Page 32 - Fear of Allah

FEAR OF ALLAH
ing along the street, some of whom you may recognize and know
personally. Nothing has changed except that at a time they least ex-
pected, the angels of death have taken their souls and they have
found themselves answering and paying for the sins they have com-
mitted. Amongst Allah's creatures, it is only the true believers who
are aware of Allah's great warning and whose condition is one of
fear and hope:
[The servants of the All-Merciful are] those who say, "Our
Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell, its punishment
is inescapable pain." (Surat al-Furqan: 65)
In addition, there is another hadith from our Prophet (saas) as a
mercy from Allah:
The Prophet (saas) said: "Anyone with even a peck of faith in his
heart will emerge from the fire." Abu Said said: "Whoever falls into
doubt (of the fact related by this notice) must read this verse: "Allah
does not wrong anyone by so much as the smallest speck." (Surat
an-Nisa, 40) (Tirmidhi, Sıfatu Cehennem 10, (2601))

They fear losing Allah's approval and love

The true believer who possesses an intimate and profound love
of Allah knows very well that the most important nourishment for
this love is again an intimate, profound fear which is full of respect.
True believers, who have tasted the indescribable spiritual pleas-
ures of loving Allah, are very afraid of committing any offence or
error that might endanger that love or, worse still, arouse the dis-
pleasure or enmity of their Most Beloved, Allah.
Fear of Allah is inextricably linked to love of Allah. Love of
Allah can only be achieved with nearness to Allah, which becomes a
reality when one develops an intimate and sincere attachment to
Him. However, nearness to Allah is not possible without His love
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