Fear is one of the basic instincts of every living creature. Everyone suffers from some fear, so you’re not alone. Fear is something conjured up by the mind, and it has physical and emotional reactions that no one enjoys. Fear is mobilising one’s energy and effort to find a way to deliver from danger and peril. Fear of Allah is the source of all knowledge as it motivates us to seek and act by the truth. The best provision is mindfulness of Allah, and the foundation of wisdom is the fear of Allah the Exalted. Allah says:

إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَيَدْعُونَنَا رَغَبًا وَرَهَبًا ۖ وَكَانُوا لَنَا خَاشِعِينَ

“Verily, they would hasten to good deeds and supplicate to Us in hope and fear, and they were humbly submissive to Us.” (Surah Al-Anbiya 21:90)

Fear of Allah makes us think twice before we sin. It is the quality of mindfulness and awareness of Allah that resides inside the heart of a believer. Fear of Allah is the source of all knowledge as it motivates us to seek the truth and act by it. Indeed, the description of punishment in the Hereafter found in the Quran and Sunnah should increase our resolve to be righteous. Muslims are valuable entities bearing the Spirit of Allah. Allah says:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْلَمْتُ وَجْهِي إِلَيْكَ وَفَوَّضْتُ أَمْرِي إِلَيْكَ وَأَلْجَأْتُ ظَهْرِي إِلَيْكَ رَغْبَةً وَرَهْبَةً إِلَيْكَ

“O Allah, I submit my face to you and entrust my affair to you. I commit myself to you out of hope and fear of you.” (Sahih Muslim 2710)

Fear of Allah causes a reduction of sin and man’s wakefulness and vigilance and is itself a cause of warning against negligence in man at the time of deviation and error. Fear encourages us to be on the lookout and remain aware. It often keeps us safe and in tune with our surroundings. A deep fear of Allah may help the believer achieve the prophets’ beautiful set of moral values, sincerity, and humility. As Muslims, having hope in Allah is our way of dealing with such moments.

A believer must combine the Fear of Allah due to the following reasons:

1. Fear of being questioned about every little thing in life
2. Fear of egotistical due to the abundance of bounties
3. Fear of being distracted from Allah by other creation
4. Fear of Allah doing good deeds because of conceit
5. Fear of not being able to fulfil Allah’s obligations
6. Fear of Allah makes us think twice before we sin
7. Fear of being disgraced at the time of death
8. Fear of the fire, its chains, and its torment
9. Fear of not living up to one’s repentance
10. Fear of not breaking one’s promise
11. Fear of allowing temptations to dominate
12. Fear of Allah makes one’s self-responsible
13. Fear of Allah is the source of all knowledge 
14. Fear can prevent us from defending ourselves
15. Fear of being beguiled by the glitter of this world
16. Fear of Allah motivates us to perform good deeds
17. Fear of being distracted from Allah by other creation
18. Fear of the awe during the presentation in front of Allah
19. Fear is the quality of mindfulness and awareness of Allah
20. Fear of being led to an evil ending through excessive bounties

Fear is for this reason that the fearful and dreadful of Allah have been praised and a promise of reward has been promised for fear of Allah. Fear often resolves itself after the perceived threat is gone and is a useful self-protective instinct. Love is the driving force for humans to make any forward movement toward a goal that involves the heart. The love for God starts on a mental level and it is further elevated to the spiritual level by proper nurturing and practices.Allah says

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ

“Only those who fear Allah among His servants are those with knowledge. Verily, Allah is Almighty and Forgiving.” (Surah Al-Fatir 35:28)

The fears of Allah making one responsible for doing good deeds because of conceit; the fear of becoming arrogant and egotistical due to the abundance of bounties; the fear of being distracted from Allah by other creation; the fear of being led to an evil ending through excessive bounties. Fear may be beneficial as it alerts an individual to a perceived threat. Many individuals can manage fear through mindfulness techniques, or talk therapy.

Here are some tips to combat the Fear:

1. Challenge your negative thoughts: Negative thoughts can trigger anxiety and fear. It’s essential to challenge such negative thoughts.
2. Practice deep breathing: Calm your body and lower anxiety,  it helps the body to activate a relaxation response that soothes stress and anxiety further.
3. Use positive affirmations: Always think and respond in a positive affirmation only as it can reverse the negative feelings.
4. Visualize success: Visualization has immense power! It can dramatically switch your anxiety and fear to a positive outcome. It is essential to imagine yourself as already successful to complete the task or get over your fear.
5. Understand the power of the unconscious mind: Any unconscious mind is a powerful tool that aids in getting over such emotions.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

• “Verily, Allah loves those who rely upon Him.” (Quran 3:159)
• “Call on Allah with fear and longing (in your hearts).” (Al-Araf, 56)
• “ Believers hope for His Mercy and fear His Wrath…….” (Al-Isra, 57)
• “… And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.” (Quran, 9:109)
• “It is only those who know God’s servants who fear Him.” (Quran 35:28)
• “He is worthy of being feared and worthy of granting forgiveness.” (Quran 47:56)
• “Indeed, God is with those who fear Him and those who do good.” (Quran 16:128)
• “Keep to forgiveness (O Muhammad), and enjoin kindness, and turn away from those who are ignorant.” (Quran 7:199)

Fear of Allah causes a reduction of sin and man’s wakefulness:

• We should replace jealousy with well-wishing and care for Muslims
• We should engage our tongues in the remembrance of Allah
• We don’t perform them for anyone else except Allah
• We should be concerned about the good deeds
• We should expel hatred, and enmity in the heart
• We should not walk towards haram places
• We should not wander off to look at haram objects
• We should not extend our hands for haram purposes
• We should be careful about what we put in our stomachs
• We should recitation of the Qur’an and in circles of knowledge
• We engage in frivolous gossip, it shows that there is very little concern

Fear rips away desires and middens luxuries so that cherished sins become reprehensible, just as a honey lover is repelled by it when he learns that it has poison in it. This is how fear burns desires; disciplines the organs; subordinates the heart and gives it tranquillity. Fear allows us to face challenges and achieve goals. Deep love and fear of Allah and a strong will to follow conscience also need to be instilled in the child’s heart. Allah says:

وَاتَّقُوا يَوْمًا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ

“Fear a Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it earned, and they will not be treated unjustly.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:281)

Fear is an essential survival mechanism, helping individuals react to potentially life-threatening situations. It can respond to immediate, tangible threats and more abstract or future concerns. We need to balance our fear of Allah with our hope in His reward and His Paradise. Remember that our hearts are just like a bird on a journey to Allah in the Hereafter. Our love of Allah is the basis of our worship, and our fear and hope are like two wings that propel us along the straight path toward our final destination. May Allah make us among those who spend their lives working to please Him.