Re: why do we fear God?
you need to redefine FEAR for Almighty. then you will appreciate that fear can be indeed out of devotion to the One who created you and the universe, indeed with a purpose in mind which is so precisely related to both the universe and yourself. to manage such a huge scheme, the Maker does have the right to ask for following and being fearful of.
hope it makes sense.
Re: why do we fear God?
Peace All
The very first post of jaanaan is incorrect in that it assumes that fear of God is through not clearly knowing Him.
However, the proof is in the pudding. The Godless people know least about God and Muttaqun (God-Fearing) are those who are conscious of Him. Those are the people who devoted a life time pondering over the sacred knowledge to know God not the ones who think they are not accountable to anyone.
A muttaqi will be one who understands that none is deserved of fear except Allah (SWT). By placing fear in Him it will strengthen you in all other matters. Thus the fear of Allah (SWT) makes a person fearless to all else.
For the normal situations confusion does indeed cause fear but for only those things that are apparent to us. God is Unseen and therefore it requires a different sort of insight to comprehend. The more convinced and clearer we see our Lord in our minds eye, the more we realise that He is All-Powerful and totally deserved of fear. Obedience and slavehood should result in this fear. At the same time we can develop an intense love for our Creator for the bounties given to us, this should develop devotion.
Re: why do we fear God?
absolutely true. believing in an unseen God is indeed even more so fruitful, for the believing spirit.
& if i may add, regard for Almight naturally is felt when you do deeds that can open your eyes to the good that God gifted you with, the good of good seeret.
Peace All
The very first post of jaanaan is incorrect in that it assumes that fear of God is through not clearly knowing Him.
However, the proof is in the pudding. The Godless people know least about God and Muttaqun (God-Fearing) are those who are conscious of Him. Those are the people who devoted a life time pondering over the sacred knowledge to know God not the ones who think they are not accountable to anyone.
A muttaqi will be one who understands that none is deserved of fear except Allah (SWT). By placing fear in Him it will strengthen you in all other matters. Thus the fear of Allah (SWT) makes a person fearless to all else.
For the normal situations confusion does indeed cause fear but for only those things that are apparent to us. God is Unseen and therefore it requires a different sort of insight to comprehend. The more convinced and clearer we see our Lord in our minds eye, the more we realise that He is All-Powerful and totally deserved of fear. Obedience and slavehood should result in this fear. At the same time we can develop an intense love for our Creator for the bounties given to us, this should develop devotion.
Re: why do we fear God?
Why shall I be afraid of God, only because some books have asked me to do so?
Re: why do we fear God?
.
Re: why do we fear God?
Machiavelli is a douce! Who cares what he says?
In my mind there are different types of fears. There is an animalistic fear, such as our fear of wild animals and such, and then there is a deeper fear which is deeply interwoven with love, like the fear a child has of disappointing his parents due to the love he has for them.
This is the type of fear I hope to get into my life... sadly it's not there yet... but hopefully soon :)
Impressive! 'Animalistic'!!!
Re: why do we fear God?
Fear has many descriptions.....a fear from a sadist human and of a God is not the same thing...like say your Mother love you but she also fear for you because of that love....there are many other love relationship description which also caused love with fear....but the problem is that love is true, that love is pure....so is the fear of a pure God.....which stop a human from being inhumane in his daily affairs which ultimately led him to an easy and calm life....
Re: why do we fear God?
I simply fear Allah swt beacuse he has awarded me with so many nimats and countless bounties that I can just not be thankful to my Lord Allah swt.
I fear him because I am sinful, my state of imaan is not such that I can thank him day in and out for his blessings that he has showered upon me and does so each moment...
I fear him because I am weak, I am ungrateful to Allah swt, and I make dua that Allah swt gives me enough strength so I can worship him so much as the opportunity is there before the angel of death appears before my eyes , and I pray for forgiveness, pray for his mercy.....
Re: why do we fear God?
Good question but before that, we should ask another question:
DO we fear God?
Hell no.
Re: why do we fear God?
Hell no we don't fear Him even though we should or Hell no He is not worthy of worship (Astaghfirullah)?
Re: why do we fear God?
Hell no, because He doesn't exist.
and
Hell no, even if He did exist, I wouldn't abase myself that low. I don't have the same lack of self-esteem as accacore up there.
Re: why do we fear God?
I believe we always have a ‘fear’ of something, often caused by other emotions. Anxiety is one example: when someone is scared of consequences of an action or an event, that feeling may develop fear in them in response.
This world, as explained in the Quran, is a testing ground for humans. Quran explains this:
“We created Man from a mingled drop in order to test him, so We made him hearing, seeing. We have shown him the way, whether he be thankful or unthankful.” (Quran 76:2-3)
There is going to be an end to this world and we will be judged according to our actions. Based on our actions, our fate will be decided in the Hereafter. That is the purpose of our creation. (See one of my articles on Our Creation and Test of Life in Islam)
If we see in this context, ‘fear’ can be caused by two factors:
Earning unhappiness of God: After all, how can one let themselves anger the being who created them, gave them life and bestowed His blessings on them ? There is no justification to not try one’s best to thank Him, while trying their best to not ever make Him unhappy through their actions.
Consequences in the Hereafter: The Almighty, being just, will judge and reward everyone based on their actions in this world. After all, He has claimed, and He cannot, hold the wrongful the same as the righteous. As a result, Quran changes our emphasis from this world to the Hereafter. Our actions do not change and we still involve in our worldly affairs, but the spirit and the thinking behind those changes and every effort is gone into making God happy, and being successful in the Hereafter. For He is going to reward or punish then.
The ‘fear’ of God is a natural result of realization of the scheme in which we are. Instead of fearing the consequences of one worldly action or another, we ought to fear the consequences based on recompense from God. A small example: Instead of a student fearing the failing in examination and thus indulging in cheating, they ought to understand that they are being watched, and that their action shall be brought into life and recompensed appropriately by the Almighty. So the right approach is to be honest in order to earn God’s happiness in this world, and His reward in the Hereafter, and do the right thing.
This is the spirit of ‘fear’ of God, and it is based on rational arguments as also expressed in the Quran.
Re: why do we fear God?
Its not just fear alone. Its fear of punishment and hope for reward, and both should be equally balanced.
Its the fear of His Anger that should prevent us from sinning, and Hope for His Reward that keeps us optimistic and going. These two feelings are like two wings, which keeps a body stable in mid air.
Re: why do we fear God?
On the contrary to some posts here, those who know God best do not fear Him. We don't need fear as motivator to follow His wishes. We do it because it is the right thing to do, not out of fear of retribution or for the reward of paradise. That is contrived and petty. Anytime someone does something out of fear, they aren't doing for the right reasons. Fear is an emotion used to control animals, children and the uneducated. The more convinced and clearer we see God in our minds eye, the more we realize that He is All-Powerful and totally deserved of love, not fear.
Re: why do we fear God?
Hell no, because He doesn't exist.
and
Hell no, even if He did exist, I wouldn't abase myself that low. I don't have the same lack of self-esteem as accacore up there.
Peace worshipyourself
Hence the name you have chosen for yourself. I can't agree with it. I don't refrain from calling you it out of jest. I just don't think any human deserves worship and you are ready to be worshipped .... You qualify by doing what you expect others to do ... you worship yourself ... and that is what you have done with regards to your ...'He doesn't exist' remark.
We have it in us to worship ... if God didn't exist according to our beliefs then we would place that capacity to worship in other things ... some people money, women, fame or whatever they want ... i.e. themselves. I can worship so I do therefore it must have purpose and that purpose must befit the act. I don't deserve worship so it must be for God ...
Why do we fear God? ... well we don't if we don't believe in God, but when we realise that we ought to fear God then we learn about God and the more we find out the more awe we get and the ultimate form of awe is fear. It is not the fear that one gets from a tyrrant.
Re: why do we fear God?
Well miracles have happend with me as a result of my prayers, and no it wasnt the DAMN tooth fairy!..from such miracles we see that god exists and hence we should fear him!...
Behind every creation there is a creator, example there is someone behind who made let's say 'Microsoft' i.e Bill Gates (correct me if i'm wrong), so therefore the one who made us and this world is Allah!..
Those who don't believe it, well dont say i didnt warn ya!
Re: why do we fear God?
^ I agree, the most the tooth fairy can do is leave you a buck and even God is ultimately responsible for that buck.
But let me ask, were your prayers based on fear or on love, respect, praise devotion and worship?
Re: why do we fear God?
^ Bit complicated to explain so i won't bother since the 'no fear' crew will not believe me or look into it, or watever! :p
Re: why do we fear God?
^ I agree, the most the tooth fairy can do is leave you a buck and even God is ultimately responsible for that buck.
But let me ask, were your prayers based on fear or on love, respect, praise devotion and worship?
All in one:)