A sincere Believer's fear...

📖 QUR’AAN:

While describing the characteristics of the Believers of this Ummah, Allaah جل وعلا says:

وَالَّذِينَ يُؤْتُونَ مَا آتَوا وَّقُلُوبُهُمْ وَجِلَةٌ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ رَاجِعُونَ * أُولَـٰئِكَ يُسَارِعُونَ فِي الْخَيْرَاتِ وَهُمْ لَهَا سَابِقُونَ

{And they who give what they give (in charity) while their hearts are full of fear, because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning). It is these who race for the good deeds, and they are foremost in them}

📚 [Surah al-Mu’minoon (23): 60-61]

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📗 HADEETH:

Umm al-Mu’mineen, `Aaishah رضي الله عنها asked the Prophet ﷺ about the meaning of these Aayaat. She said: “O Messenger of Allaah! Are they those who [commit adultery], drink Khamr, and steal [while they also fear Allaah]?” He said: ❝No, O daughter of al-Siddeeq. They are those who fast, perform Salaah, [Fast], and give charity while they fear that their Lord will not accept it from them. {It is these who hasten to do good deeds, and they are the foremost of them}❞

📚 [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (3175), Sunan Ibn Maajah (4198), Musnad Ahmad (25263, 25705) and the words within the brackets are his; and graded as “Saheeh li ghairihee” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See al-Saheehah (162)]

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📑 COMMENTARY:

Shaikh al-Albaanee said: “The secret behind the Believer’s fear is that they fear that their acts of worship (itself) will not be accepted. Their fear is not regarding Allaah’s promise about giving them their due rewards, as this is in contrast to Allaah’s promise to them. Example, He تعالى said: {So, as for those who believed (in the Oneness of Allaah and did deeds of righteousness, He will pay them their reward in full}.

Rather, He تعالى will give them extra out of His bounty: {…He will pay them their reward in full and more out of His Bounty.} [Surah al-Nisaa’] And He تعالى {fails not in His promise}!

Rather, the reason (behind their fear) is regarding the acceptance (of the deed itself), (as the acceptance of the deed) is connected with performing the deed according to the way Allaah عز وجل had commanded - while they are not certain if they have carried it out the way Allaah تعالى wanted. Rather, they think that they fell short in this regard. This is why they fear that it will not be accepted from them.

Therefore, a Believer should contemplate (more) on this, perhaps it may increase his eagerness to do worship well, and doing it the way Allaah had commanded, and that is to do deeds with Ikhlaas (sincerity), and upon the guidance of His Messenger ﷺ. And this is the meaning of the saying of Allaah تعالى: {So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.} [Surah al-Kahf (18): 110]”

📚 [al-Saheehah (1/306)]

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📑 Note:

A believer does an act of worship and fears if it will be accepted or not, while a hypocrite does an evil deed and does not fear the consequences.

The Salaf used to supplicate to Allaah for six months beseeching Him to make them reach the month of Ramadhaan, and they used to supplicate for (the other) six months that Allaah accepts (their Fasting).

May Allaah guide us to all that which pleases our Lord.