Chapter Two – The Fear of Allah Ta‘ala – Fazaail A’maal – Taleem Series – Part Ten

Together with the amazing level of sacrifice, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) also had a genuine and deep fear of Allah Ta‘ala in their hearts. I wish that the Muslims of today could possess even an iota of the fear of Allah Ta‘ala which the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) possessed.

Here are a few stories about the fear of Allah Ta‘ala in the lives of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum):

The Conduct of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) at the Time of a Storm

Hazrat Aishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) reports that whenever a strong wind started to blow, bringing with it thick clouds, then Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) face would change colour with the fear of Allah Ta‘ala. He would become restless, go in and out of the house with worry, and would recite the following dua:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْئَلُكَ خَيْرَهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا فِيْهَا وَخَيْرَ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهْ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّهَا وَشَرِّ مَا فِيْهَا وَشَرِّ مَا أُرْسِلَتْ بِهْ

O Allah! I ask of You the good of this wind, and the good that which is in it (i.e. the good rain it brings forth), and the good outcome for which it was sent, and I seek protection in You from the evil of this wind, and evil of that which is in this wind, and the evil outcome for which it was sent.

Hazrat Aishah (radhiyallahu ‘anha) says, “And then, when it would begin to rain, then signs of happiness would appear on his blessed face. Once, I said to him, “O Rasul of Allah! When people see clouds appearing in the sky, then they become happy, as clouds indicate that rain is forthcoming, but why is it that I see you so becoming worried and concerned at that time?”

Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) replied, “O Aishah! How can I feel safe that this wind does not contain the punishment of Allah Ta‘ala? It was through the wind that the people of Aad were punished by Allah Ta‘ala. When they saw the clouds, they were happy, as they thought that these clouds will bring them rain, whereas those clouds actually brought their punishment and destruction.”

(Rasulullah [sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam] was referring to the following verses of the Qur’aan Majeed). Allah Ta‘ala says:

فَلَمَّا رَاَوۡه عَارِضًا مُّسۡتَقۡبِلَ  اَوۡدِیَتِهمۡ ۙ قَالُوۡا هذَا عَارِضٌ مُّمۡطِرُنَا ؕ بَلۡ هُوَ مَا اسۡتَعۡجَلۡتُمۡ بِه ؕ رِیۡحٌ  فِیۡها عَذَابٌ اَلِیۡمٌ ﴿ۙ۲۴﴾  تُدَمِّرُ کُلَّ  شَیۡءٍۭ  بِاَمۡرِ رَبِّها فَاَصۡبَحُوۡا لَا یُرٰۤی اِلَّا مَسٰکِنُهمۡ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ نَجۡزِی الۡقَوۡمَ الۡمُجۡرِمِیۡنَ ﴿۲۵﴾

Then, when they (the people of Aad) saw it (i.e. the punishment) as a cloud coming toward their valleys, they said, “This is a cloud bringing us rain.” (whereas Allah Ta‘ala says, “No! It is not a cloud bringing rain!) Rather, it is that very thing (i.e. punishment) which you were asking to come quickly (as they would say to their Nabi, “If you are the true Messenger, then bring the punishment over us now), (it is) a strong wind containing painful punishment, destroying everything (in its path) by the command of its Rabb. (Hence, the people of Aad were destroyed by the wind to such an extent that) by the morning, nothing could be seen besides their homes. In this manner do We punish the sinful nation.” (Surah Ahqaaf v. 24-25)

Look at the fear of Allah Ta‘ala in the heart of that person who is the greatest and the leader of all of Allah Ta‘ala’s creation – those who came before him and those who will come after him, as mentioned in the Hadith.

In spite of the clear verse in the Qur’aan Majeed, that Allah Ta‘ala will not punish the believers so long as Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is among them, yet he has so much of fear of Allah Ta‘ala in him, that a strong wind reminds him of the punishment given to the people of the past.

In comparison to this, let us look into our own hearts for a moment. Although we are full of sins, yet earthquakes, lightning, etc. do not cause any fear of Allah Ta‘ala in our hearts, and instead of making istighfaar or performing salaah at such times, we get involved in making futile enquiries regarding the causes for the change in the weather conditions.

(Fazaa’il-e-A’maal [English] pg. 36-37, [Urdu] pg. 27-28)