[ Part Three of a series of inspiring articles from a recorded lecture entitled, “Min Ma’een al-Imaam Ahmad” (“Benefits from the Life and Works of Imam Ahmad”) by Shaykh Saalih Aal ash-Shaykh (may Allaah preserve him) ]

Living in Fear of Allaah

Al-Mar-roothee [1] was one of Imam Ahmad’s companions and students, and he relayed many issues from him. He said to Imam Ahmad, “O Abaa ‘Abdilllaah! There are so many people that call on you!”

He looked at him and said, “I fear this may be something that gradually leads me to something evil.”

His student said to him, and he was truthful in what he said, “O Abaa ‘Abdillaah! There are so many people that call on you!”

He replied, “I fear this may be something that gradually leads me to something evil.”

This kind of statement can only come from a heart that fears Allaah and is fearful of meeting Him. It can only come from one who knows that the heart changes states. It can only come from someone who knows that this worldly life is nothing, and that the Next Life is the reality.

Most of us, moreover all of us, except those whom Allaah has exempted, if it was mentioned to us that the people are praising us, or that the people are calling on us, we would be happy and cheerful, perhaps we would even be delighted with ourselves.

So Imam Ahmad said, remedying his soul, “I fear this may be something that gradually leads me to something evil.” The statement, “I fear,” shows that his heart had combined hope and fear, that he had hoped, but was also afraid. When he heard something related to a reward for his work, he said, “I fear this may be something that gradually leads me to something evil.”

He meant, “Verily, Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, may be gradually leading me into a punishment by this, testing me to see if I am delighted with myself or not. Maybe Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, is gradually leading me to a punishment,” as our Lord Himself, the Mighty and Exalted, describes how he gradually punishes some people [2]:

( And we will punish them gradually from places they know not, so leave them to Me! Verily My Plan is strong! )

So they were destroyed. Therefore, this is what is binding on the heart of the person of tawheed, the believer, that it always remains in fear. These days, the talks about the meaning of hope, they are… OK. But the people have gone overboard with it, to the point that many people rely on their hope in Allaah so much so that they have lost any fear of Allaah, they rarely fear Him.

Everyone is hoping! The rewards for good deeds are mentioned, along with the rewards for obedience. Some are working, some making ‘umrah, others are praying, some are reciting, etc. All of this is from the understanding of hope. But where is the fear? Where is the fear of Al-Jaleel, the Mighty and Exalted, may His Names be exalted?

It is Allaah who described His Angels as being His Servants, and that they are not overburdened. Even their breathing glorifies Allaah, their actions are all actions of obedience, as the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) said:

“The sky is full of sounds, and it should be. There is no space the width of four fingers except that there is an angel in it standing, bowing, or prostrating.” [3]

All of this, while Allaah describes His Angels [4]:

( They fear their Lord from above them, and they do as they are ordered )

So let every one of us examine our own selves in regards to this statement of Imam Ahmad. Where is the fear of Allaah in our hearts? We have neglected obligations, and we all know our own selves, so where is the fear? We have fallen into sins, while Allaah has full knowledge of them, so where is the fear? We have neglected the rights of others, so where is the fear?

We have neglected the rights of our believing brothers, by backbiting and slandering them, by jealousy and envy, and by oppression, so where is the fear of Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted? Let every one of us motivate our own selves to have fear in our actions! For verily fear will cause a heart to have humility, submissiveness, and an eagerness to prepare for the meeting with Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted.

This is indeed a great statement, the one said by Imam Ahmad in response to his student’s remark about how many people call on him, “I fear this may be something that gradually leads me to something evil.” May Allaah have Mercy on him, for what great vision he had! His was a great affair!

In most of the gatherings that Imam Ahmad attended, he would sit with his head between his knees. It was said that this was the position of a person of humility, one who contemplates about his own self and his future, while remaining seated in a posture that a person can not become haughty by it, nor seek to be seen by it.

When death approached Imam Ahmad, the doctor saw the excessive amount of blood in his urine and said, “This does not happen except due to a fearful heart.” He meant that the time of death had caused him to reach that state.

FOOTNOTES

[1] Al-Mar-roothee (d.275): Aboo Bakr Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn al-Hajjaaj, one of Imaam Ahmad’s closest students.  He was the one who closed the imam’s eyelids and washed his body in preparation for burial.  Refer to: Tabaqaat al-Hanaabilah (1/137-151) of al-Qaadhee Aboo Ya’laa (d.526).

[2] the meaning of Soorah Al-Qalam (68):44-45

[3] This hadeeth, with a slight difference in its wording, is found in At-Tahaawee’s Mushkil Al-Aathaar and At-Tabraanee’s Al-Mu’jam Al-Kabeer, on the authority of Hakeem ibn Hizaam. Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Silsilah Al-Ahaadeeth As-Saheehah (#852).

[4] the meaning of Soorah An-Nahl (16):50

Continue reading… Part Four – Recognizing the High Status of Islamic Scholars

Or go to the Index of articles in this inspiring series.

Translation, Titles, and Footnotes by: Moosaa Richardson

Originally published on Bakkah.net: 1423-05-16