The Reality of Fear of Allah and Natural Fear

Question:
May Allah reward you. The questioner, who used the code name M for Riyadh, asks: What is the fear of Allah, and how does a person become fearful? And what is unnatural fear?

Answer:
May Allah reward you. The fear of Allah is the fear of worship, and it is among the actions of the heart. It is one of the greatest types of worship: fear of Allah, awe of Allah, and love of Allah. These are actions of the heart, and they are the greatest types of worship.
As for natural fear, such as a person’s love for wealth, his love for himself, and his love for his child and his parents, this is natural love. A person is not held accountable for it as long as he does not prioritize it over the love of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Likewise, fear: there is the fear of worship, which is the fear accompanied by humility and submission; this is for Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) alone. And there is natural fear, which is when a person fears a predator, or fears an enemy, or fears the heat or the cold. This is natural fear, and a person is not held accountable for it.