يٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّّهَ حَقَّ تُقٰتِهٖ وَ لَا تَمُوۡتُنَّ اِلَّا وَ اَنْتُمْ مُّسلِمُوْنَ
‘O believers! Fear Allah aright and die not as a surrenderer (Muslim).’ (Surah Al-Imran: Verse 102)
The command to fear Allah Ta’ala was for everyone before and after. Allah Ta’ala has clearly declared this matter in the Holy Qur’an as follows:
وَ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ وَ لَقَدۡ وَصَّیۡنَا الَّذِیۡنَ اُوۡتُوا الۡکِتٰبَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِکُمۡ وَ اِیَّاکُمۡ اَنِ اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ ؕ وَ اِنۡ تَکۡفُرُوۡا فَاِنَّ لِلّٰهِ مَا فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ وَ کَانَ اللّٰهُ غَنِیًّا حَمِیۡدًا
‘All that is in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah; We commanded those who were given the Book before you and you too, that you fear Allah. And even if you disbelieve, whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth belongs to Allah, and Allah is Gracious, Gracious.’ (Surah Nisa: verse 131)
‘Allah Ta’ala’s will and command is to adopt taqwa; Obeying His commandments and abstaining from His forbidden things.
In another verse, the Lord declares:
يٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللّٰهَ وَ لَنظُرْر نَْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَّْٰ لِغَدٍ ۚ وَ اتَّقُوا اللّّهَ ؕ اِنَّ اللهَ خَبِيۡرٌۢ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوۡنَ
‘O believers! Fear Allah. And it is important for everyone to think about what he has sent in advance for tomorrow (Qiyamah). Fear Allah. Surely Allah is Aware of what you do.’ (Surah Hashar: verse 18)
According to the guidance of the Holy Qur’an, the beloved Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) told his Ummah to adopt taqwa in the hadith.
It has been mentioned in the hadith-
1. One day Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam led the Sahabah prayer. After the prayer, he sat facing them and gave a very touching speech. Hearing that speech, the eyes of the Sahabad became tearful and their hearts began to tremble. Then the companions appealed, ‘O Rasulullah! It seems like it’s your farewell speech! So you bequeath us something! Then the Messenger of God, may God bless him and grant him peace, said:
أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللهِ وَالسَّمْعِ وَالطَّعَةِ
‘I command you (admonish) that you fear Allah and obey your (leaders) and listen to them.’ (Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Abu Dawud)
This act of piety is not only a bequest from the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, but it is also an important bequest from Allah Ta’ala for mankind. An important legacy for all people before and after. No bequest can be greater than that for mankind.
Prophets and Messengers of all eras also bequeathed piety to their respective Ummahs. Even the Messenger of Allah, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, used to pray for piety first when someone asked him for a blessing. It has been mentioned in the hadith-
2. A man came to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and asked him for a blessing. He said, ‘Your duty is to fear Allah. And you rise to every high place or prominent place to proclaim Takbeer or the greatness of Allah.’ (Tirmidhi, Musnad Ahmad)
Moreover, whenever the beloved Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, would send an army somewhere; He used to enjoin piety on all of them.’ (Muslim, Abu Dawud)
So the believing Muslim should seek more and more fear from Allah. Through which the fear of God will arise in their hearts. There is a prayer about this in the hadith-
3. Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Masood Radiyallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam used to say:
اَللَّهُمَّ اِنِّى أَسْألُكَ الْهُدَى وَالتُّقَى وَالْعَفَافَ وَالْغِنَى
Pronunciation:‘ Allahumma inni asalukal Huda; Wat Tukba; Wall Afafa; Wall Gina.’
Meaning: O Allah, I seek guidance from You and I seek Your fear and abstinence from You and I seek from You health and moral purity and I seek wealth and power from You. (Muslim, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah and Musnad Ahmad)
May Allah Ta’ala grant tawfiq to all the Muslim Ummah to adopt taqwa. Grant the Tawfiq of becoming a true Muslim by fearing Allah more and more. Amen.
-Sr
