[2] Fear of Allah and its tremendous outcomes
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah, The Exalted, said:
يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدۡ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡكُمۡ لِبَاسً۬ا يُوَٲرِى سَوۡءَٲتِكُمۡ وَرِيشً۬اۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ ذَٲلِكَ خَيۡرٌ۬ۚ ذَٲلِكَ مِنۡ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
O Children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc.) and as an adornment, and the Libas at Taqwa (raiment of piety), that is better. Such are among the Ayat (proofs, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, that they may remember (i.e. leave falsehood and follow truth ). [Al-A’raf. 26]
Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:
Allah informed us that the Libas at-Taqwah (the raiment of piety) is far superior to wealth, leadership, and outward beautification. Allah created His slaves and beautified their outward appearance in the best form, and He beautified their hearts and souls by guiding them to the right path. So, Allah granted mankind two types of beautifications: beautification of the body by way of clothing and beautification of the heart by way of piety- outward beautification and inner beautification, outward perfection and inner perfection”. (1)
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي
O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well.
Al-Allamah Salih Al-Fawzan, may Allah preserve him, said:
The first image is called Al-Khalq and the second is called Al-Khuluq with the vowel Dammah on the letter khaa and laam. The human being is made up of these two images. There are people whose visible image and manners are beautiful, such as Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and those Muslims whom Allah has blessed with it. There are those whose visible image is evil and their manners are evil, and this one is the most repugnant of people. There are people whose visible image is unsightly and the people do not consider him to be anything (i.e. give him no importance), but his unseen image is good. This person is also good and his unsightly appearance does not harm him if what is concealed in him is good. There are people the opposite and that is one whose visible image is good looking and his unseen image is ugly. This person resembles a hypocrite, and Allah’s refuge is sought. This person is repugnant. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, supplicated for the two things: the beautiful visible image and beautiful unseen image, so he said:
اللهم كما حَسَّنْت خَلْقِي فَحَسِّنْ خُلُقِي
O Allah! Just as You made my external form beautiful, make my character beautiful as well.
He was the most perfect person in his visible image and manners. Therefore, in this regard one has to follow the example of the Messenger, and that a Muslim supplicates to Allah with this supplication. He does not consider himself perfect and says, “I don’t have shortcomings”, but rather he turns to Allah by asking for the beautification of his visible image and unseen image. And Allah knows best”. (2)
Imam Adh-Dhahabee, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated in the biography of Abdul Azeez Bin Yahyaa Al-Kinaanee Al-Faqee, may Allah have mercy upon him, that he had an unsightly appearance. Abee Aynaa said, “Abdul Azeez came to Al-Mamoon (i.e. the Khaleefah) and his appearance was very unsightly, so Abu Ishaaq Al-Mutasim laughed”. He (Abdul Azeez) said, “O leader of the believers! Why is this person laughing? Indeed Allah did not choose Yusuf, peace be upon him, due to his handsomeness; rather He chose him for His religion and clarification (of the truth)”. Al-Mamoon laughed and was amazed by him. (3)
We ask Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ آتِ نَفْسِي تَقْوَاهَا، وَزَكِّهَا أَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَن زَكَّاهَا، أَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَمَوْلَاهَا، اللَّهُمَّ إنِّي أَعُوذُ بكَ مِن عِلْمٍ لا يَنْفَعُ، وَمِنْ قَلْبٍ لا يَخْشَعُ، وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لا تَشْبَعُ، وَمِنْ دَعْوَةٍ لا يُسْتَجَابُ لَهَا
O Allah! Grant my soul its piety, and purify it, for You are the best of those who purify it. You are its Guardian and Protector. O Allah! I seek refuge in You from knowledge that does not benefit, from a heart that does not fear, from a soul that is never satisfied, and from a supplication that is not answered. [Sahih Muslim 2722]
[1] An Excerpt From ‘Badaa’i at-Tafseer Al-Jami Limaa Fassarahu Al-Imam Ibnul Qayyim. 1/383-384
[2] An Excerpt from “Tasheelul Ilmaam Bi-Fiqhil Ahaadeeth Min Bulooghil Maraam”. 6/318-319
[3] Tarikh Al-Islam 17/231