Chapter 4 - On Fear and Hope

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “Seeking this world is harmful for the Hereafter, while seeking the Hereafter is harmful for this life. Let this life get harmed since it is more deserving.”

“A believer fears no one but God, and says nothing but the truth.”

“Be more hopeful for that for which you have no hope, compared to what you have some hope for. Moses the son of Imran left his town to ask for fire for his people, but God spoke to him and he returned as a Prophet. The Queen of Saba left the town as an infidel, but she became a Muslim when she met Solomon. Pharaoh's magicians also were seeking honor for Pharaoh but they returned as believers.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Whoever recognizes God fears Him, and whoever fears God deprives himself from this world.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “God will make everything fear whoever fears God, and will make whoever does not fear Him fear everything.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) told Ishaq ibn Amr: “O' Ishaq! Fear God as if you see Him. If you do not see Him, He sees you. If you believe that He does not see you, you are an infidel. If you know that He sees you, and display your disobedience of God away from the public eyes, you have considered Him to be the worst of those who see you.”

One of the companions of Imam Sadiq (a.s) told him: “There are some people who constantly commit sins until they die, and say that they hope for God's Mercy.” Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “These are the people who always have aspirations but do not do anything. They lie since whoever has some hope seeks what he is hopeful for, and whoever fears something will stay away from it.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Do not feel secure from anyone except those who fear God.”

“O' Ali, son of Hussein! What is the reason you are sad? Is it for this world? The daily bread is provided by God for both the good-doers and the evil-doers.” The Imam (a.s) said: “I am not sad for the world because it is just as you have said.” Then the man asked: “Is it then for the Hereafter that is a true promise, and will be ruled by a powerful Lord?” The Imam (a.s) said: “No I am not sad about the Hereafter either, since that is the same as you said.” The man asked: “Then why are you sad?” The Imam (a.s) said: “I am afraid of the sedition of the Talha and Zubair, and the condition of the people.” Then the man laughed and said: “O' Ali, son of Hussein! Have you ever seen anyone who fears God whom God has not saved?” The Imam (a.s) said: “No.” He said: “Have you seen anyone who relies on God, left alone to himself by God?” The Imam (a.s) said: “No.” He said: “Have you seen anyone ask something from God, and God not grant it?” Imam Zeyn al-Abedin (a.s) said: “No.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “I swear by the One who has control over my life that God is even kinder to His servants than a kind mother is to her children.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “There are no believers that are not in a state in between fear and hope.”

“I swear by My Majesty and Honor. I shall not grant two fears for my servants, and shall not grant them two causes for peace of mind. If my servants do not worry about Me in this life, they will have to fear in the Hereafter, and if they fear Me in this life, then they will not have to worry in the Hereafter.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “Be so hopeful of God that you do not dare to commit any sins, and fear God so much that you do not lose all your hopes of His Mercy.”

Imam Zeyn al-Abedin (a.s) said: “O' children of Adam! You shall be prosperous as long as you have an inner guide, and worry about your own reckoning, and you have fear and piety. You will die and you will be resurrected and will be questioned about your deeds in God's court. So prepare an answer.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “The people came to visit the Prophet David thinking that he was ill. But he was not ill, he was just modest and fearful of God.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “A believing servant is positioned between two fears: one is from the time that has passed by, and he does not know what God has done to him; and the time he has left and does not know what God will decree. Any servant of God must use himself and the life of this world to save something for the Hereafter. I swear by the One who controls my life that there is no asking, petitioning or soliciting favor of God after death, and there is no home after this world except for Heaven and Hell.”

Imam Sadiq (a.s) said: “I wonder why those who fear the following four things do not seek refuge in the following four things. Why doesn't the one who fears take refuge in God's statement: “For us God sufficeth, and He is the best disposer of affairs.” [The Holy Quran: Ali-i-Imran 3:173], since I heard that God added: “And they returned with Grace and Bounty from God; no harm ever touched them.” [The Holy Quran: Al- i-Imran 3:174] I wonder why does not the one who is sad take refuge in God's statement: “There is no god but Thou: Glory to Thee: I was indeed wrong!” [The Holy Quran: Anbiyaa 21:87], since I heard that God added: “So We listened to him: and delivered him from distress: and thus do We deliver those who have faith.” [The Holy Quran: Anbiyaa 21:88] I wonder why doesn't one who has been cheated take refuge in God's statement: “My (own) affair I commit to God: For God (ever) watches over His servants” [The Holy Quran: Mu-min 40:44], since I heard that God added: “Then God saved him from (every) ill that they plotted (against him).” [The Holy Quran: Mu-min 40:45] And I wonder why doesn't the one who wants this world and its ornaments seek refuge in God's statement: “God's Will (be done)! There is no power but with God! [The Holy Quran: Kahaf 18:39], since I heard that God added: “If thou dost see me less than thee in wealth and sons, it may be that my Lord will give me something better than thy garden.” [The Holy Quran: Kahaf 18:39-40]

Imam Sadiq (a.s) was asked about the contents of the will of Luqman. He said: “There were amazing things in that will. The most amazing thing is that he said to his son: Fear God so much that you think He will punish you even if you do all the good deeds of the Jinns and the people. Have so much hope in God's Mercy that even if you commit all the sins of all the Jinns and the People, He will have Mercy upon you.”

“There is no believer without two lights in his heart: The light of fear and the light of hope. If you weigh each one, it will not outweigh the other one.”

“Fear of God is the source of wisdom.”

“O' Abu Kahel! God will never get angry with one whose heart is filled with God's fear. The Fire will not bring him any harm either.”

Habib ibn al-Harith came to God's Prophet (a.s) and said: “O' Prophet of God! I am a man who has been always in sin.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “Turn to God in repentance Habib.” He said: “O' Prophet of God! I always repent, but repeat my sinful acts.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “Then whenever you commit a sin, repent.” He said: “O' Prophet of God! This way my sins will be a lot more.” The Prophet (a.s) said: “O' Habib ibn Harith! God's forgiving is more than your sins.”

God's Prophet (a.s) said: “When the two angels who record the deeds take your letter of deeds to God, and He sees that it is good in the beginning and at the end, He will tell the angels: “Witness that I forgive My servant due to both ends of his letter of deeds.”

Imam Sajjad (a.s) said: “(The Prophet) David (a.s) would fear God whenever he made a mistake. He feared God so much that his joints would get displaced and separated from each other. Then he remembered the extent of God's Mercy and how He helps the sinners, and his condition returned to normal.”