Fearing Allah Unseen

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Dear Brothers and Sisters …                                     السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

يَا أَيُّهَا الّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ –

O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islam.

 

If Iman (faith) and certainty fill one’s heart, then they will be watchful of Allah and fear and venerate Him throughout their lives.   And this will govern all their actions, whether many or few, big or small and major or minor.  And it will take one to the highest level of religion which is the level of Ihsan (excellence) and that it as described in the Hadith of Jibreel:

أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّكَ تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاكَ

To worship Allah as if you see Him, for even though you do not see Him, He sees you. [Bukhārī 4777, Muslim 8e]

And there are numerous verses in the Quran that instil fear, apprehension, and watchfulness of Allah Almighty in the heart of the believer. Because the believer believes in the unseen and knows that Allah is ever watching them.

And whoever fears and is in awe of Allah unseen has realized the complete Iman (faith) and complete consciousness of Allah, and benefits from what Allah has revealed of light and guidance. Allah Almighty said:

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَى وَهَارُونَ الْفُرْقَانَ وَضِيَاءً وَذِكْرًا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ * الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَيْبِ وَهُمْ مِنَ السَّاعَةِ مُشْفِقُونَ-الْأَنْبِيَاءِ  48-49

Al Anbiya (21) 48-49: (48) And We had already given Moses and Aaron the criterion and a light and a reminder for the righteous (49) Who fear their Lord unseen, while they are of the Hour apprehensive.

Hasan Al Basrī, may Allah have mercy on him, said, Iman (faith) is the faith of the one who fears and is in awe of Allah Almighty unseen. And he desires what Allah desires, and leaves what incurs the wrath of Allah. Then Ḥasan al Basri recited surah Fatir 28:

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ-

Fatir (35) 28: Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.  

And those who fear Allah Almighty unseen are conscious of the cautionary verses of the Quran and avoid the places of wrath and torment. Allah Almighty said:

إِنَّمَا تُنْذِرُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ-

Fatir 18: You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer.

  

And they are the ones given glad tidings of the forgiveness of Allah Almighty and His reward. Allah Almighty said:

 إِنَّمَا تُنْذِرُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الذِّكْرَ وَخَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ فَبَشِّرْهُ بِمَغْفِرَةٍ وَأَجْرٍ كَرِيمٍ

Ya-Sin (36) 11: You can only warn one who follows the message and fears the Most Merciful unseen. So, give him good tidings of forgiveness and noble reward.

And their reward is noble and great. Allah Almighty said:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ بِالْغَيْبِ لَهُمْ مَغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ كَبِيرٌ

Al Mulk 12: Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and great reward.

And they are those who regularly turn to Allah and those with hearts returning in repentance, and the Paradise will be brought near for them. Allah Almighty said:

وَأُزْلِفَتِ الْجَنَّةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ * هَذَا مَا تُوعَدُونَ لِكُلِّ أَوَّابٍ حَفِيظٍ * مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُنِيبٍ-

Qaf (50) 31-33: (31) And Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, not far, (32) [It will be said], “This is what you were promised – for every returner [to Allah] and keeper [of His covenant]. (33) Who feared the Most Merciful in the unseen and came with a heart returning [in repentance].

And every one of them will have two gardens, just as the Most Merciful described in Surah Ar-Rahman:

وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ-

 Ar Rahman (55) 46: But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens. 

Until the Almighty said:

هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ-

Ar Rahman (55) 60: Is the reward for good [anything] but good?

And their sign is that they put the pleasure of Allah Almighty over their desires. And they do not transgress His prohibitions while they are alone. Allah Almighty said:

 وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى * فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى-

An Naziat (79) 40-41: (40) But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, (41) Then indeed, Paradise will be [his] refuge.

For their belief in the unseen drives them to be watchful of Allah Almighty and fear Him in private. Otherwise, most people are ashamed of committing sins in front of people. But rather the matter is leaving sins while all one is alone. Wuhaib bin Al Ward said, “be careful to not consider Allah the least significant of those looking at you.”

And reflect on the authentic supplication of the Prophet ﷺ:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ

O Allah, I ask You to grant me fear of You in private and in public. [Sunan an-Nasa’i 1305].

Ibn Rajeb, may Allah Almighty have mercy on him, said, “The fear of Allah Almighty unseen and while seen means that the person fears Allah secretly and publicly and outwardly and inwardly. For most people believe that they fear Allah in public and while seen. But the matter is fearing Allah Almighty unseen away from the people’s eyes. And Allah Almighty has praised those who fear Him unseen”.

And whoever fears Allah unseen has protected themselves from fault, and has distanced themselves from the circumstances of humiliation, and has preserved their value with Allah Almighty and with the people.

Brothers & Sisters: if Allah Almighty is displeased with someone, then the people are also displeased with them. And their value drops from the hearts of the people. And only Allah Almighty owns the hearts. And that is indicated in the Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ عَبْدًا دَعَا جِبْرِيلَ فَقَالَ: إِنِّي أُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحِبَّهُ، قَالَ: فَيُحِبُّهُ جِبْرِيلُ، ثُمَّ يُنَادِي فِي السَّمَاءِ فَيَقُولُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ فُلَانًا فَأَحِبُّوهُ، فَيُحِبُّهُ أَهْلُ السَّمَاءِ، قَالَ: ثُمَّ يُوضَعُ لَهُ الْقَبُولُ فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَإِذَا أَبْغَضَ عَبْدًا دَعَا جِبْرِيلَ فَيَقُولُ: إِنِّي أُبْغِضُ فُلَانًا فَأَبْغِضْهُ، قَالَ: فَيُبْغِضُهُ جِبْرِيلُ، ثُمَّ يُنَادِي فِي أَهْلِ السَّمَاءِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبْغِضُ فُلَانًا فَأَبْغِضُوهُ، قَالَ: فَيُبْغِضُونَهُ، ثُمَّ تُوضَعُ لَهُ الْبَغْضَاءُ فِي الْأَرْضِ-

If Allah loves a servant [of His] He calls Gabriel and says: I love so-and-so, therefore love him. The Prophet ﷺ said: So, Gabriel loves him. Then Gabriel calls out in heaven, saying: Allah loves so-and-so, therefore love him. Then the inhabitants of heaven love him. The Prophet ﷺ said: Then acceptance of him is established on earth. And if Allah hates a servant [of His], He calls Gabriel and says: I hate so-and-so, therefore hate him. So Gabriel hates him. Then Gabriel calls out to the inhabitants of heaven: Allah hates so-and-so, therefore hate him. The Prophet ﷺ said: So they hate him, and then hatred of him is established on earth. [Bukhari 7485, Muslim 2637a]

Abu Ad-Darda, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “a person should be wary that the hearts of the believers hate him without him sensing”. So, Al Fuḍail bin Eyād asked Dawood bin Mehran,” Do you know what this is?” He replied: “no”, Fuḍail replied, “a person disobeys Allah while alone, so Allah places hatred of him in the hearts of the believers without him sensing.”

And in another verse:

أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَنْ تَخْشَوْهُ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ-التَّوْبَةِ  13

At Tawbah (9) 13: Do you fear them? But Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.

And what helps someone in fearing Allah unseen is knowledge that Allah Almighty is witnessing and monitoring their hearts and actions and that Allah is with them wherever they are as the Quran indicated. Allah Almighty said:

يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَلَا يَسْتَخْفُونَ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَهُوَ مَعَهُمْ-النِّسَاءِ 108

An Nisa (4) 108: They conceal [their evil intentions and deeds] from the people, but they cannot conceal [them] from Allah, and He is with them [in His knowledge].

And Allah Almighty said:

وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنْتُمْ وَاللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ-الْحَدِيدِ  4

Al Hadid (57) 4: And He is with you wherever you are. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.

We ask Allah Almighty to grant us fear of Him unseen. And we seek refuge from Him, Glory be to Him, from that which mandates His wrath and punishment. Indeed, Allah is All Hearing, Answering.

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon our Prophet as your Lord commanded:

Allahumma Sallai Al’a Muahmmad’n wa’aila Muhammad

أَقُولُ مَا تَسْمَعُونَ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ  لِي وَلَكُمْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ  إِنَّهُ هُوَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

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Imam Syed Mahboob Rasool