a believer should always repent for his sins. Allah says: “And those, who when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who forgives sins except Allah – and then do not knowingly persist in what they have done, for them is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall abide forever. How great is the reward for those who work righteousness.” [ Sûrah Âl `Imrân : 135]
A believer should follow up his sincere repentance with the performance of good works. This is what Allah wants from us. He says: “Indeed, I am Most Forgiving to whomever repents, believes, and works righteous deeds and then continues upon guidance.” [ Sûrah TâHâ : 82]
Allah also tells us: “Except for those who repent, believe, and work righteous deeds. For those, Allah will change their evil deeds into good deeds, and Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [ Sûrah al-Furqân : 70] This is especially true for major sins. A Muslim must never leave a major sin to go without repentance, for Allah's promise of forgiveness is for those who turn to Him in sincere repentance. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A servant, if he acknowledges his sin and then repents, Allah will forgive him.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî (4141) and Sahîh Muslim (2770)]
And deal with people in a good manner
Allah tells us repeatedly in the Qur'ân to observe good manners in our dealings with others. He says: “Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from those who are ignorant.” [ Sûrah al-A`râf : 199]
Allah says: “Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better. Then he between whom and you there had been hatred will become as though he were your dear friend.” [ Sûrah Fussilat : 34]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is the perfect example of what it means to possess good manners. Allah says, describing him: “Indeed you are of a great moral character.” [ Sûrah al-Qalam : 4]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized how good manners are of paramount importance in Islam when he said: “I was sent only to perfect good manners.” [ Musnad Ahmad (8952)]
Indeed, he tells us that good manners are part of faith. He said: “The believers with the most complete faith are those who have the best manners.” [ Sunan al-Tirmidhî (1162) and Sunan Abî Dâwûd (4682)]
Among the good manners that we should cultivate is to be sensible in our dealings with others and not to react hastily when they do that which displeases us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Ashajj `Abd Qays: “You possess within yourself two qualities that Allah loves: discernment and forbearance.”
Ibn Mas`ûd explained what it means to fear Allah as He ought to be feared by saying: “It means that He is to be obeyed not disobeyed, remembered not forgotten, and shown gratitude not ingratitude.”
The fear of Allah is the path to forgiveness, salvation, and the attainment of Allah's mercy. Allah says:
“Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.” [ Sûrah al-Nahl : 128]
“And My mercy encompasses all things, and I shall decree it for those who fear Me.” [ Sûrah al-A`râf : 156]
“He is worthy of being feared and worthy of granting forgiveness.” [ Sûrah al-Muddaththir : 56]
“And whoever fears Allah – He will pardon him his sins and grant him a great reward.” [ Sûrah al-Talâq : 5]
“Indeed, those who fear Allah will be among gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth near an All-Powerful Sovereign.” [ Sûrah al-Qamar : 54-55]
Allah promises those who fear Him that He will provide for their needs and grant them a way out of their worldly difficulties. Allah says: “And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from whence he could never imagine.” [ Sûrah al-Talâq : 2-3]
This is Allah's promise. We should draw strength from it when we are tried in life with difficulties that tempt us to resort to what Allah has forbidden.
The relationship between knowledge and the fear of Allah
Allah says: “It is only those who have knowledge among Allah's servants who fear Him.” [ Sûrah Fâtir : 28]
There are two ways in which knowledge and the fear of Allah are related. The first is that true fear of Allah comes about as the result of having proper knowledge of Allah and His perfect attributes.
Ibn `Abbâs said about this verse: “They are those who know that Allah is capable of all things.”
He also said: “The verse means: The only people who fear me are those who know my power, my might, and my dominion.”
Ibn Kathîr says in his commentary of this verse: “The only people who fear Allah in the true sense are those who are knowledgeable about Allah. This is because the more knowledge a person has about the Almighty, the All-Powerful and All-Knowing, who possesses the attributes of perfection and the best of names – the more perfect and complete this knowledge is – the greater and more total his fear of Allah will be.” [ Tafsîr Ibn Kathîr ]
The second way that the fear of Allah and knowledge are related stems from the fact that the fear of Allah is to seek to prevent Allah's punishment by carrying out Allah's commands and abstaining from His prohibitions. Consequently, a Muslim needs to have knowledge of these matters in order to fear Allah properly. An ignorant Muslim may have a sense of fear, but he will not be able to fully carry out what that fear requires of him.
Ibn `Abbâs said: “To have knowledge of the Most Merciful is to be someone who associates nothing as a partner with Him, who deems lawful what He has made lawful, who prohibits what He has prohibited, who preserves what He has enjoined upon him, and who has certainty that he shall meet Him and that his actions will be accounted for.”
Follow up a bad deed with a good deed
The Prophet (peace be upon him) tells us that the performing a good deed wipes away the sin incurred from perpetrating an evil one. Scholars have disagreed whether the “good deed” being referred to here refers specifically to the context of repentance or whether it is general for all good works.
The strongest view is that all good deeds can wipe away evil deeds. Allah says: “And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good works do away with evil deeds. That is a reminder for those who take heed.” [ Sûrah Hûd : 114]
A man once came to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and informed him that he had contact with a woman like a husband has with his wife, except that he did not go so far as to fornicate with her. This man had just prayed the Fajr prayer. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Have you prayed with us the Fajr prayer?” When he replied that he had, the Prophet (peace be upon him) recited: “Indeed, good works do away with evil deeds.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî (526) and Sahîh Muslim (2763)]
However, a believer should always repent for his sins. Allah says: “And those, who when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who forgives sins except Allah – and then do not knowingly persist in what they have done, for them is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they shall abide forever. How great is the reward for those who work righteousness.” [ Sûrah Âl `Imrân : 135]
A believer should follow up his sincere repentance with the performance of good works. This is what Allah wants from us. He says: “Indeed, I am Most Forgiving to whomever repents, believes, and works righteous deeds and then continues upon guidance.” [ Sûrah TâHâ : 82]
Allah also tells us: “Except for those who repent, believe, and work righteous deeds. For those, Allah will change their evil deeds into good deeds, and Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [ Sûrah al-Furqân : 70] This is especially true for major sins. A Muslim must never leave a major sin to go without repentance, for Allah's promise of forgiveness is for those who turn to Him in sincere repentance. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A servant, if he acknowledges his sin and then repents, Allah will forgive him.” [ Sahîh al-Bukhârî (4141) and Sahîh Muslim (2770)]
And deal with people in a good manner
Allah tells us repeatedly in the Qur'ân to observe good manners in our dealings with others. He says: “Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from those who are ignorant.” [ Sûrah al-A`râf : 199]
Allah says: “Nor can goodness and evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better. Then he between whom and you there had been hatred will become as though he were your dear friend.” [ Sûrah Fussilat : 34]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) is the perfect example of what it means to possess good manners. Allah says, describing him: “Indeed you are of a great moral character.” [ Sûrah al-Qalam : 4]
The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized how good manners are of paramount importance in Islam when he said: “I was sent only to perfect good manners.” [ Musnad Ahmad (8952)]
Indeed, he tells us that good manners are part of faith. He said: “The believers with the most complete faith are those who have the best manners.” [ Sunan al-Tirmidhî (1162) and Sunan Abî Dâwûd (4682)]
Among the good manners that we should cultivate is to be sensible in our dealings with others and not to react hastily when they do that which displeases us. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Ashajj `Abd Qays: “You possess within yourself two qualities that Allah loves: discernment and forbearance.”
[ Sahîh Muslim (17)]
SOURCES: Riyad
Us-Saliheen (Gardens of the Righteous) Chapter 50 Hadith No. 396 to
411.
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