Shaykh Ilyas al-Qadiri writes: “Fearing Allah Almighty means remaining fearful of His hidden plan, His independence, His displeasure, His punishment, the torments He sends, His wrath, and the destruction of one’s faith as a result.”

In the noble Quran, Allah Almighty has repeatedly commanded the believers to adopt this quality.

For example, he says in the Quran, in the 131^st verse of Surah al-Nisāˈ:

وَ لَقَدْ وَصَّیْنَا الَّذِیْنَ اُوْتُوا الْكِتٰبَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَ اِیَّاكُمْ اَنِ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَؕ-

Indeed, we emphasized to those who were granted the Book before you, and to you, to fear Allah.^[1]

Then, in the 70^th verse of Surah al-Aḥzāb:

یٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ قُوْلُوْا قَوْلًا سَدِیْدًاۙ(۷۰)

O you who believe! Fear Allah and speak the true word.^[2]

Similarly, in Surah Āl ꜤImrān, verse 175:

  وَ  خَافُوْنِ  اِنْ  كُنْتُمْ  مُّؤْمِنِیْنَ(۱۷۵) 

and fear Me, if you are people of faith.^[3]

What should we truly cry over?

Dear Islamic brothers! It has become clear that fear of Allah is among the requirements of faith. Truly, being restless due to concern for bettering one’s Hereafter, weeping out of fear of Hell, and remaining overwhelmed by fear of Allah; these are profound blessings.