In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Allaah [The Most High] said:

[إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ – It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah].

Ibn Abbaas [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] said, “That is because they [i.e. the true scholars] know with certainty that Allaah alone is able to do all things”. [Ref 1]

Khash’yah (Awe) does not occur, except through Knowledge due to the saying of Allaah.

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ

It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. [35:28]

As for the Khawf (fear), a human may be afraid of something scary, but he does not know the true reality of that thing. Therefore, Khash’yah is established due to the Greatness of the one who is feared, and khawf may come about due to the weakness of the one who fears. [Ref 2]

[Ref 1: Quoted by Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq al-Badr (may Allaah preserve him) in Al-Madkhal li-diraasat al-aqeedah al-islaamiyyah: lesson 1]

[Ref 2: Fawaa’id Wa Musaabaqaat Min Fataawaa Wa Duroos Ibn Uthaymeen – P.245]