Fearing Allah In Open And Secret

[SAFAH]

Bismillah.

 

 

Fearing Allah in Open and Secret

This article is part of a free translation of al-Iftqar ila Allah, Lubb al-'Ubudiyyah by Ahmad al-Suwayan

Following on from the previous article, the dread the believer should feel in relation to his righteous actions being rejected by the Almighty.

Possessing fear of Allah is one of the most sublime qualities of those having iman; Allah says: {The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely.} [sūrah al-Anfal 8:2].

{إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ} الأنفال: 2

Transliteration: Innama almuminoona allatheena itha thukira Allahu wajilat quloobuhum waitha tuliyat AAalayhim ayatuhu zadathum eemanan waAAala rabbihim yatawakkaloona

Allah also says: {And give good tidings to the humble [before their Lord]. Who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts are fearful.} [sūrah al-Hajj 22:34-35].

{وَبَشِّرِ الْمُخْبِتِينَ ﴿٣٤﴾ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ} الحج: 34-35

Transliteration: wabashshiri almukhbiteena (34) Allatheena itha thukira Allahu wajilat quloobuhum

Fearing Allah in open and secret is one of the greatest signs demonstrating need and total deprivation before Him; whoever realises His greatness and omnipotence; His unconquerable authority; His eye that does not sleep; and reveres Him a manner befitting will truly fear Him: {But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens.} [sūrah al-RaHman, 55:46].

{وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ} الرحمن: 46

Transliteration:Waliman khafa maqama rabbihi jannatani

Allah also says: {But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.} [sūrah al-Nazi‘at 79:40-41].

{وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ ﴿٤٠﴾ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ} النازعات: 40-41

Transliteration:Waama man khafa maqama rabbihi wanaha alnnafsa AAani alhawa (40) Fainna aljannata hiya almawa

And He says: {...That is for he who fears My position and fears My threat.} [sūrah Ibrahim, 14:14].

{ذَٰلِكَ لِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامِي وَخَافَ وَعِيدِ} إبراهيم: 14

Transliteration: thalika liman khafa maqamee wakhafa waAAeedi

One whose condition is such will have possessed a vigilant heart that shakes out of trepidation and is always in intimately conversant with its Lord. The heart will seek refuge in Him and plead for recourse bring a heart that is poverty-stricken and servile; Allah says: {Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’} [sūrah al-Zumar 39:9].

{أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ ۗ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ} الزمر: 9

Transliteration: Amman huwa qanitun anaa allayli sajidan waqaiman yahtharu alakhirata wayarjoo rahmata rabbihi qul hal yastawee allatheena yaAAlamoona waallatheena la yaAAlamoona

Allah also says: {Their sides part [i.e., they arise] from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration...} [sūrah al-Sajdah 32:16].

{تَتَجَافَىٰ جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا} السجدة: 16

Transliteration: Tatajafa junoobuhum AAani almadajiAAi yadAAoona rabbahum khawfan watamaAAan

He also says: {And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]} [sūrah al-Furqan 25:64].

{وَالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّدًا وَقِيَامًا} الفرقان: 64

Transliteration: Waallatheena yabeetoona lirabbihim sujjadan waqiyaman

Al-Hasan al-Basri said, ‘Tears run down their cheeks in fear of their Lord.’

Contemplate the saying of Allah: {Say, ‘Believe in it or do not believe.’ Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it – when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration, And they say, ‘Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled.’ And they fall upon their faces weeping, and it [i.e., the Qur’an] increases them in humble submission.} [sūrah al-Isra’ 17:107-109].

{قُلْ آمِنُوا بِهِ أَوْ لَا تُؤْمِنُواۚ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ إِذَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا ﴿١٠٧﴾ وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا ﴿١٠٨﴾ وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ خُشُوعًا ۩} الإسراء: 107-109

 

Transliteration: Qul aminoo bihi aw la tuminoo inna allatheena ootoo alAAilma min qablihi itha yutla AAalayhim yakhirroona lilathqani sujjadan (107) Wayaqooloona subhana rabbina in kana waAAdu rabbina lamafAAoolan (108) Wayakhirroona lilathqani yabkoona wayazeeduhum khushooAAan

 

 

This is a total need for Allah and dejection displayed before Him;Sayyid Quṭub said: “They are unable to control themselves; they do not merely prostrate but ‘they fall upon their faces in prostration’, then their tongues actuate with the sensation of Allah’s greatness and true promise that has become fused into their emotions, ‘Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled.’ Being affected in this way overwhelms them and words no longer suffice as a manifestation of what is raging in their bosoms - tears stream down their faces conveying that profound effect words cannot express.” [Fi Ẓilal al-Qur’an, vol. 5 p.2245].

 

The condition for genuine fear is that which occurs in private as the heart is attached only to Allah neither turning to anyone nor anything else; Allah says: {Indeed, those who fear their Lord in private will have forgiveness and great reward.} [sūrah al-Mulk 67:12].

{إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ} الملك: 12

Transliteration: Inna allatheena yakhshawna rabbahum bialghaybi lahum maghfiratun waajrun kabeerun

Allah also says: {Who fear their Lord in private, while they are of the Hour apprehensive.} [sūrah al-Anbiya’, 21:49].

{الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَيْبِ وَهُم مِّنَ السَّاعَةِ مُشْفِقُونَ} الأنبياء: 49

Transliteration: Allatheena yakhshawna rabbahum bialghaybi wahum mina alssaAAati mushfiqoona

And Allah says: {And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far, It will be said], "This is what you were promised – for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]. Who feared the Most Merciful in private and came with a heart returning [in repentance].} [sūrah Qaf 50:31-33].

{وَأُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ ﴿٣١﴾ هَـٰذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ ﴿٣٢﴾ مَّنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَـٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيبٍ} ق: 31-33

Transliteration: Waozlifati aljannatu lilmuttaqeena ghayra baAAeedin (31) Hatha ma tooAAadoona likulli awwabin hafeethin (32) Man khashiya alrrahmana bialghaybi wajaa biqalbin muneebin

The Prophet said in an authentic hadith: “Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His...” One of the seven mentioned is “...a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears.” [sahih al-Bukhari].

«سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله: الإمام العادل، وشاب نشأ في عبادة ربه، ورجل قلبه معلق في المساجد، ورجلان تحابا في الله اجتمعا عليه وتفرقا عليه، ورجل طلبته امرأة ذات منصب وجمال، فقال إني أخاف الله، ورجل تصدق، اخفى حتى لا تعلم شماله ما تنفق يمينه، ورجل ذكر الله خاليا، ففاضت عيناه»صحيح البخاري

 

Al-Hafiẓ Ibn Hajar commented concerning on this seclusion, ‘...because this will as far as possible be away from ostentation; and the intent here is to be secluded from turning to other than Allah even if one is (physically) in the company of others.’ [FatH al-Bari’, vol. 2 p. 147].

 

Fear of Allah is a form of worship connected to the heart that drives one to strive, to be earnest, and to have a disposition to perform acts of devotion; the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever fears, will travel during the night, and whoever travels during the night, will reach the destination." [Al-Tirmidhi 4/633, no. 2450].

«من خاف أدلج، ومن أدلج بلغ المنزل» رواه الترمذي، حسن غريب

 

For this reason Al-Hafiẓ ‘Ubaydullah Ibn Ja‘far said, ‘A slave cannot seek aid for his religion with anything better than the fear of Allah.’ [siyar al-A‘lam al-Nubula’, vol. 6 p. 9].

 

The reality of this worship of the heart is borne across the limbs and thus we find in the aforementioned hadith about the seven who will have Allah’s shade: “...a man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah...” Disobedience presented itself before him in its most accomplished decorative appearance and most splendid manner of temptation and here was a man like any other man yet nothing but the fear of Allah prevented him from her. There is a similar incident to this in the tale of the three persons who were caught stuck in a cave, when one of them supplicated: “O Allah! You know that I was in love with a cousin of mine, like the deepest love a man may have for a woman, and she told me that I would not get my desire fulfilled unless I paid her one-hundred Dinars (gold pieces). So, I struggled for it till I gathered the desired amount, and when I sat in between her legs, she told me to be afraid of Allah, and asked me not to deflower her except rightfully (by marriage). So, I got up and left her. O Allah! If You consider that I did that for fear of you than please remove the rock.” [sahih al-Bukhari].

«فقال الآخر: اللهم إن كنت تعلم أنه كان لي ابنة عم، من أحب الناس إلي، وأني راودتها عن نفسها فأبت إلا أن آتيها بمائة دينار، فطلبتها حتى قدرت، فأتيت بها فدفعتها إليها فأمكنتني من نفسها، فلما قعدت بين رجليها، قالت: اتق الله ولا تفض الخاتم إلا بحقه، فقمت وتركت المائة دينار، فإن كنت تعلم أني فعلت ذلك من خشيتك ففرج عنا» رواه البخاري

 

This meek woman resigned herself to him and could only muster the matter of reminding him to fear Allah but his heart awoke and became replete with fear of Allah, which prevented him from committing the sin; the saying of Sa‘id Ibn Jubayr is an exceptional definition of fear: “(Real) fear means to fear Allah to the extent that your fear prevents your disobedience – that is fear.” [Hilyah al-Awliya’, vol. 4 p. 276 and Siyar al-A‘lam al-Nubula’, vol. 6 p. 9].

 

Abu Safwaan Farid Haibatan