Fear Allaah With The Right That He Should Be Feared With

Al-Allaamah Shaykh Rabee‘ ibn Haadi al-Madkhalee (may Allaah preserve him) stated:

 

“I’m going to speak about two or three verses from this Soorah (Aali ‘Imraan). They are the statements of Allaah:

“Oh you who believe fear Allaah with the right that He should be feared with & do not die unless you are Muslimoon* And hold fast to the rope of Allaah all together & do not be divided. Remember the favor of Allaah upon you when you use to be enemies to one another then He (Allaah) brought harmony between your hearts. Then you became brothers by His (Allaah’s) favor. And you were on the brink of a pit of fire & He (Allaah) saved you from it. Thus Allaah makes clear to you His Aayaat (proofs, verses, signs etc…) in order that you may be guided.”

(Aali ‘Imraan: 102-103)

In these verses there is an encouragement from our Lord The Magnificent, The Majestic, The great to fear Him & that we fear Him with the right that He should be feared with.

“Fear Allaah with the right that He should be feared with”

Ibn Mas’ood (radiyAllaahu anhu) explained the verse with his statement:

“Fearing Allaah with the right that He should be feared with is that He is to be remembered & not forgotten. He is to be thanked & not shown ungratefulness. He is to be obeyed & not disobeyed.”

This is a tremendous explanation of this verse. Allaah is to be remembered & not forgotten. He is to be thanked & not shown ungratefulness. He is to be obeyed & not disobeyed. The chain of narration is authentic tracing back to Abdullaah ibn Mas’ood (radiyAllaahu anhu).

Therefore obey Allaah with the right of obedience. Fear Him with the right that He should be feared with. Thank Him with the right that He should be thanked with.

“…and do not die unless you are Muslimoon.“

It can be said that the person doesn’t have control over this matter for himself. However it is said: Upon him is to take the means (that will enable him to die as a Muslim). It is that he is upright in this life upon the true religion of Allaah. It is that he obeys Allaah with the right of obedience. It is that he thanks Him and ask Allaah for establishment upon this religion just as the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to do and he was the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه وسلم):

"O Turner of the Hearts, establish my heart upon Your religion."

 

We establish the rights of Allaah according to what we have the ability to do. We also establish these three affairs which Ibn Mas’ood (radiAllaahu ahnhu) explained this verse with from the gratitude, the obedience and an abundance of the remembrance of Allaah.

From the sunan of Allaah in His creation is that when a person lives upon a matter he dies upon it. And when he dies upon something he is resurrected upon it. Therefore (if) you (were) to live upon the obedience of Allaah, being grateful to him and remembering Him, Inshaa Allaah, Allaah will give you a good ending (in life). As a result of that you die upon Islaam. We must take the means which will give us this result and this magnificent outcome, and it is that we die upon Islaam.

As for the acts of disobedience and the affairs of innovation (the refuge is sought with Allaah from them) can be a reason for having an evil ending and dying upon other than Islaam. The affairs of innovation and the major sins can be from the causes of having an evil ending and the refuge is sought with Allaah.

Therefore be cautious with every caution from the acts of disobedience and the affairs of innovation. Whoever falls into something (from these matters) let him hasten in the repenting to Allaah. If the people of falsehood have deceived him with an affair of innovation or caused him to fall into an act of disobedience, let him pull (out of that state) immediately and hasten to repenting to Allaah The Blessed and The Most High. Let him have the severe regret then remain (steadfast) upon the obedience of Allaah. For Indeed Allaah from His kindness, generosity and justice, He doesn’t waste the (good) deeds of those who perform them.”

Taken from: “Nafahaatul-Hudaaa wal-Eemaan min Majaalisil-Qur’aan” pg. 44-46. By al-Allaamah Shaykh Rabee’ ibn Haadi al-Madkhalee (may Allaah preserve him).

Translated by: Abu Yusuf Khaleefah Masjid USA, NYC
4th day of Ramadaan 1433/ 23rd of July 2012