Chapter II: Patience and Gratefulness
MODE OF THE QURAN AND HADIS: There are innumerable verses of the Quran and Hadis about the merits of fear. Fear has been united in four things for a God-fearing man-guidance, grace, knowledge and pleasure. These are the attributes of the dwellers of heaven and God grants them at the same time. Here are the verses. God says : For those who fear their Lord is guidance and favour-7 : 154Q. God says : The learned out of His servants fear God most-35 : 28Q. This is because of their knowledge. God says : God is pleased with them and they are also pleased with God - 98 : 8 Q- These speak of knowledge which leads to fear. Moses said : Those who fear God have got the Highest as their companion and they do not set up any partner with Him. This is because they are learned men who will get the rank of the companions of the Prophets, as they are their heirs.
ROOT OF FEAR:. The root of fear is knowledge and its fruit is fear of unlawful things and fear of doubtful things. God gave speciality to fear by keeping His relation with it. He says : God will not accept its flesh and blood, but He will accept from you
126 FEAR AND HOPE Vol-IV
Taqvva or God-fear-37 : 22 Q. Taqwa means to give up unlawful things owing to fear. For this reason, God says : The most honorable of you is one who is most God fearing-49 : 13. He therefore gave order to fear Him to the predecessors and successors. God says : I ordered those before you who were given the book and you to fear God. God says : Fear Me if you are believers. He made fear compulsory on the believers. For this reason, a believer is not free from fear. If he is weak in faith, his fear also becomes weak.
The Prophet said with regard to God-fear : God said : O men.
I gave you dynastic honour and you also gave superiority to dynastic honour. Now take your dynastic honour and establish Mine, I said : He who is most God fearing amongst you is the most honorable of you. You did not admit it, you gave superiority to one who is rich. He will then address the God fearing men: O God fearing men, where are you? A standard will be raised for this and they will follow it and reach their destination and enter paradise without account.