FLEEING FROM THE FIRE
Allah, Most High, says,
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth,[saying],‘Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire—You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers.’ ” (Al-Imran(3): 190-192)
Allah, Most High, says,
“Say,‘Shall I inform you of [something] better than that? For those who fear Allah will be gardens in the presence of their Lord beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and purified spouses and approval from Allah. And Allah is Seeing [aware] of [His] servants. Those who say, ‘Our Lord, indeed we have believed,so forgive us our sins and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.’” (Al-Imran(3):15-16)
Allah, Most High,says,
“And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace.And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]. And those who say, ‘Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering.Indeed,it is evil as a settlement and residence.’” (Al-Furqan (25): 63-66)
Allah, Most High, says,
“And they hope for His mercy and fear His punishment. Indeed, the punishment of your Lord is ever feared.“ (Al-Isra’ (17): 57)
Allah, Most High, says,
“And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord.” ( Al-Ma’arij (70): 27)
Allah, Most High, says,
“That is for he who fears My position and fears My threat. “ (Ibrahim (14): 14)
Allah, Most High, says,
“And they will approach one another, inquiring of each other. They will say, ‘Indeed, we were previously among our people fearful [of displeasing Allah]. So Allah conferred favour upon us and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire. “ (Al-Tur(52): 25-27)
Ibrahim al-Taymi Said: ‘One who is not saddened by the fear of Hellfire deserves Hell for the dwellers of Paradise (ahlu’l-jannah) will say:
“And they will say, ‘Praise to Allah, who has removed from us [all] sorrow. Indeed, our Lord is Forgiving and Appreciative. ‘“ (Fatir (35): 34)
One who does not feel apprehensive towards it does not deserve Paradise for the dwellers therein will say:
“They Will Say,‘Indeed, we were previously among our families fearful [of displeasing Allah]. “ (Al-Tur(52): 26)
The Prophet(pbuh) used to seek refuge from the Hellfire often and commanded us to do so in the prayers and at other times.The narrations regarding this are numerous.
Bukhari (Bukhari, #4522 and Muslim, #2690) reported on the authority of Anas (radiyAllahu ‘anhu) who said that the supplication most often read by the Prophet (pbuh) was:
“Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. “ (Al-Baqarah (2): 201)
In the collection of Al-Nasa’i, it was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu `anhu) that he heard the Prophet (pbuh) say:
“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the heat of Hellfire (Jahannam). “ (Nasa’i, 8/278-279)
Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah report in their Sunan on the authority of Jabir (radiyAllahu `anhu) who narrated that the Prophet(pbuh) asked a man: “What supplication do you recite in the prayer?” He replied: ‘I say the tashahhud and then say:
“O Allah, verily I ask You for Paradise (al-Jannah) and seek refuge in You from the Hellfire (al-Nar)”
Indeed I do not utter [abundantly] other than this while you and Mu( adh no doubt utter what is better.’ The Prophet (pbuh) then said: “We utter this abundantly too. “ (Abu Dawud, #792 and Ibn Majah, #910)
In a narration recorded by Abu Nu( aym, it was reported that ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (radiyAllahu `anhu) said: ‘If a caller from the heavens announced,‘O mankind, all of you will enter Paradise except for one of you, I will be afraid that it would be me.”
Imam Ahmad reported that ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (radiyAllahu `anhu) was heard saying,‘If I were to be between Paradise and Hell and I do not know to which of these two I will be sent to, I would wish that I were dust before knowing my fate.’
No one is guaranteed safety (salama) from the torment of the Hellfire [except the Prophets of Allah (`alayhis-salaam)] .In fact He has created beings who commit only sin. Allah said:
“That is from what your Lord has revealed to you, [O Muhammad], of wisdom. And, [O mankind], do not make [as equal] with Allah another deity, lest you be thrown into Hell, blamed and banished. “ (Al-Isra’ (17): 39)
Allah, Most High, says,
“And whoever of them should say,‘Indeed, I am a god besides Him’—that one We would recompense with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers. “ (Al-Anbiya’ (21): 29)
In a hadith narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (radiyAllahu `anhu), mankind will go to Prophet Adam ( `alayhi as-salam) on the Day of Judgment asking him for intercession (shafaa) but he will refuse saying, “My Lord is angry today like he has never been angry before, and will never be angry like this again. He ordered me with a command and I disobeyed Him and I fear that He will throw me into the Hellfire so go to other than me [for today it’s about] Myself! Myself!” It was narrated that they will go to Prophets Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and `Isa (alayhuma as-salam) and each one of them will reply, “I fear for myself that Allah will throw me into the Hellfire.” (Bukhari, #3340 and Muslim, #194) The Prophets, the trustworthy, the martyrs and the pious will all be afraid of the Hellfire they used to warn the people about it.
Wahab Ibn Munabih said that a wise individuals once said:‘1am shy from Allah, the Most High, that I worship Him expecting the rewards of Paradise thus becoming like a wretched labourer who works only if his wages are paid, and stops working if he does not receive anything. I am also shy from my Lord that I worship Him fearing Hellfire, thus becoming like a wretched worshipper if frightened doing good deeds and if not, refrains. Verily, Allah may remove from me the love for Him.’
It is therefore essential that a true believer in Allah should worship with fear (kawf), hope (raja ) and love (mahabbah) altogether—and whosoever is lacking in one has diminished the prerequisites of faith (iman). We should understand that the love of Allah should outweigh our fear of Hellfire and the hope of attaining Paradise.
Yahya Ibn Muadh said: ‘Limit yourself to fear that refrains you from sinning whereas never let anything desist you from the love of Allah.’
Most Scholars agree that fear of Hellfire and the hope of attaining Paradise should be equal where one does not better the other.
The learned people make mention of two factors. Firsdy, that it is incumbent upon the servant of Allah to be obedient to Him, love Him and yearn for His closeness,while not being fully focused on whether Allah shall reward or punish based on his deeds.
Just as one would say, `Prophethood was not granted because of our love for it, nor did the fuel of Hellfire light up spontaneously.’
Section One:
Shyness of the Servants for the Bestower
It is upon the servant of Allah to show gratitude (shukr) for the favours (ni’ma) granted to him. Being shy (haya) is an element of that gratitude. The Prophet(pbuh) stood in prayer until his legs were swollen.It was said: “Do you do this to yourself while Allah has forgiven all your past and future sins?” He replied: “Should I not be a grateful servant?” (Bukhari, #4837 and Muslim, #2820.) This was due to his shyness for the favours bestowed upon him by Allah.
Secondly, one should fear Allah based solely on his pure attributes and the purest of fear is the fear one has of being ostracised and shunned by Allah, the Most High. He said of those He shall throw into Hellfire:
“No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be partitioned.Then indeed, they will [enter and] burn in Hellfire.” (Al-Mutaffifin (83): 15-16)
Dhu’l-Nun al-Masri said: Tearing the fire (kawf al-nar) while at death’s door is like a drop of water from a bottomless ocean, reflecting how minute and insignificant it is.The dwellers of Paradise will be enjoying themselves in the pleasure (rida) therein but will forget and loath all of it once invited by Allah to see Him and speak with Him. Such is that moment that it cannot be compared to anything else. When Allah removes Himself from them, they will not be satisfied with the other bounties in Paradise (naim al jannah) and when Hell is mentioned, they are unperturbed. When they return to their dwellings, they are given more of the bounties of Paradise yet their hearts’ long for the day they will meet their Lord again.’
Those who fear the Hellfire are indeed engaging in the fear of Allah. The learned men know that Hell is a manifestation (dalil) of Allah’s Might (`azma) and Ability (quwa). That it is the product of Allah’s retribution (intiqam) against the evil-doers, His curse and His authority to punish with a severe punishment. One’s work reflects his capability and Allah is able to do all things.
What is the base level when it comes to fearing Allah? It should prevent him from committing sin and it should bolster his desire to do the least requirements ordained by Allah; so much so that he loves to do extra good deeds that will delight his Lord, and he keeps his distance from all forms of undesirable acts (makruhat). If any calamity were to afflict him that prevents him from undertaking these good deeds, he will drown in sorrow. The predecessors used to worry over `Ata’ al-Salami who used to be bed-ridden due to his fear that he might engage in acts that could make him forget the verses of the Qur’an he memorised. This is not due to fear of retribution per se; it is however, the whip that spurs the negligence of pious deeds.
Sufyan Ibn ‘Uyaynah said that Allah created Hell out of His mercy (rahma) so that mankind will refrain from sin. (Abu Na`im, al-Hilyah, 7/285.)
There were those who used to cry their hearts’ out due to their fear of Hell to the extent that they would fall unconscious.
It was narrated by Abdul-Aziz Ibn Abi Rawad that he said: ‘When the following verse was revealed to the Prophet(pbuh):
By Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbali
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