Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| The Fear of Allah |
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| BrKhalid |
| 12/27/01 at 05:10:43 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote]Fear is negative. Except, of course, when placed before Allah! [/quote] This quote reminded me of a conversation I once had about fearing Allah [swt] and loving Allah[swt]. Are they two sides to the same coin or are they two completely separate things. Can one fear and love someone at the same time? |
| Re: The Fear of Allah |
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| akbalkhan |
| 12/27/01 at 16:48:04 |
| As Salamu Alaykum, I do not know where that quote came from, I mean which post. If I may comment anyway, fear can be helpful or hurtful relative to the intensity, its' source, and its' use. Some people let fear of Allah SWT guide them in their every action, enabling them to be constantly reminded of their duty and the best decision in even seemingly small, daily affairs. Others are afraid so much, that they can barely interact with others of less taqwa, on a tolerant, and merciful basis. And still others have intermittent periods of feardom, or barely any sense of fear, and this consistently allows them to be lazy in their obligation in al-Islam, to delay or miss prayers, and to treat others with disrespect and meanness. So no, fear is not necessarily negative. It can really depend upon the circumstance and other factors. Fear of Allah SWT can most certainly lead one to love as well. As in when you fear the worst could happen in a situation, and that fear is based upon your recollection of prior behaviour, or a feeling of undeservingness, and as it turns out, Allah SWT blesses you with a beneficial outcome. Sometimes, for myself, I have felt the greatest closeness to Allah SWT after a bout with fear over how Allah SWT was going to allow a situation to unfold. In my experience, fear seems to be more a constant presence, and love a fond memory or outlook. Insha'Allah that is a healthy way to look at things. If fear and love are two sides of the same coin, then my life at a toss would definitely land right on the side of the coin, masha'Allah, and not on either side. When loving and fearing someone is Allah SWT, I believe it is possible and best. But if love and fearing someone means with a person, then I think that there needs to be some definite characteristics of that fear that are irrational or unfounded in order to love them as well. Because to fear a person can mean that you do not trust them, you are not self-confident enough, they have hurt you before, or you know they have hurt someone else. You can still have love-like feelings for a person you fear, but so much of love between people is trust, confidence, peacefulness. Don't you think that love between people is different than love between a person and Allah SWT? If not, then how should it be the same? Regards, QAK |
| Re: The Fear of Allah |
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| BrKhalid |
| 12/28/01 at 06:28:16 |
| Asalaamu Alaikum ;-) [quote]Don't you think that love between people is different than love between a person and Allah SWT? If not, then how should it be the same?[/quote] This quote reminded me of the following hadiths: [color=Blue]It is reported on the authority of Anas that the Prophet of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him ) said: There are three qualities for which anyone who is characterised by them will relish the sweetness of faith: he to whom Allah and His Messenger are dearer than all else; he who loves a man for Allah's sake alone; and he who has as great an abhorrence of returning to unbelief after Allah has rescued him from it as he has of being cast into Hell. [Muslim] It is reported on the authority of Anas b. Malik that the Messenger of Allah said: None of you is a believer till I am dearer to him than his child, his father and the whole of mankind. [Muslim][/color] In answer to the first question you could argue that the love you have to show to Allah and his Messenger [saw] is more than that which you have to show to any other person. Hence how can this love be the same? But how does one *love* Allah and his Messenger compared to one's wife, parents, siblings etc……? What about obedience? Is that love? If one obeys someone is that love or is it a *sign* of love? How about if you only obey because you fear punishment? Can that be counted as love? |
| Re: The Fear of Allah |
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| M.F. |
| 12/28/01 at 07:08:21 |
| Bismillah, I think that love and fear can only be united for Allah. I don't think it's possible to feel love and fear at once for anything else. Allah commands us in the Qur'an to call on Him out of fear and hope. I think they're two sides of the coin. You can't separate them. If you didn't love Allah and want to follow His commands and be loved by Him, then we wouldn't fear Him, and fearing Him is fear of not being loved by Him. If you look at the names or attributes of Allah, you see that there are some which inspire fear, and others which inspire love. But they're all attributes of the One Allah, you can't separate them. In the Qur'an, hope for Allah's mercy is rarely mentioned without the mention of fear as well, but fear is often mentioned without hope. That makes me think that there are two different levels (or types of worship or types of people) those for whome fear is dominant (probably most people), and those for whom hope is dominant. Does that make sense? They both exist together, because if someone had only fear with no hope at all, they wouldn't even bother worshipping because they would be so afraid that they'd think their worship was useless. But that little bit of hope they have keeps them going in all their fear. Same thing if someone had hope with no fear, they wouldn't worship because they'd be sure of Allah's mercy. So that little bit of fear they have next to their hope keeps them on their toes. Allahu a'lam about this, I'm just thinking out loud. 017.057 Those whom they call upon do desire (for themselves) means of access to their Lord, - even those who are nearest: they hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath: for the Wrath of thy Lord is something to take heed of. As for the relationship of love for Allah and love of Allah for His servants, these ayats and ahadeeth qudsia make it clear to me that it's a process. Out of love of Allah, we follow His Prophet (S). That brings Allah's love upon us. The first hadeeth qudsi sort of explains this ayah to me. It explains what following the Prophet (S) means action-wise, and what Allah's love means as well, how He shows His love towards us. The second hadeeth qudsi also explains what happens when Allah loves us. Surat Aal Imran, Aya 31: Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you and forgive you your faults, and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful Following the Prophet (S) brings us Allah's love. On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Allah (mighty and sublime be He) said: Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. My servant draws not near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined upon him, and My servant continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he hears, his seeing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of Me, I would surely give it to him, and were he to ask Me for refuge, I would surely grant him it. I do not hesitate about anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful servant: he hates death and I hate hurting him. related by al-Bukhari. Then, On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: If Allah has loved a servant [of His] He calls Gabriel (on whom be peace) and says: I love So-and-so, therefore love him. He (the Prophet pbuh) said: So Gabriel loves him. Then he (Gabriel) calls out in heaven, saying: Allah loves So-and-so, therefore love him. And the inhabitants of heaven love him. He (the Prophet pbuh) said: Then acceptance is established for him on earth. related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, Malik, and at-Tirmidhi). |
| Re: The Fear of Allah |
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| *sofia* |
| 12/28/01 at 11:01:12 |
| Assalaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah, Interesting question. One of the local MD Imaams explains it as: There is "fear" of God in the conventional sense; that you fear God's retribution for your bad deeds, which propels you to instead do good, as we are taught what good and bad deeds result in (in a general sense). The other meaning of "fear" of God is to fear disobeying Him, and thus disappointing Him. This type of fear is completely entwined with "love" for God, as one would hate to disappoint someone they loved, and instead want to do what pleased him/her, otherwise the love for him/her is not genuinely rooted. This is only an example; as mentioned, we cannot equate Allah with any human being or entity that we know of, or relationship thereof. From www.islaam.com: Ghazali (rahmatullahi `alayhi) says: ‘Fear rips away desires and muddens luxuries so that cherished sins become reprehensible, just as a honey lover is repelled by it when he learns that it has poison in it. This is how fear burns desires; disciplines the organs; subordinates the heart and gives it tranquility. It also enables the heart to rid itself of pride, hatred, and envy; and it leaves it absorbed in it (fear). Hence, the heart becomes preoccupied with its own worries and looks towards its best interest in the long run. It is then engaged in only matters like meditation, self-analysis and struggle. It cherishes its time and moments.’ [Ihya: 4/160] Couple of good articles on the topic that may explain better, insha'Allah: ________________________________________________________ Salvation Lies Between Fear and Hope Imam Ali Ibn Abi al `Izz al Hanafi http://www.islaam.com/Article.asp?id=538 The Islamic Creed - Sharh Al `Aqidah At Tahawiyyah (Abridged) © 2000 Al Attique Publishers (False) security and despair are ways leading out of the folds of the community of Muslims. The right attitude for the people of the Qiblah lies between the two. That is to say, a slave should remain between fear and hope. For, the right and the approved kind of fear is that which acts as a barrier between the slave and the things forbidden by Allah. But, if fear is excessive, then the possibility is that the man will fall into despair and pessimism. On the other hand the approved state of optimism is of a man who does good in the light of the Shari'ah and is hopeful of being rewarded for it. Or, conversely, if a man committed a sin, he repents sincerely, and is hopeful of being forgiven. Allah (swt) said: "Verily, those who believed, and those who migrated and fought in the way of Allah, it is they who are hopeful of Allah's mercy. And Allah is very Forgiving, very Merciful." (Al-Baqarah, 218) In contrast, if a man indulges in sins and excesses, but is hopeful that he would be forgiven without doing anything good, then, this is self-deception, mere illusion and false hope. Abu 'All Rowzbari has said, "Fear and hope are like the two wings of a bird. If they are well balanced, the flight will be well balanced. But, If one is stunted, the Right would also be stunted. And, to be sure, if the two are lost, the bird will soon be in the throes of death." Allah has praised the people of hope and fear in the following verse: 'Is one who worships devotedly during the night, prostrating himself or standing, fearing the Hereafter, and hoping for the mercy of his Lord (is equal to him who doesn't do these things)?' (Al Zumar, 9) Hope then also demands fear. If that was not the case, one would be in a state of false security. Conversely, fear demands hope. Without that it would be despair. Analysis of Piety Shaykh Ahmed Fareed http://www.islaam.com/Article.asp?id=145 From the Characteristics of the Salaf © JIMAS From the morals and manners of the Salaf was that they would strictly analyse their piety (taqwa) never claiming to be a possessor of such. Allaah the Most High has said, "Therefore do not declare yourselves as being purified. He knows best who has taqwa." [53:32] The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam, said, "Taqwa is here," and he pointed to his chest. [Muslim (16/120, 121) in al-Birr..and at-Tirmidhi (8/115) in al-Birr and Ahmad (2/277)] `Umar ibn `Abdul `Azeez rahimahullaah used to say, "None can reach the station of taqwaa until he possesses neither action nor words that can be exposed to his embarrassment either in this world or the Hereafter." He was once asked, "When does the worshipper reach the peak of tawqa?" He replied, "If he put all his thoughts and desires in his heart on a plate and then wandered around in the market, he should not feel ashamed of anything there." He would frequently say, "The sign of muttaqi (pious person) is to bridle oneself from speaking just like one in ihraam bridles himself from speaking. The muttaqi needs to be a scholar (`aalim) of the Sharee`ah, all of it, otherwise he leaves taqwa without realising." Abu Darda radhiAllaahu `anhu said: "From the completion of taqwa is that the slaves fears from his Lord even with regards to things the weight of an atom." Abu Hurairah, radhiAllaahu `anhu was asked about taqwa. He said, "It is a road full of thorns. One who walks it needs to have extreme patience." Sufyaan ath-Thawri rahimahullah said, "We met a people who loved it when it was said to them - Fear Allaah the Most High. Today you find that people only become annoyed at this." A person asked Fudhayl ibn `Iyaad rahimahullaah, "Which country would you like me to live in? Fudhayl replie, "There is no connection between you and any nation. The best country for you is the country which helps yo to acquire taqwa." O brother! Search your soul. Have you feared Allaah as our Salaf feared? Or have you fallen short of that. Seek the forgiveness of Allah as all praise is to Him the Lord of the worlds. |
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