What is the distinction between the fear of Allah and natural fear?
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The questioner : The questioner says: "May Allah have mercy on you, O honorable Shaykh, and forgive us and you. I found a hadith I read difficult to understand due to my limited comprehension. It is the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) Sahih al-Bukhari 6943 The conjunction 'wa' (and) in the language implies equality, so what is the answer?"
The Shaykh : Yes, the answer to this is that we say: The fear of Allah is not the fear of the wolf. The fear of Allah is not the fear of the wolf, because the fear of Allah is a fear of worship, turning back, and seeking refuge, while the fear of the wolf is a natural fear. For this reason, if a person who is afraid of the wolf has a weapon, what does he do? He kills the wolf. But the one who fears Allah, his fear only increases his seeking refuge in Allah, turning back to Him, and returning to Him. So there is a difference between the two fears, even if they share the same grammatical case and conjunction, there is a great difference between them. I do not think that anyone, if he sees a wolf and fears it, would say, "O wolf, please do not eat my sheep," or would they? Do you agree with me on this or not?
The student: We do not agree.
The Shaykh : You do not agree? Well, I say I do not think anyone, if he sees a wolf, would say, "O wolf, please do not eat my sheep." Do you agree with me on this?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : There is no god but Allah! Do you agree, my brother?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Never. I have not heard of anyone seeing a wolf and going to the wolf and saying, "O wolf, please do not eat my sheep." Rather, if he sees a wolf, he takes his weapon and kills it. But when a person fears his Lord, what does he do? Does he rebel against his Lord or seek refuge in Him?
The student: He seeks refuge in Him.
The Shaykh : He seeks refuge in Him. So there is a difference between this fear and that fear.
fearing nobody except Allah and the wolf lest it should trouble his sheep
لا يخاف إلا الله والذئب على غنمهThe Shaykh : Yes, the answer to this is that we say: The fear of Allah is not the fear of the wolf. The fear of Allah is not the fear of the wolf, because the fear of Allah is a fear of worship, turning back, and seeking refuge, while the fear of the wolf is a natural fear. For this reason, if a person who is afraid of the wolf has a weapon, what does he do? He kills the wolf. But the one who fears Allah, his fear only increases his seeking refuge in Allah, turning back to Him, and returning to Him. So there is a difference between the two fears, even if they share the same grammatical case and conjunction, there is a great difference between them. I do not think that anyone, if he sees a wolf and fears it, would say, "O wolf, please do not eat my sheep," or would they? Do you agree with me on this or not?
The student: We do not agree.
The Shaykh : You do not agree? Well, I say I do not think anyone, if he sees a wolf, would say, "O wolf, please do not eat my sheep." Do you agree with me on this?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : There is no god but Allah! Do you agree, my brother?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : Never. I have not heard of anyone seeing a wolf and going to the wolf and saying, "O wolf, please do not eat my sheep." Rather, if he sees a wolf, he takes his weapon and kills it. But when a person fears his Lord, what does he do? Does he rebel against his Lord or seek refuge in Him?
The student: He seeks refuge in Him.
The Shaykh : He seeks refuge in Him. So there is a difference between this fear and that fear.