What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “Only those who have knowledge among His servants fear Allah”?
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The questioner : He asks and says: What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Fatir 35:28]?
The Shaykh : The meaning of this noble verse is that none of Allah’s servants fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) except the scholars. Fear here means fear accompanied by knowledge and magnification. The scholars referred to here are those who have knowledge of Allah the Exalted, His names, attributes, praiseworthy actions, and rulings that contain wisdom, which is the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). These are the scholars who fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) because they have come to know His perfection.
As for those who have knowledge of worldly affairs, they may fear Allah or they may not. How many are there who possess much knowledge of worldly matters, yet are among the farthest people from fearing Allah and the most arrogant in rejecting the truth?
Some ignorant people have thought that the scholars referred to in this verse are those who have knowledge of the conditions of the universe, such as those who know astronomy, the earth, and the like. This is an error. If their knowledge leads to the fear of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), turning to Him, and carrying out His obedience, then they are in a good state. If it does not lead to that, then there is no good in them.
Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.
إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُThe Shaykh : The meaning of this noble verse is that none of Allah’s servants fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) except the scholars. Fear here means fear accompanied by knowledge and magnification. The scholars referred to here are those who have knowledge of Allah the Exalted, His names, attributes, praiseworthy actions, and rulings that contain wisdom, which is the Shari'ah of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). These are the scholars who fear Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) because they have come to know His perfection.
As for those who have knowledge of worldly affairs, they may fear Allah or they may not. How many are there who possess much knowledge of worldly matters, yet are among the farthest people from fearing Allah and the most arrogant in rejecting the truth?
Some ignorant people have thought that the scholars referred to in this verse are those who have knowledge of the conditions of the universe, such as those who know astronomy, the earth, and the like. This is an error. If their knowledge leads to the fear of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), turning to Him, and carrying out His obedience, then they are in a good state. If it does not lead to that, then there is no good in them.