From: Mohammad Usman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Steering a Course between Hope & Fear
To: "Mohammad Usman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Wednesday, 17 September, 2008, 6:28 AM
Steering a Course between Hope and Fear
Sheikh `Abd al-Rahman b. `Abd Allah al-`Iyâdah|
The best fear that a person can experience is to fear the consequences of one's deeds for the Hereafter. This is the fear that softens the heart, channels the spirit, and helps a person govern his impulses.
`Umar b. al-Khattâb – whose piety and faith we all attest to – feared falling into hypocrisy. This is why he went to Hudhayfah, the person whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) disclosed the identity of Madinah's hypocrites, and asked him if he were one of them.
Hudhayfah said to `Umar: "No, you are not one of them. And I will never again attest to anyone' status."
Scholars have said that after considering `Umar's feelings, none of us should feel secure that we are free from hypocrisy. Who else can possibly feel more secure than the Companion who held the title al-Farûq – the one who can judge between right and wrong?
This fear is certainly something good. However, it should not get to the point that it overwhelms us. It should not make us crumble in despair. Despair is a very bad feeling. It makes us abandon our good deeds. When we succumb to despair – when we lose hope – we simply give up trying. When we give up trying, this is when we fall to perdition.
This is why it is so important for us to navigate a course between hope and fear.
Whenever we feel fear overwhelming our religious sensibilities, we need to cultivate the certitude in our hearts that Allah, our Lord, is most merciful. His mercy encompasses everything. His mercy is always closer than His wrath. He forgives our sins, no matter how numerous those sins may be. All we have to do is turn to Him in sincere repentance.
If we feel that our feelings of hope are getting the better of our good judgment and making us feel complacent, then we need to cultivate our fear. When we start feeling that our deeds are so very good, we should remind ourselves that Allah may not accept our deeds from us. We should remind ourselves that He could call us to account when we are being heedless and that he is indeed severe in punishment.
If we get smug and start feeling as if we are doing Allah a favor by our good deeds, this is a great way for us to have those deeds thrown back at us.
We should remind ourselves about those desert dwellers who embraced Islam during the Prophet's time and acted as if they had done Allah and His religion a great favor.
Allah revealed the following verse of the Qur'ân about them:
"They impress on you (O Muhammad) as a favor that they have embraced Islam. Say, 'Count not your Islam as a favor upon me: Nay, Allah has conferred a favor upon you that He has guided you to the faith, if you be true and sincere'." [Sûrah al-Hujurât: 17]
We can make our navigation of this course between hope and fear much easier by remembering Allah often, and by being constant in supplication, charity and voluntary worship. We are strengthened by this and by carrying out all of our religious obligations properly.
We should remember to seek refuge with Allah from ever falling into polytheism knowingly – and ask Him to forgive us for what we might fall into unawares.
We should never confuse our fear of Allah with misgivings. We should not pay misgivings any mind, for they are but the whisperings of Satan.
Satan tries his luck with us. He suggests some misgivings to our heart, then waits to see how we respond. If we take the bait, he tries to get us preoccupied with doubts, until we get to a point where we are drowning in a sea of uncertainty.
Allah says: "And if a whisper from the devil reaches you (O Muhammad), then seek refuge with Allah, for He is the Hearer, the Knower." [Sûrah Fussilat.: 36]
The Companions complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) about this problem. One of them would inform the Prophet (peace be upon him) that such a bad thought came to his mind that he would rather fall from the sky or be blown off a precipice then ever think such a thought.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) just said to him: "That is real faith." [Sahîh Muslim (132)]
When we understand this, we will never let misgivings trouble us. We will simply seek refuge with Allah from Satan and go about our business, ignoring whatever those misgivings would have us do.
____________ _________ _________ ____
"Indeed, there is a station higher than [both sabr and] ridâ, and that is to show shukr (gratitude) to Allâh for the affliction, since this is the cause of receiving excellence and bounties."
- Shaykhul-Islâ m Ibn Taymiyyah
"Call your souls to account before you are called to account and weigh your deeds before you are weighed; for it will make the accountability easier for you tomorrow if you call your selves to account today"
Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab RadiAllahu'anhu
With Kind Regards
Mohammad Usman
Jeddah-SAUDI ARABIA
* "O Prophet (pbuh) preach to them (the Truth), for preaching proves beneficial for the Believers" <Adh-Dhariyat: 55>
** "O Messenger {Muhammad (pbuh)}! Proclaim (the Message) which has been sent down to you from your Lord." <Al-Maidah: 67>
*** Accept the True faith, do righteous deeds, recommend the Truth and patience to one another. <As recommended in Al-Asr: 03>
