ON FEAR

It is stated in a Tradition from the Prophet that he said: “Allâh created an angel having a wing extending till the east and a wing extending till the west. Its head is beneath the throne [of Allâh] while its legs are beneath the seventh earth. It has feathers equal to the number of the creation of Allâh. When a man or woman from my ummah sends salutations to me, Allâh commands this angel to dive in an ocean of light which is beneath the throne. It dives into this ocean and then comes out. It then flaps its wings, and so a drop [of water] falls from each and every feather. Allâh then creates from every drop, an angel who seeks forgiveness for him [who sent salutations upon me] till the day of resurrection.”

Some wise men have said that the soundness of the body lies in less food, the soundness of the soul lies in abstaining from sins and the soundness of one’s Islam lies in sending salutations to the best of the creation [Muhammad].

Allah says:

“O you who believe! Fear Allâh, and a soul should be mindful of what it has sent forth for tomorrow.”

In other words, what deeds it has done for the day resurrection. This means that you should firmly believe and do acts of obedience so that you may get the reward thereof on the day of resurrection.

“And fear Allâh, for surely Allâh is fully aware of all that you do.” (Sûrah al-Hashr, 59: 18) – be it good or evil.

This is because the angels, the skies, the earth, the night and the day will all bear testimony on the day of resurrection as regards what man did – be it good or evil, acts of obedience or acts of disobedience. So much so that even his body parts will bear testimony against him. The earth will bear testimony in favour of a believer and ascetic person. The earth will say: “He offered salâh on me, he kept fast, he performed the pilgrimage, he waged jihâd.” On hearing this, the believer and ascetic person will be overjoyed.

The earth will also bear testimony against the unbeliever and sinner. It will say: “He performed acts of polytheism on me, he committed adultery, he consumed intoxicants, he consumed the unlawful.” O destruction on such a person if the most Merciful of those who show mercy were to interrogate him in the accounting of his deeds.

A true believer is he who fears Allâh with every part of his body. The jurist Abû al-Layth said: “An indication of fear of Allâh manifests itself in seven things.

(1) His tongue which prevents him from lying, backbiting, slander, false accusation and vain talk. At the same time, it keeps him preoccupied in the remembrance of Allâh, the recitation of the Qur’ân and acquisition of knowledge.

(2) His heart from which enmity, slander and jealousy towards one’s fellow brothers comes out. This is because jealously wipes out good deeds.

The Messenger of Allâh said: ‘Jealousy devours good deeds just as the fire devours fire wood.’

You should know that jealousy is from among the major ailments in the hearts. And the ailments of the hearts cannot be treated except through knowledge and practising on that knowledge.

(3) His eyes. He should therefore not look at the unlawful be it of food, drink, clothing and other things. He should neither look at this world with desire. Rather, when he looks at this world, it should be by way of contemplation. He should neither look at those things that are unlawful to him.

The Messenger of Allâh said: ‘He who fills his eyes with the unlawful, Allâh will fill his eyes on the day of resurrection with the fire.’

(4) His stomach. Nothing unlawful should go into his stomach, for this is a major sin. The Messenger of Allâh said: ‘When a morsel of unlawful food goes into the stomach of a person, every angel in the earth and heaven curses him as long as that morsel remains in his stomach. If he dies in that state, his abode is Hell.’

(5) His hand. He should therefore not extend his hand towards anything that is unlawful. Rather, he should extend it towards all that entails the obedience of Allâh. It is narrated from Ka‘b al-Ahbâr that he said: ‘Allâh created a mansion of green chrysolite. This mansion has 70 000 houses and each house has 70 000 dwellings. None shall enter this mansion except he to whom the unlawful was offered but he shuns it out of the fear of Allâh.’

(6) His feet. He should therefore not walk towards the disobedience of Allâh. He should rather walk towards the obedience and pleasure of Allâh. And towards sitting in the company of the 'ulamâ’ and the righteous servants of Allâh.

(7) His obedience. His obedience should be solely for the sake of Allâh. He should fear showing off and hypocrisy. If he does all this, he will be from among those regarding whom Allâh said: ‘The hereafter with your Sustainer is for those who constantly fear Him.’ [11] He says in another verse: ‘Those who constantly fear Him shall be in gardens and fountains.’ [12] He says: ‘Those who constantly fear Him shall be in gardens and bliss.’ [13] He says: ‘Those who constantly fear Him shall be in a place of security.’ [14] It is as though Allâh is saying that on the day of resurrection they will be saved from the fire. It is the duty of a believer to possess both fear and hope. He should therefore hope for the mercy of Allâh and should not despair of it. Allâh says: ‘Do not despair of the mercy of Allâh.’ [15] He should worship Allâh, abstain from his evil deeds and repent to Allâh.

While Dâ’ûd was sitting in his hermitage reciting the Zabûr, he saw a red insect in the ground. He thus thought to himself: “What was the purpose of Allâh in creating this insect?” Allâh gave this insect the power to speak and so it said: “O Prophet of Allâh! As for my days, my Sustainer has inspired me to say:

“Glory to Allâh. All praise to Allâh. There is none worthy of worship but Allâh. Allâh is the greatest.”

A thousand times each day. As for my nights, my Sustainer has inspired me to say:

“O Allâh! Send salutations and peace on Muhammad, the unlettered Prophet, his family and his Companions.”

A thousand times each night. As for you, what do you say whereby I could benefit from you?” Dâ’ûd regretted considering this insect as insignificant. He feared Allâh, repented to Him and placed his trust in Him.

When Ibrâhîm used to think of his mistakes, he would fall unconscious and the trembling of his heart would be heard for one square mile. Allâh sent Jibra’îl to him. The latter went to him and said: “The almighty [Allâh] conveys peace to you and says: ‘Have you seen a bosom friend fearing his bosom friend?’ [Ibrâhîm ] replied: ‘O Jibra‘îl! When I think of my mistakes and I ponder over the consequences thereof, I forget about my friendship [with Allâh].’”

These are the conditions and states of the Prophets, the friends of Allâh, the righteous people and those who have renounced this world. Ponder and reflect over this.