Those who give that which they give with their hearts full of fear
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Most High] says:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ رَبِّہِم مُّشۡفِقُونَ
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّہِمۡ يُؤۡمِنُونَ
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِرَبِّہِمۡ لَا يُشۡرِكُونَ
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡتُونَ مَآ ءَاتَواْ وَّقُلُوبُہُمۡ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّہُمۡ إِلَىٰ رَبِّہِمۡ رَٲجِعُونَ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُسَـٰرِعُونَ فِى ٱلۡخَيۡرَٲتِ وَهُمۡ لَهَا سَـٰبِقُونَ
وَلَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفۡسًا إِلَّا وُسۡعَهَاۖ وَلَدَيۡنَا كِتَـٰبٌ۬ يَنطِقُ بِٱلۡحَقِّۚ وَهُمۡ لَا يُظۡلَمُونَ
Verily! Those who live in awe for fear of their Lord; and those who believe in the Ayat (proofs, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord; And those who join not anyone (in worship) as partners with their Lord; and those who give that (their charity) which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning). It is these who race for the good deeds, and they are foremost in them [e.g. offering the compulsory Salat (prayers) in their (early) stated, fixed times and so on]. And We tax not any person except according to his capacity, and with Us is a Record which speaks the truth, and they will not be wronged. [Surah Al-Muminoon Ayaat 57-62]
Aa’isha [may Allah be pleased with her] said: I ask the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] about this Ayah: [وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوْا وَقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ – And those who give that which they give (and also do other good deeds) with their hearts full of fear]; are they those who drink alcohol and commit theft? He said, “O daughter of Siddeeq! Rather they are those who observe fasting, perform prayer, and give charity, whilst fearing that their deeds will not be accepted from them”. [Reported by Imam Tirmidee Number: 3175]
Their hearts are filled with fear because of the reverence they hold for their Lord. They are concerned that the justice of their Lord will be enforced upon them, leaving them with no righteous deeds. They worry about having a (false) good opinion about themselves that they have fulfilled their Lord’s rights and fear their Iman will cease. This is all because they know their Lord and the exaltation He deserves. This fear of theirs necessitates that they avoid actions that lead to the evil consequences of sins and falling short regarding that which one has been commanded. They fulfill what they have been commanded, such as the prayer, zakat, and hajj, while fearing for themselves when their deeds will be presented before their Lord (on the Day of Judgment), fearing that their deeds may not be enough to save them from Allah’s punishment because of the knowledge they have regarding their Lord and what He truly deserves of obedience through different forms of worship. [1]
Imam Ibraaheem At-Taymi [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “I do not compare my speech with my deeds except fearing that my (speech) belies (my deeds)”. Ibn Abee Mulayka [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “I met thirty companions of the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] and each of them feared hypocrisy for himself and none of them said that he was as strong in belief as the angel Jibreel or Meekaa’eel”. Al-Hasan Al-Basri [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “It is only true believers who fear hypocrisy and only a hypocrite considers himself safe” . [2]
Kab Al-Ahbaar [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “Beware of self-amazement because infeed it is slaughter and destruction (of the heart)”. [3]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated about the state of one who is afflicted with self-amazement: “He lacks knowledge about the true nature of his soul, its attributes, its pitfalls, and the flaws in his actions; he is ignorant about his Lord, the rights of his Lord, and the proper conduct in His presence. This leads to self-amazement, arrogance, and grave consequences that surpass the obvious major sins like adultery, drinking alcohol, deserting the battlefield, and the like”. [a] [4]
Al-Allamah Ibn Hazm [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “Should anyone find themselves put to trial through self-amazement, let him contemplate his faults. If he is amazed by his virtues, let him carefully examine his despicable manners. If his faults are absolutely concealed from him, he must understand that his calamity will be everlasting, making them the most flawed among individuals, possessing the greatest faults, and the weakest in discernment. First, he is feeble-minded and ignorant and there is not a defect more severe than these two since a wise individual recognises his faults, and strives to overcome and restrain them. On the other hand, an idiot remains oblivious to the flaws within their soul. Thus, those whose faults are hidden from them are in a detrimental state, exposed to a state of ridicule, lowliness, evil, and shame, weak in discernment and common sense, and an absence of understanding. Consequently, no form of evil will be isolated from them, and they will stoop to the lowest levels of depravity. [5]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: “Glorified be Allah and free is He from all imperfections! How many hearts are turned upside down without the person even realising it?! How many individuals are tested by the praise received from others, fooled by Allah’s veiling of their flaws, and slowly guided towards ruin by the blessings bestowed upon them, all while they remain oblivious? All of these are forms of punishment and disgrace, yet the ignorant person perceives them as signs of nobility”. [6]
[a]: Salafi Shaikh Fawzan on Jihad in our times and the guidelines of Jihad according to Islam: https://abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/
[1] An Excerpt from “Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan Fee Tafseer Kalaam Al-Mannaan”.
[2] Saheeh Al-Bukhaari Vol 1. Chapter 36. What is said regarding) the fear of a believer that his good deeds may be annulled without his knowledge
[3] Hilyah al-Awliyaa 5/376
[4] Madaarij As-Saalikeen 1/192
[5] Al-Akhlaaq Was-Siyar. page 29
[6] Al-Jawaab Al-Kaafee. 277