The Categories of Fear

 

The Categories of Fear (khawf) are four:

1)    Fear in Worship: It is the fear of Allaah Alone, having no partner, and this type is worship of the heart, with which we worship Allaah. He, the Most High, said:

　

“But for him who fears the standing before his Lord, there will be two gardens (of Paradise).”

                             [surah Ar- Rahmaan 55:46]

Allaah, the Exalted, said:

“But as for him who feared standing before his Lord and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his abode.”

                             [surah An- Naazi’aat 79:40-41]

Allaah, the Most High, said describing His slaves, the Angels:

　

“They fear their Lord above them, and they do what they are commanded.”

　

                             [surah An-Nahl 16:50]

He, the Most High, said:

　

“Those who convey the message of Allaah and fear Him, and fear none save Allaah. And sufficient is Allaah as a reckoner.”

                             [surah Al- Ahzaab 33:39]

　

　

2)    Shirk of fear: It is that the slaves fear someone other than Allaah such as jinn, a dead person or other than that, as he fears Allaah or greater. Allaah, the Most High, said:

　

“Have you not seen those who were told to hold back their hands (from fighting) and perform the prayer, and give zakaat, but when the fighting was ordained for them, behold! A section of them fear men as they fear Allaah or even more….”

                              [surah An- Nisaa 4:77]

　

3)    Fear causing disobedience: It is that the slave fears the people so he leaves the obligatory or commit’s the Haraam fearing from them without being forced by them to do that act. So this fear causes disobedience to Allaah. Allaah, the Most High, said:

　

“It is only Shaitan (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his ‘awliyaa [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah and in His Messenger, Muhammad)]: so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.”

                             [surah Al Imraan 3:175]

“…..So fear them not, but fear Me!”

                              [surah Al Baqarah 2:150]

　

“….Therefore fear not men, but fear Me….”

                             [surah Al Maa’idah 5:44]

　

4)    The Natural Fear: It is like the fear of the person from the enemy and the beast (wild animal) and snake and other than that, and this is permissible provided that he does not transgress the boundaries of the natural fear. Allaah, the Most High, said, relating the condition of His slave and His Prophet Musa (alaihe salaam):

　

“So he became afraid looking about in the city…”

　

                             [surah Al- Qasas 28:18]

“So he escaped from there, looking about in a state of fear….”

                             [surah Al- Qasas 28:21]

　

And Musa (alaihe salaam) said:

“My Lord! Verily, I fear that they will belie me.”

　

                              [surah Ash- Shu’ araa 26:12]

　

And Musa (alaihe salaam) said:

　

“My Lord! I have killed a man amongst them and I fear that they will kill me.”

　

                             [surah Al Qasas 28:33]

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This was taking from the book titled “ Beneficial Speech in Establishing the Evidences of Tawheed” By Shaykh Muhammad Bin Abdil- Wahhaab Al- Wasaabee

Foreword by the Noble Scholar, Al- Allaamah, Ash- Shaykh Muqbil Bin Haadee Al-Waadi’ee ( Died 1422 AH, May Allaah’s mercy be upon him)