Page 21 - Prayer in the Qur'an

PRAYER IN THE QUR'ANIC SENSE 19

makes a person fear failing to attain Allah's good pleasure, while
hoping for Allah's mercy.
Indeed, one of the attributes of a true believer that distinguishes
him from all others is his fear of Allah, since a disbeliever doubts
even the existence of Hell. Believers, however, are fully cognizant of

Hell's existence, and they see it as a very serious threat. Having an
unswerving faith in the Day of Judgment, they feel the greatest fear.
Only a person who has faith in Allah and avoids arrogance is influ-
enced in her conduct by this fear: she feels no doubt about the exis-
tence and severity of the torment of Hell, and never assumes an
attitude or behavior that may involve the risk of being thrown into
it. She only aspires to the life in the hereafter that abounds with infi-
nite beauty and makes every effort to distance herself from torment.
The fear a believer feels for the hereafter manifests itself in his or her
prayer.
That is why we find the concepts of fear and hope side by side in
the Qur'an. If a person fails to fear the torment of Hell while pray-
ing, this is due to an essential failure of thinking and comprehen-
sion. Just as how eagerly a person prays to attain Paradise, so must
he, for avoidance of Hell. In other words, through fear of Hell, he

hopes to attain Paradise. Some of the verses that mention this are as
follows:
Do not corrupt the earth after it has been put right. Call on Him
fearfully and eagerly. Allah's mercy is close to the good-doers.
(Surat al-A'raf: 56)
Their sides eschew their beds as they call on their Lord in fear
and ardent hope. And they give of what We have provided for
them. (Surat as-Sajda: 16)

As is seen, fear and hope are the two essential feelings that are