This book is a translation of 'Al-Khawf Haqiqatihi Wa Bayan Darajatihi'
Allah, the Most High, has praised those who possess the attribute of a heightened sense of fear Saying,
"And such (are the believers) who are humbled by the fear of their Lord..." (Al-Muminun, 57) And He also Said: "... fear Me alone, if you are believers." (Ali' Imran, 175)
The element of fear exists within mankind in varying degrees. When the fear of Allah is established in the hearts, it eliminates wrongdoing and attachment to worldly desires. It is alight that navigates a person through sin and temptation, and when this fear is removed, it easily leads them astray - for surely true and praiseworthy fear is being vigilant from transgressing the limits of Allah. Yet when fear exceeds its proper boundary, it gives rise to hopelessness and despair, which is equally blameworthy.
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About The Book
This book is a translation of 'Al-Khawf Haqiqatihi Wa Bayan Darajatihi'
Allah, the Most High, has praised those who possess the attribute of a heightened sense of fear Saying,
"And such (are the believers) who are humbled by the fear of their Lord..." (Al-Muminun, 57)
And He also Said:
"... fear Me alone, if you are believers." (Ali' Imran, 175)
The element of fear exists within mankind in varying degrees. When the fear of Allah is established in the hearts, it eliminates wrongdoing and attachment to worldly desires. It is alight that navigates a person through sin and temptation, and when this fear is removed, it easily leads them astray - for surely true and praiseworthy fear is being vigilant from transgressing the limits of Allah. Yet when fear exceeds its proper boundary, it gives rise to hopelessness and despair, which is equally blameworthy.
The attribute of fear therefore, is not the end goal itself, but a means towards a successful end.
'Al-Khawf ' is from the smaller works of Imam Ibn Qudamah, who is better known for authoring major authoritative treatises of Hanbali jurisprudence and doctrine. In this short book, he brings disquieting realities of fearing Allah in a unique perspective; elucidating some profound insight into the topic, its reality and merits, types and levels and cures that bring about fear. It also discusses causes that lead to a bad ending for people on this earth, while taking rooted examples from the lives of the fearful ones from among the Angels, Prophets and our righteous predecessors.
About The Author
Shaykh Al Islam Muwaffaq al-Din 'Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi al-Hanbali was a reputable scholar of the Hanbali madhhab, author of ''Al-Mughni', (the main Hanbali 'fiqh'' manual) as well as 'Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin' (a summary of Ghazali's 'Ihya ulum ad-din') and ''Tahrim an-Nazar' ('Censure of Speculative Theology', an attack on Ibn_Aqil's rationalist views.
He was born in Palestine in 541 AH, where he became Hafidh of the Qur'an at an early age and moved to Baghdad where he stuidied under some established scholars such as Shaykh Abdul-Qadir in his final days (i.e. before he passed away), Ibn Al-Jawzi, Hibat-ullaah Ibn Al-Hasan Ad-Daqaaq, Abi'l Fath Ibn Al-Battee, Abi Zur'ah Ibn Taahir, Yahya Ibn Thaabit, Khadeejah An-Nahrawaaniyah and others.
The Noble Imaam of Al-Hanabilah in Damascus Mosque died in Damascus In the Year 620 Hijri/1223.