FEAR & FAITH : Part One

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem, I begin with the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, and Most Merciful

FEAR is one of the most primitive instincts for survival. Fear is recognized in the thinking feeling part of the brain called the limbic system. It is then processed by the frontal lobes and if approved the hypothalamus is triggered to produces the hormones of fright, fight and flight.

Having placed the three checks and balances in our brains Allah Subhanawataala teaches us about Fear and how it will affect us, depending on what choices we make.

The word(s) “fear” appears 295 time(s) in 269 verse(s) in the Quran.

Allah Subhanawataala has taught us how to qualify, avoid and overcome FEAR. He has also taught us how to educate our frontal lobes to stop the reaction of the hormonal trigger of FEAR. In the complexity of the words of the Quran and the practices of our beloved Prophet lies the key to control Fear from Ghair Allah. (This is the topic for another day)

Allah Subhanawataala instructs us about our choices regarding fear:

1.    He says in the second ayah of Surah Al Baqarah: 2:2

ذَلِكَ ٱلتَـبُ لَا رَيبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلمُتَّقِينَ
YusufAli’s translation: This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah.
(Mutaqqeen: people of Taqwa)

Thus guidance will only be given to me in the Book of Allah’s words if I fear Allah.
Fear only Him and His words in His book (the Quran) will become guidance for us.

2. Those who reject His words they have to FEAR the FIRE

فَإِن لَّم تَفعَلُواْ وَلَن تَفعَلُواْ فَٱتَّقُواْ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلحِجَارَةُ أُعِدَّت لِلكَـفِرِينَ (٢٤)
YUSUFALI: 2:24 But if ye cannot- and of a surety ye cannot- then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, – which is prepared for those who reject Faith.

Those who reject His Subhanawataala’s words have fear the FIRE of Jahannum

3. 002.038
قُلنَا ٱهبِطُواْ مِنہَا جَمِيعًا فَإِمَّا يَأتِيَنَّكُم مِّنِّى هُدًى فَمَن تَبِعَ هُدَاىَ فَلَا خَوفٌ عَلَيہِم وَلَا هُم يَحزَنُونَ (٣٨)
In Surah Baqarah ayah 38 Allah Subhanawataala says:
002.038 YUSUFALI: We said: “Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you Guidance from me, whosoever follows My guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.

4. Who to fear?
002.040YUSUFALI: O Children of Israel! Call to mind the (special) favor, which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your covenant with Me as I fulfill My Covenant with you, and fear none but Me.

Even though the example given here is of the Children of Israel but it is as applicable to each one of us….the command is succinct that we must Fear NO ONE but Allah Subhanawataala.

In summary Allah Subhanawataala outlines:
1.    That we should fear None but Him (ALLAH).
2.     He warns those who reject His words and commandments that they should fear the FIRE that eats up man and stones
3.    Those who obey Him shall never have fear or grief.

Usually when we read about people who disobey Allah Subhanwataala and the promise of the FIRE for them we have no fear because we never associate or include ourselves in those who disobey Him because we were born Muslims, or have a muslim name and thus we erroneously feel that we are naturally protected no matter what we do.

FEAR comes in many guises. There are small fears and large fears…………………….

To be continued in part two………….