First published on: Why Should I Fear God ‘Allah’?


 Esraa Mohammad

     Many people ask why should we fear God ‘Allah’, isn’t Allah All-Forgiving? Why are we taught to fear Allah? Why do people say that fearing Allah is a good thing? I love Allah and don’t fear Him.  


We either asked these questions or listened to someone ask them before, but what does fearing Allah exactly mean? Is it good, or is love better?

Continue reading to know the answer…

What Exactly Is the Meaning of Fearing God?


 

     Taqwa is an Arabic word that means “to fear God ‘Allah'”. That fear maybe comes from love or fear of God’s punishment. (1)

 In fact, fearing Allah is a sign of strong faith in Islam.

 And it will be said to those who feared Allah:

…What did your Lord send down?” They will say, “[That which is] good.” For those who do good in this world is good; and the home of the Hereafter is better. And how excellent is the home of the righteous (30) Gardens of perpetual residence, which they will enter, beneath which rivers flow. They will have therein whatever they wish. Thus does Allah reward the righteous (31) The ones whom the angels take in death, [being] good and pure; [the angels] will say, “Peace be upon you. Enter Paradise for what you used to do.(32)“  [Qur’an16: 30-32] (2)

 

Why Do People Say That Fearing Allah Is A Good Thing?


But yes, whoever fulfills his commitment and fears Allah – then indeed, Allah loves those who fear Him.” [Qur’an 3: 76] (3) 

Because fearing Allah will make you an ideal person, isn’t this a good thing? 

As I said before: one of the meanings of “Taqwa” is to fear Allah. Furthermore, it also means “piety” or to be a righteous person according to your awareness of Allah and what He likes and doesn’t like. This awareness will help you protect yourself from Allah’s anger as it encourages good deeds that bring you closer to Allah and attain His love.

 

How Can I Know That I Really Fear Allah? 


And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good; And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except Allah? – and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know. Those – their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.” [Qur’an 3: 133,134,135,136] (4)

 When you focus on God “Allah” alone in all your actions and feelings, you will really fear Him. You will just see Him and what He likes you to do and what He doesn’t like you to do.

Which Is Better, Loving Allah or Fearing Allah?


 Surely, loving Allah is the highest level of faith, but also fearing Allah is the beginning step towards loving Allah.

 BUT the right question you should ask yourself is do you really love Allah? And what is your evidence for that?

[yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah.. ” [Qur’an 2: 165] (5)

When you do good for Allah’s sake and not polish your image in people’s eyes, then you really love Allah.

Also, when you don’t worry about what people say about you if you do good things, and do these things without anyone knowing, then you really love Allah.

When you follow what Allah says and not what people say, then you really love Allah.

 When any situation happens to you and you look for what Allah loves from you to do, then you really love Allah. 

 

How Can I Develop the Fear of Allah “Taqwa”?


Moreover, acquiring taqwa is a process that takes time, and grows with the increase of faith in the heart of a believer until they become convinced that Allah is aware of everything they do and each word they say.

 In the popular hadith of Angel Jibril 

The Holy Spirit, when he asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) about Islam, Iman (faith), and Ihsan (right action, goodness, sincerity), the Prophet responded about Ihsan, saying it is ‘to worship Allah as though you could see Him, for though you can’t see Him yet He sees you.” That is the highest level of faith. [Hadith] (6)

 

Tips to Increase Your Taqwa:


1- Be alert to whatever that may divert you from Allah and also the carnal pleasures that may lead to the realm of the forbidden.

2- Attribute all material and spiritual accomplishments to Allah.

3- Never consider yourself higher or better than anyone else.

4- Long for Allah’s pleasure and satisfaction in all affairs.

5- Renew the fountains of your Iman by studying and reflecting on Allah’s creation.

6- Remember death, and live with the conscious knowledge that it may happen at any time.

So, Why Should One Fear Allah? 


One should fear Allah because:

1.It is the first step towards loving Allah.  

2.Allah loves those who fear Him.

3.Happiness and tranquility are found in Taqwa or fearing Allah.

4.Fearing Allah leads to righteousness we search for.

Conclusion


Surely, Allah is All-Forgiving and Merciful but that does not mean that He isn’t fair. Those who do good deeds and those who do nothing or do bad deeds are not equal… isn’t this right?

Now you know our answer, share with us yours… 😉