There is a question that has been put to me more than once: Have we become so focused on speaking about Paradise, good character, devotion, kindness and forgiveness that we risk neglecting the fear of Allah? Preaching prosperity, success and winning. Some readers have gently challenged me, saying, “Your reflections often emphasise hope, self-improvement and compassion, but what about fear? Doesn’t the Quran call us to both?” I’d like to answer this challenging question.
A Heart Filled with Hope and Awe
Indeed, The Majestic Quran does not nurture believers on hope or fear alone. Rather, it teaches that hope inspires us to draw nearer to Allah, and fear humbles us and alerts us to our shortcomings. Just as a bird flies with two wings, likewise, the believer’s journey to Allah requires hope and fear.
In recent reflections, I have intentionally highlighted the transformative power of good character and the kindness of Allah, because these are qualities that many people today desperately need to recover from the devastating impact of materialism. However, a balanced presentation of Islam demands that I talk about fear too. A deep, reverential feeling and awe of Allah that protects us from complacency and motivates us to live righteously. And even more importantly, fear of the fire of hell! So, what is this fear of Allah? Why does the Quran praise those who possess it? And how can it deepen our faith without leading to despair?
“Among His servants only those who know and understand fear God. God is Almighty, Forgiving. Those who recite His book, perform the prayer and spend publicly and privately from what We provided them, they long for a business that will never be in loss, so He will fully reward them for their deeds, and bless them extra from His bounty. He is Forgiving, Appreciative of their efforts” (Al-Fatir: 29-31).
Taqwa: The Making of a True Believer
There is a picture frame hung in many homes that displays an Arabic phrase, “The greatest of all wisdom is fear of God”. In the Hadith book ‘Al-Jamia Al-Sagheer’ by Al-Suyuti (d.1550), there are more than a dozen versions of this hadith. For example:
- The greatest of all religious obligations is to be sincere to…
- The greatest of all religious obligations is fear and to be mindful.
- The greatest understanding after believing is to love people and be good to all…
The same thing is also mentioned in the Bible, Proverbs 9:10. A modern English translation could be: True wisdom begins when you live with a deep awareness of God, respecting Him and allowing His guidance to shape your decisions. Or more simply: The first step to becoming wise is to recognise God, honour Him, and live by His guidance. Quranic wisdom is intelligence and education that leads one closer to Allah. You feel you are accountable for your actions. This wisdom forms the basis of belief that produces openness to learning and humility. So, you don’t regard yourself as the centre of the universe.
Taqwa is to Fear, be Aware and Awake to the Divine Reality
The closest Quranic concept is Taqwa: mindfulness, the spiritually awakened state, God-consciousness. A person with Taqwa is continually aware of Allah’s presence, seeks His pleasure, and avoids what displeases Him. So, godly fear is not panic or anxiety, but an intelligent and loving awareness of God that keeps a person away from sin and harmful activities. It starts with understanding that Allah is aware of me and whatever I do is recorded. Therefore, I better be careful lest it lands me in trouble in the Hereafter. And places me on the wrong side of the caring and Loving Lord.
People fear the wrong things because they misunderstand what is truly dangerous. A wise person sees that the greatest danger is not loss of wealth or reputation but losing one’s relationship with God through sin. Ibrahim bin Adham said: “Taqwa is: people shouldn’t find a fault in your speech; the angels shouldn’t find a fault in your actions, and the Angel of the Throne finds no fault in your inner motives either.” Al-Waqadi defined Taqwa as “You decorate your inner self with pure thoughts of the Lord as you would dress up for the people.”
Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked to explain the meaning of Taqwa, he replied, “When you walk a narrow steep path hemmed by thorny bushes, you tread very carefully so your clothes aren’t torn by the thorns and you ‘re not injured.” This is an apt simile for illustrating the meaning of Taqwa. The journey of life is on a narrow, steep path hemmed on one side by the selfish desires and the other side by the Shaitan. So, one must fear disobeying the Almighty Lord.
Conclusion
The fear of Allah is not a fear that purifies, makes us humble and protects us from sin. When joined with hope in Allah’s forgiveness, it becomes the foundation of a balanced and beautiful faith. Imam Ghazali describes the ‘Five Signs of a Person with Taqwa’ as someone who guards their tongue, eyes, ears, stomach and engages in constant remembrance of Allah. My humble nasiha is let’s begin our journey of Taqwa by repenting, turning back to Allah, and giving up all sinful activities today.
