Page 94 - Fear of Allah

FEAR OF ALLAH
of what will produce the greatest agony. Therefore, one can only try
to imagine the pain and suffering occasioned by Allah's detestation:
… Allah's hatred of you, when you were called to faith but
then chose disbelief, is even greater than your hatred of
yourselves. (Surah Ghafir: 10)
Needless to say, nobody in their right mind would lay claim to
behavior and attitudes which would lead them to the punishment of
Allah. Man's inability to cope even with ordinary, everyday afflic-
tions is clear proof of his weakness. For example, it is quite under-
standable that someone should find excruciating pain absolutely
unbearable. However, it is also true that having to hear, even from a
distance, the screaming of someone in agony is enough to cause in-
describable distress. This is because mankind has not been created
to endure spiritual and physical pain, fear or tension. We cannot
withstand for long being enclosed in tight spaces, or being exposed
to offensive odors, or the pain of a bad stomach ache or toothache.
Let us bear in mind, these are not types of punishment but rather,
ordinary afflictions which form a part of everyday life.
Despite these obvious realities, people in general lead a life far
removed from fear of Allah due to their state of heedlessness and
thoughtlessness. However, the spiritual and physical pains which
are experienced on Earth are but a small example of the punishment
they will face in Hell and serve only as an example and a warning.
These people do not have any regard for Allah's infinite power and
strength, however, when death reaches them, they will sense Allah's
greatness with all its violence and severity and be gripped by a fear
which is indescribable and incomparable to anything experienced
on Earth.
Apart from individual punishments, the Qur'an is full of exam-
ples of groups of people who have perished under the punishments

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