Category Archives: Hadith

Fear of Allah & its Reward: A Story

Hazrat Hudhaifa reports that the Messenger of Allah said:

“There was a man amongst the people who had suspicion as to the righteousness of his deeds. Therefore he said to his family, ‘If I die, take me and burn my corpse and throw my ashes into the sea on a hot (or windy) day.’ They did so, but Allah, collected his particles and asked (him), What made you do what you did?’ He replied, ‘The only thing that made me do it, was that I was afraid of You.’ So Allah forgave him.”

[Sahih Bukhari: Book 76, Hadith 487]

Fear of Allah – Taqwa

Hazrat Abu Zar Ghaffari reports that Sayyidina Rasulallah said:

“Fear Allah wherever you are; if you follow an evil deed with a good one you will obliterate it; and deal with people with a good disposition.”

[Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 5083]

The Arabic word for the “fear of Allah” is Taqwa. It comes from the root word meaning “to protect from something, to prevent”.

Indeed, a person fear’s Allah & His Wrath by seeking to prevent Allah’s punishment. This is exhibited by willfully avoiding actions that lead to Allah’s Anger and disapproval; while consciously performing actions that will please Allah.

The word ‘Taqwa’ and its variations have been used in the Holy Qur’an 151 times, which emphasises the importance for a believer to be conscious of Allah’s Pleasure and fear His Wrath.

Quotes about Fear of Allah

Imam Ghazali says:

“Fear rips away desires and muddens luxuries so that cherished sins become reprehensible, just as a honey lover is repelled by it when he learns that it has poison in it. This is how fear burns desires; disciplines the organs; subordinates the heart and gives it tranquillity. It also enables the heart to rid itself of pride, hatred, and envy; and it leaves it absorbed in it (fear). Hence, the heart becomes preoccupied with its own worries and looks towards its best interest in the long run. It is then engaged in only matters like meditation, self-analysis and struggle. It cherishes its time and moments.”

Hazrat Rabiya Basri says:

“Fear is like a candle whose flame helps a person distinguish good from evil; and fear of Allah allows a person to turn away from evil. Those who fear mere creatures flee from them; but those who fear Allah flee to Him.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique says:

“Run away from greatness and greatness will follow you. There is greatness in the fear of God, contentment in faith of God, and honour in humility.”

Fear of Allah in the Holy Qur’an

The fear of Allah is the path to forgiveness, salvation, and the attainment of Allah’s mercy.

“Indeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.”

[Surah al-Nahl, Verse 128]

“And My mercy encompasses all things, and I shall decree it for those who fear Me.”

[Surah al-Araf, Verse 156]

“He is worthy of being feared and worthy of granting forgiveness.”

[Surah al-Mudathir, Verse 56]

“And whoever fears Allah – He will pardon him his sins and grant him a great reward.”

[Surah al-Talaq, Verse 5]

“Indeed, those who fear Allah will be among gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth near an All-Powerful Sovereign.”

[Surah al-Qamar, Verse 54-55]

Allah promises those who fear Him that He will provide for their needs and grant them a way out of their worldly difficulties. Allah says: “And whoever fears Allah, He will make for him a way out, and provide for him from whence he could never imagine.”

[Surah al-Talaq, Verse 2-3]

This is Allah’s promise. We should draw strength from it when we are tried in life with difficulties that tempt us to resort to what Allah has forbidden.

Allah has called upon all people in every era to fear Him so that they may be guided & attain His Pleasure.

Allah says: “And We had enjoined upon those who were given the Scripture before – as well as yourselves – to fear Allah.”

[Surah al-Nisa, Verse 131]

It is Allah’s right over His servants that they fear Him as He ought to be feared. Allah says: “O you who believe! Fear Allah as He ought to be feared and do not die except as believers.”

[Surah al-Imran, Verse 102]

Ibn Abbas said: Aqra’ ibn Habis asked the Prophet (pbuh) saying: Apostle of Allah hajj is to be performed annually or only once? He replied: Only once, and if anyone performs it more often, he performs a supererogatory act.

Ibn ‘Abbas in the explanation of the Statement of Allah. ‘Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur’an) to make haste therewith.” (75.16) Said “Allah’s Apostle used to bear the revelation with great trouble and used to move his lips (quickly) with the Inspiration.” Ibn ‘Abbas moved his lips saying, “I am moving my lips in front of you as Allah’s Apostle used to move his.” Said moved his lips saying: “I am moving my lips, as I saw Ibn ‘Abbas moving his.” Ibn ‘Abbas added, “So Allah revealed ‘Move not your tongue concerning (the Qur’an) to make haste therewith.

It is for us to collect it and to give you (O Muhammad) the ability to recite it (the Qur’an) (75.16-17) which means that Allah will make him (the Prophet) remember the portion of the Qur’an which was revealed at that time by heart and recite it. The Statement of Allah: And ‘When we have recited it to you (O Muhammad through Gabriel) then you follow its (Qur’an) recital’ (75.18) means ‘listen to it and be silent.’ Then it is for Us (Allah) to make It clear to you’ (75.19) means ‘Then it is (for Allah) to make you recite it (and its meaning will be clear by itself through your tongue). Afterwards, Allah’s Apostle used to listen to Gabriel whenever he came and after his departure he used to recite it as Gabriel had recited it.”

(the mother of the faithful believers) The commencement of the Divine Inspiration to Allah’s Apostle was in the form of good dreams which came true like bright day light, and then the love of seclusion was bestowed upon him. He used to go in seclusion in the cave of Hira where he used to worship (Allah alone) continuously for many days before his desire to see his family. He used to take with him the journey food for the stay and then come back to (his wife) Khadija to take his food like-wise again till suddenly the Truth descended upon him while he was in the cave of Hira. The angel came to him and asked him to read. The Prophet replied, “I do not know how to read.

The Prophet added, “The angel caught me (forcefully) and pressed me so hard that I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read and I replied, ‘I do not know how to read.’ Thereupon he caught me again and pressed me a second time till I could not bear it any more. He then released me and again asked me to read but again I replied, ‘I do not know how to read (or what shall I read)?’ Thereupon he caught me for the third time and pressed me, and then released me and said, ‘Read in the name of your Lord, who has created (all that exists) has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous.” (96.1, 96.2, 96.3) Then Allah’s Apostle returned with the Inspiration and with his heart beating severely. Then he went to Khadija bint Khuwailid and said, “Cover me! Cover me!” They covered him till his fear was over and after that he told her everything that had happened and said, “I fear that something may happen to me.” Khadija replied, “Never! By Allah, Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good relations with your Kith and kin, help the poor and the destitute, serve your guests generously and assist the deserving calamity-afflicted ones.”

Khadija then accompanied him to her cousin Waraqa bin Naufal bin Asad bin ‘Abdul ‘Uzza, who, during the PreIslamic Period became a Christian and used to write the writing with Hebrew letters. He would write from the Gospel in Hebrew as much as Allah wished him to write. He was an old man and had lost his eyesight. Khadija said to Waraqa, “Listen to the story of your nephew, O my cousin!” Waraqa asked, “O my nephew! What have you seen?” Allah’s Apostle described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said, “This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out.” Allah’s Apostle asked, “Will they drive me out?” Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, “Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly.” But after a few days Waraqa died and the Divine Inspiration was also paused for a while.

of pause in revelation reporting the speech of the Prophet “While I was walking, all of a sudden I heard a voice from the sky. I looked up and saw the same angel who had visited me at the cave of Hira’ sitting on a chair between the sky and the earth. I got afraid of him and came back home and said, ‘Wrap me (in blankets).’ And then Allah revealed the following Holy Verses (of Quran):

‘O you (i.e. Muhammad)! wrapped up in garments!’ Arise and warn (the people against Allah’s Punishment),… up to ‘and desert the idols.’ (74.1-5) After this the revelation started coming strongly, frequently and regularly.”

(the mother of the faithful believers) Al-Harith bin Hisham asked Allah’s Apostle “O Allah’s Apostle! How is the Divine Inspiration revealed to you?” Allah’s Apostle replied, “Sometimes it is (revealed) like the ringing of a bell, this form of Inspiration is the hardest of all and then this state passes ‘ off after I have grasped what is inspired. Sometimes the Angel comes in the form of a man and talks to me and I grasp whatever he says.” ‘Aisha added: Verily I saw the Prophet being inspired Divinely on a very cold day and noticed the Sweat dropping from his forehead (as the Inspiration was over).

I heard Allah’s Apostle saying, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for.”