We often read in the Qur’an or hear people say “Ittequl-allah (fear Allah)”. Some people who say this don’t even fully understand the meaning of what they are saying. Are we supposed to fear Allah because He is some ruthless God who will throw us in Hell? Or is it because He is unforgiving of those who infract His Divine Laws? The answer is no. Rather, Allah (SWT) is the All-Forgiving, All-Merciful God who is always ready to forgive us and its evidence is as follows:
“If anyone does evil or wrongs his own soul but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” An-Nisaa’ (4:110)
Some people might say that since Allah is so Forgiving, we don’t need to fear Him anymore because loving Him is enough. They think they will be sent to Jannah simply by loving Allah. That is not the case, however. Our love for Allah should be represented through our actions which are to be done only for His sake. Usually, when a person loves someone, they are afraid, or to say, they have fear, of displeasing that person. It is the same with Allah (SWT). Our love for Allah should make us be afraid of displeasing Him. In the commentary for ayah (67:12), it is stated that immense love for Allah (SWT) makes fear arise in your heart to displease Him and this intense love obtains forgiveness for any past, and is rewarded with Allah’s love as well.
Along with the love and fear of Allah (SWT) in our hearts, there is another aspect that needs to be balanced and that is hope. Many people, when they make du’a to ask for forgiveness, feel hopeless and think that they are too sinful to be forgiven. This type of attitude is not recommended by the Prophet (SAW).
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
“Call on your Lord with humility and in private: for Allah loveth not those who trespass beyond bounds. Do not mischief on the earth, after it hath been set in order, but call on Him with fear and longing (in your hearts): for the Mercy of Allah is (always) near to those who do good.” Al-A’raaf (7: 55-56)
One should be hopeful that Allah (SWT) will forgive him/her but that should not lead the person to feel confident that they will go to Jannah because no one knows that for sure. The particular Sahabah (radiallahu ‘anhum) who were promised Jannah did not even show this type of overconfidence or pride but instead, they spent time just thanking Allah (SWT) for His Bounties. The love, fear, and hope in our hearts should be balanced accordingly-one quality should help us enrich the other so we don’t end up having the wrong beliefs because wrong beliefs often lead to wrong actions.
The three aspects of Taqwa can be summarized as follows:
Love
To obey Allah (SWT), follow His orders
To do everything only for Him
To please Him
To do the deeds He loves
Should make us do good deeds and thank Him for His favors
Fear arises from this love
Fear
His punishment
To disobey Him
His displeasure & rejection
Stay away from sins
Of diverging from His Will
Hope
That Allah (SWT) will accept our good deeds and forgive our sins
Allah (SWT) says in the Qur’an:
“But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness,-We shall soon admit them to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,-to dwell therein forever. Allah’s promise is the truth, and whose word can be truer than Allah’s?” An-Nisaa’ (4:122)
In various places throughout the Qur’an, Allah (SWT) tells the believers to have Taqwa through fasting and doing other good deeds and the more we try to improve ourselves, the more Allah (SWT) helps us, as He says in the Qur’an:
“But to those who receive1 Guidance, He increases their Guidance, and bestows on them their Piety and Restraint (from evil).” Muhammad (47:17)
May Allah (SWT) help us all to achieve this balance of the three aspects of Taqwa in our hearts and keep us safe from going astray.
1 Spiritual advancement is progressive: each step makes the next ones easier and more complete.
