Page 45 - Basic Tenets of Islam

HARUN YAHYA (ADNAN OKTAR)

stated, "...Allah does not love anyone vain or boastful."
(Surat an-Nisa': 36). A Allah-fearing person strives diligently
to abstain from boasting, and to engage rather in actions one
expects to earn Allah's love. For that reason, fear of Allah and

love of Allah are mutually exclusive.
Fear of Allah, in fact, removes the obstacles to drawing
nearer to Allah and earning His love. Foremost of these
obstacles is one's lower self. From the Qur'an, we learn that
there are two aspects of the soul; the one inspiring evil and
mischief, and the other, guarding against every inclination to
evil.
... the self and what proportioned it and inspired it with

depravity and a fear of Allah, he who purifies it has
succeeded, he who covers it up has failed. (Surat ash-
Shams: 7-10)
Struggling against this evil, and not giving in it, requires
spiritual strength. This strength derives from fear of Allah. A
Allah-fearing person is not enslaved by the selfishness of his
soul. The awe he feels for Allah draws him away from
thoughts and deeds unworthy of His pleasure. A verse of the
Qur'an informs us that only those who fear Allah will take
heed of the warnings imparted to them:

You can only warn those who act on the Reminder and
fear the All-Merciful in the Unseen. Give them the good
news of forgiveness and a generous reward. (Surah Ya
Sin: 11)
Man's striving must be to feel a more profound fear of
Allah. To effect this noble sentiment, he must reflect upon

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