{"id":13228,"date":"2022-02-22T15:08:30","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T10:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/muftitaqiusmani.com\/en\/?p=13228"},"modified":"2022-03-01T02:27:21","modified_gmt":"2022-02-28T21:27:21","slug":"cure-for-sins-fear-of-allah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/muftitaqiusmani.com\/en\/cure-for-sins-fear-of-allah\/","title":{"rendered":"CURE FOR SINS \u2013 FEAR OF ALLAH"},"content":{"rendered":"
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CURE FOR SINS \u2013 FEAR OF ALLAH<\/span><\/h1>\n

\u201cAnd for the one who is fearful of having to stand before his Lord, there are two gardens,\u201d (55:46)<\/p>\n

In the interpretation of this verse the famous Taba\u2019i scholar Hazrat Mujahid (may Allah Ta\u2019ala bless him) said that this verse pertains to a person who had an impulse to commit a sin, but then he reflected that one day he will have to stand in front of Allah Ta\u2019ala and account for his actions, and because of that thought he abstained from committing that sin, there is a promise of two paradises for that person.<\/p>\n

THIS IS TAQWA (\u062a\u0642\u0648\u06cc\u0670)<\/span>
\nIn further interpretation of this verse, it has been said that when a person is all by himself and there is no one to see what he is doing, if he gets an impulse to commit a sin then but then refrains from it because he thinks that Allah Ta\u2019ala is watching him, he is the person for whom two paradises have been promised. This is called Taqwa that a person does not act upon his desires to commit sins because of the thought that one day he will have to stand in front of Allah Ta\u2019ala and account for all his actions. The whole purpose of Shariah and Tareeqat is that a person develops this fear of one day having to stand in front of Allah Ta\u2019ala in his heart.<\/p>\n

FEAR OF STANDING IN FRONT OF ALLAH TA\u2019ALA<\/span>
\nIn this verse Allah Ta\u2019ala didn\u2019t say that this promise is for the person who fears going to Jahannam (Hell), going into the fire, or being punished. Rather, Allah Ta\u2019ala has said that the promise is for the person who has fear of presenting before Allah Ta\u2019ala. It means that the person has such great reverence for Allah Ta\u2019ala that his primary fear is not whether Allah Ta\u2019ala will punish him, his primary fear is how can I present myself before Allah Ta\u2019ala after having committed such deeds. This fear is called Taqwa.<\/p>\n

THE THING TO FEAR IS ALLAH\u2019S DISPLEASURE<\/span>
\nThe real reason we should be afraid of the torture of Jahannam (Hell) is that it is an indicator of Allah Ta\u2019ala\u2019s displeasure. Otherwise, what we really need to fear is Allah Ta\u2019ala being angry with us. People who have true knowledge of Allah Ta\u2019ala crave His pleasure, and wish to avoid His displeasure at all costs. They are scared of Jahannam (Hell) only because it is an indicator of Allah Ta\u2019ala\u2019s unhappiness with us, otherwise, the thing we really need to be scared of is displeasing Allah Ta\u2019ala.<\/p>\n

ALLAH TA\u2019ALA IS WATCHING US<\/span>
\nWhen Hazrat Umar Farooq (may Allah Ta\u2019ala be pleased with him) became a Caliph he used to go around the city at night to find out what people were doing. If he found someone in distress he used to help them, if he found someone doing something wrong he would correct them. One night he was walking on the streets of Medinah Munawwarah at Tahajjud time when he heard two women talking. One of them, who was apparently the mother of the other one, was telling her daughter to mix some water in the milk she had extracted to increase its volume before selling it. The daughter said, \u201cBut mother, the Caliph Hazrat Umar RAA has issued a decree that no milk seller should add water to their milk before selling it. Therefore, we shouldn\u2019t do it.\u201d The mother said, \u201cThe Caliph is not here now. He would be at his home at this time. It is dark of night. If you add water to milk now how would he know that you have done this?\u201d The daughter said, \u201cMother! The Caliph is not watching us but his ruler, meaning Allah Ta\u2019ala, is watching us. I will not do it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hazrat Umar Farooq RAA was listening to this conversation from outside the door. In the morning he made inquiries about who this girl was and then sent a proposal for her to marry his son Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Umar RAA. Hazrat Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz (may Allah Ta\u2019alah bless him), who is known as the fifth Khalifa Rashid (rightly guided Caliph), was born from the offspring from this marriage. This fear which this girl had, that even in the night when no one else is watching, Allah Ta\u2019ala is still watching, and it stopped her from committing an act which would have displeased Allah Ta\u2019ala, is known as Taqwa.<\/p>\n

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF SIN<\/span>
\nThe Satan does not tempt a person to commit a great sin to begin with. For example, it does not entice a person to commit a robbery as a first step, because the person would immediately say No as most people perceive it as a wrongful act. The Satan instead makes him used to smaller sins first like taking items from other people and not returning them. When a person gets used to these relatively smaller sins then the Satan says to him that when you committed that sin, you didn\u2019t think you will have to present yourself before Allah Ta\u2019ala and account for these acts, so don\u2019t think about it while committing this other sin. The person gradually graduates to more and more serious sins. This way the Satan gradually induces a person to commit greater and greater sins.<\/p>\n

MINOR OR MAJOR SIN?<\/span>
\nHazrat Thanvi (may Allah Ta\u2019ala bless him) used to say that many times people ask about whether a particular act is a minor sin or a major sin. And it seems that their purpose in asking this is that they will try to make a major effort to stay away from it if it is a major sin, but not so much if it is a minor sin. Hazrat Thanvi RE used to say that a minor sin is like a small fire cracker, and a major sin like a big fire. Is there someone who would put a small burning firecracker in his suitcase? No wise person would do that as that small fire would become a big fire and put the whole suitcase and maybe the whole house on fire.
\nThe same is true of a minor sin. If a person starts committing a minor sin casually and repeatedly then it becomes a major sin because that person is ignoring limits set by Allah Ta\u2019ala. Therefore, we should not worry about which sin is minor and which sin is major. What we should worry about is whether Allah Ta\u2019ala has commanded us to refrain from that act. If He has, then we should remind ourselves that if we commit this sin, how would we face Allah Ta\u2019ala on the Day of Judgment, and refrain from that sin.<\/p>\n

COMMITTING A SIN IN FRONT OF OTHERS<\/span>
\nHazrat Dr Abdul Hai (may Allah Ta\u2019ala bless him) used to say that sometimes it is difficult to keep this thought in mind that Allah Ta\u2019ala is watching us. It is because we have never seen Allah Ta\u2019ala and it is easier to imagine something or someone that one has seen. So, when you get an impulse to commit a sin just imagine how great an embarrassment would it be that if my father, or my child, or my teacher, or my students, see me committing this sin. Would I be able to commit this sin right in front of their eyes? For example, we get an impulse to look at what is forbidden. Would we commit that act if at that time we knew that our father, or our teacher, is looking at us. We won\u2019t because we feel embarrassed about what would they think about us. When we are able to stop ourselves from committing these sins because Allah\u2019s creation is watching us, then we if we practice to remind ourselves that Allah Ta\u2019ala, who is the Master of all creations, is watching us every moment, this reflection will Insha’Allah help us refrain from sins.<\/p>\n

THE TASTE OF IMAN (FAITH)<\/span>
\nWhen a person has become addicted to committing certain sins, it is initially very difficult and painful for them to stop committing them, and the task looks near impossible. But the only way to give them up is to stop oneself forcefully and crush these desires and impulses for Allah\u2019s sake. But if someone does suppress these desires and is willing to bear this discomfort to please Allah Ta\u2019ala, then Insha’Allah Allah Ta\u2019ala will grant him such pleasure of Iman (faith) that all the pleasures derived from these sins will pale in front of it. May Allah Ta\u2019ala grant us all this pleasure of Iman. Ameen<\/p>\n

FEAR AND HOPE<\/span>
\nIt is the duty of a Momin (faithful) to have both fear of Allah as well as harbour good hope towards Allah Ta\u2019ala. However, saints have said that it is better if in young age fear is predominant as when a person is young they have more energy, they get more impulses of committing sins too and they also more access to opportunities for committing sins. It is important to have fear then because it will stop a person from engaging in sins. On the other hand, in old age the risk is that a person may start despairing nearing the end of his life. In that age hope is better so that the person does not become despondent for his Maghfirah (forgiveness).<\/p>\n

DO WE NEED TO FEAR ALLAH?<\/span>
\nThese days some people think and say that we don\u2019t need to fear Allah Ta\u2019ala. They say, \u201cAllah Ta\u2019ala is our own. He says again and again in Quran Karim that He is Ghafoor (the One who forgives), He is Rahim (very Merciful). He is our Creator. Why should we fear Him?\u201d With this kind of thinking the logical consequence is that people do not see the need to develop fear of Allah and spend their lives immersed in sins, without any regard for how Allah Ta\u2019ala wants us to lead our lives.<\/p>\n

Without fear, this world can\u2019t function. If a student doesn\u2019t fear failing exams then why would he work hard and keep awake at nights to study? If a person doesn\u2019t fear losing his job, then why would he bother making an effort carrying out all his duties? If a son doesn\u2019t fear his father, a subordinate doesn\u2019t fear his boss, and a common person doesn\u2019t fear laws, then the society will plunge into anarchy and lawlessness in which nobody\u2019s rights would be safe.<\/p>\n

DEVELOP TAQWA<\/span>
\nThis fear is what keeps the whole society running smoothly. The societies in which the fear of law and God goes away descend into anarchy and lawlessness. That is why in the Holy Quran it has been said repeatedly, \u201cDevelop Taqwa (fear of Allah)\u201d, and Taqwa refers to that fear of Allah which stops a person from disobeying Him. If people have no fear of Allah then there is no reason for them to stay away from sins.<\/p>\n

ABSTAINING FROM SINS WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING<\/span>
\nThe fear of law can only stop a person from committing crimes in front of other people. However, when a person develops fear of Allah in their heart, then it stops them from committing sins even if they are alone on their own, and in the dark of the night.<\/p>\n

FEAR OF ALLAH AND FASTING<\/span>
\nWhen people fast in summers sometimes the weather can be so hot that a person feels he will die of thirst. At that time even though their refrigerator may be full of cold water, even a sinful Muslim will not drink water even when alone in their room. No human being can know that he has drank water and no one will ridicule them for breaking their fast, but still they won\u2019t drink water. What power is stopping them from drinking water in privacy at a time of such intense thirst? It is only Allah\u2019s fear that can stop a person at that time.<\/p>\n

DEVELOP TAQWA (FEAR OF ALLAH) IN ALL SITUATIONS<\/span>
\nWhat Shariah demands of us is that just like we stopped ourselves from drinking water despite being extremely thirsty while fasting because of fear of Allah, similarly if we are getting strong desires of committing other sins we should suppress those desires and refrain from committing those sins because of fear of Allah. If we are getting a desire to do Gheebat (backbiting) or telling a lie, then we should remind ourselves that just like we stop ourselves from drinking water while fasting, we should also stop ourselves from doing Gheebat and telling lies because of fear of Allah. When a person develops true Taqwa then it stops that person from disobeying Allah Ta\u2019ala in all situations.<\/p>\n

WHO BELONGS IN PARADISE?<\/span>
\nIn the Holy Quran Allah Ta\u2019ala says<\/p>\n

\u201cwhereas for the one who feared to stand before his Lord, and restrained his self from the (evil) desire, the Paradise will be the abode. (79:40-41)<\/p>\n

CONDITIONS TO ENTER JANNAH<\/span>
\nIn a Hadith the Holy Prophet \ufdfa said that Allah Ta\u2019ala has surrounded Jannah (Paradise) with those acts which people find burdensome to carry out. It means that if a person wants to enter Jannah then they have to do some things they do not find enjoyable.<\/p>\n

ISTIGHFAR FROM IBADAH<\/span>
\nWhen a person progresses in Taqwa (fear of Allah) they don\u2019t just do Istighfar (praying for forgiveness) from their sins, they also do Istighfar from their Ibadah (acts of worship). One might wonder what it means by doing Istighfar from one\u2019s Ibadah. We need to do Istighfar from our Ibadah because our Ibadah are too imperfect when compared to Allah Ta\u2019ala\u2019s greatness. Who knows how many mistakes we make when we are carrying out Ibadah. That is why saints have said that a Momin\u2019s (person with faith) duty is to keep performing Ibadah and keep being afraid of Allah Ta\u2019ala.<\/p>\n

Allah Ta\u2019ala says in the Holy Quran<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTheir sides remain away from their beds at night, and they keep praying to their Creator, but even then their heart is not free of fear…\u201d<\/p>\n

ALLAH\u2019S PIOUS SUBJECTS<\/span>
\nAt another place Allah Ta\u2019ala says that \u2018pious people are those who sleep little at night. Rather they keep doing Ibadah, pray Tahajjud, and when it is time for Sehri (Suhur) they do Istighfar.\u2019<\/p>\n

It is narrated in a Hadith that Hazrat Aisha (may Allah Ta\u2019ala bless her) asked the Holy Prophet \ufdfa, \u201cO Prophet of Allah! Sehr is not a time to do Istighfar. Istighfar is done after a sin. But these people (mentioned in the verse above) kept performing Ibadah (acts of worship) the whole night. They did not commit any sin. Then why did they do Istighfar?\u201d The Holy Prophet \ufdfa said, \u201cThey do Istighfar after performing Ibadah because they feel they couldn\u2019t perform Ibadah of a standard that was required by Allah Ta\u2019ala\u2019s greatness.\u201d<\/p>\n

HOW TO DEVELOP TAQWA?<\/span>
\nThe way of developing fear of Allah is that a person sets aside some time each day, preferably the same time, for reflection, and should imagine in that time that he is lying on the death bed and is dying, his soul is leaving his body, he is being dressed in Kafan (death cloth for Muslims), he is being buried, angels are asking him questions, and then he is being presented before Allah Ta\u2019ala. If a person keeps thinking about it every day then Insha’Allah he will start developing fear of Allah.<\/p>\n

FREQUENTLY REMEMBER DEATH<\/span>
\nThe reason we are neglectful of these matters is because we do not think about death and dying. People die around us every day. Most of us have been to the graveyard to bury one of our loved ones, our family members, our friends. How many times have we seen people who were making huge efforts day and night to earn material wealth, but when their time came they did not even get a moment to say goodbye to all their possessions. We see all this and yet we do not reflect on it that one day it is going to happen to us too. That is why the Holy Prophet \ufdfa has said,<\/p>\n

\u201cFrequently remember that which kills all pleasures, and that is death.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE LIGHTEST PUNISHMENT IN JAHANNAM (HELL)<\/span>
\nIn a Hadith the Holy Prophet \ufdfa said that on the Day of Qiyamah the person who will be given the lightest punishment will get two small fires placed underneath his feet, but they will be so hot that he would feel as if his brain is boiling, and he would feel that he is being given the most severe punishment in Jahannam. If a person reminds himself from time to time of these punishments that will be delivered in Jahannum it will help him develop Taqwa (fear of Allah).<\/p>\n

The purpose of narrating all these Ahadith here is that from time to time we should reflect upon our own death, and whether we would go to Jahannam (Hell) or Jannat (Paradise) after death. This softens up hearts and creates fear of Allah. This fear then makes it easier for us to do good deeds and refrain from sins. May Allah Ta\u2019ala create this fear in all our hearts. Ameen, and make it easier for us to abstain from sins.<\/p>\n

\u0648\u0627\u0653\u062e\u0631 \u062f\u0639\u0648\u0627 \u0627\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u062d\u0645\u062f \ufdf2 \u0631\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0627\u0644\u0645\u064a\u0646<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n