The Praiseworthy Fear and the Blameworthy Fear

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Question:
The questioner Khalaf says: What is the praiseworthy fear and the blameworthy fear, and if a person has excessive fear of everything?

Answer:
The praiseworthy fear is that which leads to repentance, seeking forgiveness, and righteous deeds; this is the praiseworthy fear. As for the fear that leads to despair of Allah’s mercy and hopelessness regarding the spirit of Allah, that is the blameworthy one. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:

Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people."

إِنَّهُ لَا يَيْأَسُ مِن رَّوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ

[Yusuf 12:87]

And Allah the Exalted said: And whoever

despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"

يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلَّا الضَّالُّونَ

[Al-Hijr 15:56]

as Allah related about His prophets (peace be upon them).
Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.

قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا

[Az-Zumar 39:53]

So despair is forbidden, and there is a severe warning for it, just as hope without action—meaning you hope but do not act—is also blameworthy. One must have both hope and righteous deeds. You hope for salvation but do not follow its paths; the ship does not run on land. So one must have these matters and know them and know their limits. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.

Source نور على الدرب - الفوزان - 02/297 — archive.org (15:35)

The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.

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