The suppressor of lusts and the healer of the living is fear and hope.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Praise be to Allah, the unique in His pride, the Lord of lands and heavens and whatever lies between them, and peace be upon His Messenger, his household and blessed companions, their successors till the Day of Judgment.
Dear brother: how does your heart feel when you recall the glory of God and the greatness of His pride, His overwhelming sovereignty, might and glory? Where do your heart and mind dwell when you recite the holy Qur'an and contemplate the threat of Allah which intimidates even the hearts of the righteous?
“Indeed, the vengeance of your Lord is severe.” [Buruj 85:12]
{ إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ}[البروج: 12]
Transliteration: 'Inna Baţsha Rabbika Lashadīdun
“And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe.” [Hud 11:102]
{وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَىٰ وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ}[هود: 102]
Transliteration: Wa Kadhalika 'Akhdhu Rabbika 'Idhā 'Akhadha Al-Qurá Wa Hiya Žālimatun 'Inna 'Akhdhahu 'Alīmun Shadīdun
“And Allah warns you of Himself, and to Allah is the [final] destination.” [Al-'Imran 3:28]
{وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ}[آل عمران:28 ]
Transliteration: Wa Yuĥadhdhirukumu Allāhu Nafsahu Wa 'Ilá Allāhi Al-Maşīru
My Muslim brother: the fear of God has filled the hearts of the knowing and righteous; they abandoned pleasures and lust. They embarked good deeds, spending the days remembering God, and the nights in tahajjud (optional prayer) and sighs of hope.
“: And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.” [Al-‘Araf 7:56]
{وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَاحِهَا وَادْعُوهُ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ مِّنَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ } [الأعراف: 56]
Transliteration: Wa Lā Tufsidū Fī Al-'Arđi Ba`da 'Işlāĥihā Wa Ad`ūhu Khawfāan Wa Ţama`āan 'Inna Raĥmata Allāhi Qarībun Mina Al-Muĥsinīna
Imam al-Qurtubi said: ''man is ordered to be close to God, fearing Him, hoping for His forgiveness''.
Muslim brother: fearing Allah is a high ranked status that is not obtained but by the truthful, the faithful and those who stand by His door wishing to service Him. The secret of this fear is to be closer to Allah. Allah has described angles saying: “They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.” [An-Nahl 16:50]
{يَخَافُونَ رَبَّهُم مِّن فَوْقِهِمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ }[النحل 50]
Transliteration: Yakhāfūna Rabbahum Min Fawqihim Wa Yaf`alūna Mā Yu'umarūna
And His Messengers saying: “[Allah praises] those who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allah.” [Al-Ahzab 33:39]
{الَّذِينَ يُبَلِّغُونَ رِسَالَاتِ اللَّهِ وَيَخْشَوْنَهُ وَلَا يَخْشَوْنَ أَحَدًا إِلَّا اللَّهَ }[الأحزاب: 39]
Transliteration: Al-Ladhīna Yuballighūna Risālāti Allāhi Wa Yakhshawnahu Wa Lā Yakhshawna 'Aĥadāan 'Illā Allāha
Imam Ibn Hajar explains the secret that angles and Messengers are the most fearful creatures of Allah: ''they are closer to Allah; hence they are more fearful of Him. They are asked to perform what others do not do; so they respect the status they enjoy. Their duty is to thank Allah for their status which doubles whenever their fear doubles".
And you brother! Have your share of fearing Allah, feel it in your heart; if your faith is true and your belief is great.
Imam Ibn Hajar explains "The straight forward slave fears the punishment of Allah or that his rank would be diminished, as He says: “And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart” [Al-Anfal 8:24]
{يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ }[الأنفال: 24]
Transliteration: Yaĥūlu Bayna Al-Mar'i Wa Qalbihi
The un-straight slave fears the consequences of his bad deeds, that would help along with regrets and quitting bad deeds. Fear emerges from awareness and knowledge of the enormity and ugliness of sins, of believing in punishment and denial of repentance, or that he is not to be forgiven by God, he is scared of his guilt, asking God to be one of the forgiven"
Conditions of the fearful
'Aishah (the wife of the Prophet), may Allah be pleased with her, said: I asked Allah’s Messenger, peace be upon him, about this Verse: “And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful...” [Al Mu’minin 23:60]
{وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ}[المؤمنين: 60]
Transliteration: Wa Al-Ladhīna Yu'utūna Mā 'Ātaw Wa Qulūbuhum Wa Jilatun
She added: "Are these who drink alcoholic drinks and steal?" Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, replied: "No! O the daughter of As-Siddiq, but they are those who fast, pray, and practice charity and they are afraid that (their good) deeds may not be accepted from them: they are those who hasten in good deeds". [Narrated by al-Tirmizi, and declared authentic by Al-Albani]
‹‹سألت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن هذه الآية {والذين يؤتون ما آتوا وقلوبهم وجلة} قالت عائشة: أهم الذين يشربون الخمر ويسرقون قال لا يا بنت الصديق ولكنهم الذين يصومون ويصلون ويتصدقون وهم يخافون أن لا تقبل منهم أولئك الذين يسارعون في الخيرات وهم لها سابقون››[رواه الترمذى وصححه الألبانى]
O brother! Fill your heart with the fear of Allah; He will secure you from what you fear, paradise will be yours by the end of the Day of Judgment.
Do not be heedless of His greatness, the holder of heaven and earth and whatever lies in them and in-between; owner and owned. Al-Hassan al-Basry said: "whoever fears Him is a believer and whoever feels safe against His wrath is a hypocrite".
Al-Fadheel ibn Ayyadh advised Haroun al-Rashid: "O Prince of the Faithful! Empty your heart so that fear and grief inhabit it to prevent you from committing sins, and put you at a distance from the torment of hell fire".
Zo-Alnoon said: ''as long as they are afraid, people are on the right path, if they stop feeling afraid, they have gone astray".
Abu-Suleiman al-Darni said: "whenever fear leaves a heart, the heart is ruined".
Ibrahim ibn Sufian said: "if fear inhabits the heart, it burns spots of lust and expels the love of worldly matters".
Ibn al-Mubarak said: "the greatest calamity a man faces is acknowledging defaulting duties and just does not care or grieve".
We have been forgetful, we have been heedless. We are surrounded by perils and concerns; we do not have the brains or the heart to distract us from seductions.
Oh Allah! You are so merciful and forgiving. “And if Allah were to impose blame on the people for what they have earned, He would not leave upon the earth any creature. But He defers them for a specified term. And when their time comes, then indeed Allah has ever been, of His servants, Seeing..” [Fatir 35:45]
{وَلَوْ يُؤَاخِذُ اللَّهُ النَّاسَ بِمَا كَسَبُوا مَا تَرَكَ عَلَىٰ ظَهْرِهَا مِن دَابَّةٍ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ بَصِيرًا }[فاطر: 45]
Transliteration: Wa Law Yu'uākhidhu Allāhu An-Nāsa Bimā Kasabū Mā Taraka `Alá Žahrihā Min Dābbatin Wa Lakin Yu'uakhkhiruhum 'Ilá 'Ajalin Musammáan Fa'idhā Jā'a 'Ajaluhum Fa'inna Allāha Kāna Bi`ibādihi Başīrāan
O brother! The fear of Allah is apparent in seven things:
The tongue: it stops lying, backbiting and unlawful curiosity, it becomes only busy remembering Allah, reciting the holy Qur'an and learning.
The belly: whatever enters the belly (food) is Halal (from earned not stolen money), and only as much as needed.
The eyesight: never take a look to the Haram (taboo), never desire worldly matters, his looks are always for taking lessons.
The hand: never extend the hand to any Haram, only to what pleases Allah.
The feet: never take a path leading to the wrath of Allah.
The heart: ousted are animosity, hatred and envy, and entered are advice and compassion.
The obedience: to be purely for the sake of Allah and free from hypocrisy.
Nasr ibn Muhammad al-Samarqandi said if a person fulfills the previous, then he is one of the people Allah say about them: “And the Hereafter with your Lord is for the righteous.” [Az-Zukhruf 43:35]
{وَالْآخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ}[الزخرف: 35]
Transliteration: Wa Al-'Ākhiratu `Inda Rabbika Lilmuttaqīna
And “Indeed, the righteous will be in gardens and pleasure,” [At-Tur 52:17]
{إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَعِيمٍ }[الطور: 17]
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Muttaqīna Fī Jannātin Wa Na`īmin
My brother in Allah,May Allah make us from the fearful and humble.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim stated that Fear is very beneficial to the heart on its way to piety, it is obligatory to fear Allah. He said: “So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.” [Al-Imran 3:175]
{ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ}[العمران: 175]
Transliteration: Falā Takhāfūhum Wa Khāfūni 'In Kuntum Mu'uminīna
And “and be afraid of [only] Me.” [Al-Baqarah 2:40]
{وَإِيَّايَ فَارْهَبُونِ }[البقرة: 40]
Transliteration: Wa 'Īyāya Fārhabūni
“Therefore fear not men but fear Me” [Al-Ma'idah 5:44]
{فَلَا تَخْشَوُا النَّاسَ وَاخْشَوْنِ }[المائدة: 44]
Transliteration: Falā Takhshaw An-Nāsa Wa Akhshawnī
He praised His People by saying: “Indeed, they who are apprehensive from fear of their Lord” [Al-Mu’minun 23:57]
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ خَشْيَةِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ }[المؤمنون: 57]
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Ladhīna Hum Min Khashyati Rabbihim Mushfiqūna
Till: “It is those who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip [others] therein.” [Al-Mu’minun 23:61]
{أُولَٰئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ }[المؤمنون61]
Transliteration: 'Ūlā'ika Yusāri`ūna Fī Al-Khayrāti Wa Hum Lahā Sābiqūna
Brother, May Allah enlighten our hearts by knowing Him.
Abu Hafs said: "fear is the light in your heart which shows you good and evil".
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said: “if you fear anyone you will run away from him, but if you fear Allah you will turn into Him”.
Dear brother: contemplate what I have presented for you, may the heedless soul awake and relax, may misery leave.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was told that his chest would be wheezing like a quern when praying. [Narrated by Abu Dawud and Monzery and declared Authentic by Al-Albani]
‹‹ رأيت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يصلي وفي صدره أزيز كأزيز الرحى من البكاء صلى الله عليه وسلم››[رواه ابو داود و المنذرى وصححه الألبانى]
Once he was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, your hair has turned gray", he answered: "I was grayed by Hud, Al-Waqi'ah, Al-Mursalat, At-Takwir". [Narrated by Tirmizi]
‹‹يا رسول الله ! قد شبت قال شيبتني هود والواقعة والمرسلات وعم يتساءلون وإذا الشمس كورت››[رواه الترمذى]
in another narration: "I was grayed by Hud and its sisters"
‹‹ قد شبت قال شيبتني هود وأخواتها››
O brother! The most fearful of Allah was Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, and his worthy companions.
Abu-Bakr As-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say: "I wish I were this tree, eaten and finished!"
Umar ibn al-Khattab grabbed a piece of hay from earth and said: "I wish I were this piece of hay, I wish I were nothing of significance, I wish I would have been forgotten, I wish that I were not born".
Uthman ibn Affan, the man with two lights, used to cry till his beard got soaking wet whenever he stood by a grave. He said: "if I am standing between paradise and hell not knowing where I will be destined to, I would rather turn into ashes before knowing where to go".
Ali ibn Abi-Talib, father of the two grandsons (Al-Hassan and Al-Hussein), may Allah be pleased with them all, used to cry fearing high expectations and following passions and whims. He said: "high expectations make you forget the Hereafter, and following whims makes you deviate from righteousness".
Abu-Ubaida ibn al-Garrah said: "I wish I were a sheep, slaughtered and eaten by my family".
May Allah guide us to adhere to the guidance of the righteous.
I wonder was your heart trembling when you read these stories! If so, then you are fine. If not, then it needs to be educated. These worthy companions were announced the good news that they are from the dwellers of paradise, nevertheless, they were so fearful of Allah.
Abu Al-Darda', may Allah be pleased with him, used to say: "the most that I fear on the Day of Judgment is to be asked: you have learned, what have you done with what you have learned?"
One night Tamim al-Darrye was reciting Surah Al-Jathiya, when he reached: “Or do those who commit evils think We will make them like those who have believed and done righteous deeds” [Al-Jathiya 45:21]
{أَمْ حَسِبَ الَّذِينَ اجْتَرَحُوا السَّيِّئَاتِ أَن نَّجْعَلَهُمْ كَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ} [الجاثية: 45]
Transliteration: 'Am Ĥasiba Al-Ladhīna Ajtaraĥū As-Sayyi'āti 'An Naj`alahum Kālladhīna 'Āmanū Wa `Amilū Aş-Şāliĥāti
He repeated it over and over again and cried himself out till the morning.
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, cried during his fatal illness, he was asked: "what makes you cry!", he answered: "I am not crying over this life, I am crying because I have a long journey to go, and I lack in provision, I am on the verge of going either to heaven or hell, I do not know where I will be taken".
Abdullah ibn Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, said: "I would rather shed a tear in fear of Allah than spend a thousand Dinars in his sake".
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim truly said: "God Almighty described people of happiness as being charitable but fearful, and people of misery as being abusive but heedless of the wrath of God, whoever contemplates the conditions of the companions will find them working very hard and fearing very hard. But we combined negligence with feeling safe".
Abu Uthman al-Jizi said: "it a sign of happiness that you obey fearing that you will not be accepted, and it is a sign of misery to disobey hoping to survive".
Dear brother: these are lessons to be contemplated.
The Imam of Imams al-Hassan al-Basri was brought a glass of water to break his fast, when he brought it close to his mouth he cried and said: "I remembered the wish of hell dwellers “Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allah has provided you” [Al-A’raf 7:50]
{ أَنْ أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ}[الأعراف: 50]
Transliteration: 'An 'Afīđū `Alaynā Mina Al-Mā'i
“Pour upon us some water or from whatever Allah has provided you” [Al-A’raf 7:50]
Tawus would spend the night restlessly on his bed, leave it and pray the whole night till the morning. He would say: "remembering hell has taken sleep from the eyes of the fearful".
Sufian al-Thawri would wake up at night terrified shouting: "hell fire has kept me busy from sleep and lusts".
When Mus'ar ibn Kadam was dying, Sufian al-Thawri found him terrified, he said: "why are you so terrified? By Allah I'd rather die at the moment", Mus'ar replied: "then you are sure about your deeds, but, by Allah I that I am on top of a mountain not knowing where to land", Sufian wept saying: "you are more fearful to Allah than me".
Some people saw a worshiper crying, they asked him why. He answered: "because of a joy the fearful find in their heart", they asked what it was, he replied: "the magnificence of the call to meeting Allah".
Dear brother: fear Allah as true believers do, His torment is unbearable, His punishment is painful, but brother do not despair of His mercy. Fear Him but mingle your fear with hope, pray for His forgiveness.
Have you not seen how Allah praised Zachariah, peace be upon him, and his house hold: “. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear, and they were to Us humbly submissive.” [Al-Anbiya’ 21:90]
{إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ}[الأنبياء: 90]
Transliteration: 'Innahum Kānū Yusāri`ūna Fī Al-Khayrāti Wa Yad`ūnanā Raghabāan Wa Rahabāan Wa Kānū Lanā Khāshi`īna
{hope} means they worshipped Him hoping to obtain His mercy and grace.
{fear} means that they feared His torment and punishment if they quit worshipping Him or disobeyed His orders.
Hope urges hearts to march for the beloved land, Allah and the Hereafter, enjoying the march.
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him said: "the biggest joy verse in Qur'an is the verse in surah Az-Zumar: “Say: "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” [Az-Zumar 39:53]
{قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ} [الزمر: 53]
Transliteration: Qul Yā `Ibādī Al-Ladhīna 'Asrafū `Alá 'Anfusihim Lā Taqnaţū Min Raĥmati Allāhi 'Inna Allāha Yaghfiru Adh-Dhunūba Jamī`āan 'Innahu Huwa Al-Ghafūru Ar-Raĥīmu
Do you know what hope is! It is to think well of Allah, it is not just mere aspirations without performing good deeds.
Imam ibn Al-Qayyim tells about the truth of hope: "thinking well of Allah is hope. If hope leads to obedience and prevents from disobedience, then it is true hope. But he whose hope leads to nothingness is truly conceited". He added: "God almighty said: “Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the cause of Allah – those expect the mercy of Allah. ” [Al-Baqarah 2:218]
{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَالَّذِينَ هَاجَرُوا وَجَاهَدُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ يَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَ اللَّهِ }[البقرة: 218]
Transliteration: 'Inna Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Wa Al-Ladhīna Hājarū Wa Jāhadū Fī Sabīli Allāhi 'Ūlā'ika Yarjūna Raĥmata Allāhi
Consider how hope made them perform acts of worship! The conceited said: the disobedient of Allah's orders, the unjust, and the transgressor of the limits ordained by Allah, they all hope for the mercy of Allah!!"
Hope is the ladder of the fearful… the shadow of the humble… the safety of the repentant… there is no place for conceited sinners.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, entered to a dying young man, he asked him: "how are you?" the young man answered: "by God, O Messenger of Allah, I hope for God's forgiveness and I fear from my sins", the Prophet, peace be upon him said: "whoever combines these two in his heart in such a situation, Allah will give him what he hopes for and will secure him of what he fears", [narrated by Tirmizi]
‹‹ أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم دخل على شاب وهو في الموت فقال كيف تجدك ؟ قال : والله يا رسول الله ، إني أرجو الله ، وإني أخاف ذنوبي . فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : لا يجتمعان في قلب عبد في مثل هذا الموطن ، إلا أعطاه الله ما يرجو ، وآمنه مما يخاف››[رواه الترمذى]
Dear brother: think well of Allah, combine it with good deeds. Think well and hope for your fellow Muslims to surpass their sins, and that hope does them well in the day they meet Allah.
Ibn 'Awn said: "I have never seen anyone who hopes the best for monotheists more than Muhammad ibn Sirin".
Ibn al-Mubarak said: "I came to Sufian al-Thawri in the night of 'Arafat, he was kneeling and his eyes were shedding tears abundantly. I asked him about the most miserable people in this congregation, he answered: "it is those who think that Allah will not forgive them".
Jabir ibn Abdullah said: "I heard the Prophet, peace be upon him, three days before he died, say: none of you should die unless you think well of Allah", [narrated by Muslim]
›› سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، قبل موته بثلاثة أيام ، يقول “لا يموتن أحدكم إلا وهو يحسن الظن بالله عز وجل"›› [رواه مسلم]
Brother: may Allah keep us well from any harm and guide our heart to righteousness.
"The heart, on his oath to Allah, is like a bird; its head is love; hope and fear are its two wings; when the head and wings are intact, the bird flies well, whenever the wings are lost the bird is apt to the attack from every predator". [Imam ibn Al-Qayyim]
Dear Muslim brother: there are too many souls loving to aspirations and excuses, their pleasures lie on sloth and cheap hopes. Here are, my brother, guidelines to show you the way to salvation.
Malik ibn Dinar said: "if a man saw in himself the signs of fear and hope, then he grasped the most trustworthy handhold.
The sign of fear is to avoid the prohibitions of Allah.
The sign of hope is to abide by His orders".
Be one of those: “Those whom they invoke seek means of access to their Lord, [striving as to] which of them would be nearest, and they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.” [Al-Isra' 17:57 ]
{أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ يَبْتَغُونَ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمُ الْوَسِيلَةَ أَيُّهُمْ أَقْرَبُ وَيَرْجُونَ رَحْمَتَهُ وَيَخَافُونَ عَذَابَهُ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّكَ كَانَ مَحْذُورًا } [الإسراء: 57]
Transliteration: 'Ūlā'ika Al-Ladhīna Yad`ūna Yabtaghūna 'Ilá Rabbihimu Al-Wasīlata 'Ayyuhum 'Aqrabu Wa Yarjūna Raĥmatahu Wa Yakhāfūna `Adhābahu 'Inna `Adhāba Rabbika Kāna Maĥdhūrāan
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