Question: Does fearing anyone other than Allah constitute shirk (polytheism)?
Answer: Fear of Allah and His awe is a form of worship. The more a person fears Allah, the closer and more beloved he becomes to Allah. Allah has commanded humans to fear Him alone. The divine command is:
واياي فارهبون
Translation: "And fear only Me." (Al-Baqara: 40)
Allah's command is:
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا. (Al-Ahzab: 70)
Translation: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice."
In another place, it is said:
فلا تخشوا الناس واخشون ولا تشتروا بآياتي ثمنا قليلا.
Translation: "So fear not the people, but fear Me, and do not sell My verses for a small price." (Al-Maida: 44)
This fear and awe should be of Allah to the best of one's ability, as Allah commands:
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. (Al-Imran: 102)
Translation: "O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims."
Thus, the one deserving of fear is only Allah. Fearing anyone else in His place is considered shirk in worship. There are two scenarios of this:
1. Abandoning religious practices out of fear of people.
2. Fearing or believing that someone other than Allah can harm without Allah's permission. For example, fearing idols, saints, jinn, the dead, and imaginary wandering spirits.
Allah mentions this in the Quran in this manner:
انما ذلكم الشيطان يخوف أولياءه فلا تخافوهم وخافون إن كنتم مؤمنين. (Al-Imran: 175)
Translation: "It is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers."
Therefore, under no circumstances should fear of anyone other than Allah be allowed in the heart. Allah is the sole owner of benefit and harm. No one can harm us without Allah's command.
The divine command is:
وإن يمسسك الله بضر فلا كاشف إلا هو وإن يمسسك بخير فهو على كل شيء قدير. (Al-An'am: 17)
Translation: "And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Fear is an anxiety that arises in the heart due to shortcomings in obligations and the commission of sins. Similarly, a person fears non-acceptance even after performing acts of obedience.
However, natural fear, like the fear upon seeing a snake or wild animals, is different. This fear is not in comparison to Allah; it is just a natural feeling, as when Musa (peace be upon him) feared the snake. Allah's command is:
وألق عصاك فلما رآها تهتز كأنها جان ولى مدبرا ولم يعقب يا موسى لا تخف إني لا يخاف لدي المرسلون. (An-Naml: 10)
Translation: "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it wriggling as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not look back. [Allah said], "O Musa, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear."
The reward for fearing Allah is Paradise. Allah's command is:
وأما من خاف مقام ربه ونهى النفس عن الهوى فإن الجنة هي المأوى. (An-Nazi'at: 40-41)
Translation: "But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be his refuge."
May Allah bless us with the quality of fear and reverence. Ameen.
Those who doubt the Quran and Hadith form sects in the names of Imams.
In regions where people indulge in grave worship and shirk, they can be subject to Allah's wrath and punishment at any time. May Allah protect us.
Answer: Fear of Allah and His awe is a form of worship. The more a person fears Allah, the closer and more beloved he becomes to Allah. Allah has commanded humans to fear Him alone. The divine command is:
واياي فارهبون
Translation: "And fear only Me." (Al-Baqara: 40)
Allah's command is:
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله وقولوا قولا سديدا. (Al-Ahzab: 70)
Translation: "O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice."
In another place, it is said:
فلا تخشوا الناس واخشون ولا تشتروا بآياتي ثمنا قليلا.
Translation: "So fear not the people, but fear Me, and do not sell My verses for a small price." (Al-Maida: 44)
This fear and awe should be of Allah to the best of one's ability, as Allah commands:
يا أيها الذين آمنوا اتقوا الله حق تقاته ولا تموتن إلا وأنتم مسلمون. (Al-Imran: 102)
Translation: "O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims."
Thus, the one deserving of fear is only Allah. Fearing anyone else in His place is considered shirk in worship. There are two scenarios of this:
1. Abandoning religious practices out of fear of people.
2. Fearing or believing that someone other than Allah can harm without Allah's permission. For example, fearing idols, saints, jinn, the dead, and imaginary wandering spirits.
Allah mentions this in the Quran in this manner:
انما ذلكم الشيطان يخوف أولياءه فلا تخافوهم وخافون إن كنتم مؤمنين. (Al-Imran: 175)
Translation: "It is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers."
Therefore, under no circumstances should fear of anyone other than Allah be allowed in the heart. Allah is the sole owner of benefit and harm. No one can harm us without Allah's command.
The divine command is:
وإن يمسسك الله بضر فلا كاشف إلا هو وإن يمسسك بخير فهو على كل شيء قدير. (Al-An'am: 17)
Translation: "And if Allah should touch you with adversity, there is no remover of it except Him; and if He intends for you good, then there is no repeller of His bounty. He causes it to reach whom He wills of His servants. And He is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Fear is an anxiety that arises in the heart due to shortcomings in obligations and the commission of sins. Similarly, a person fears non-acceptance even after performing acts of obedience.
However, natural fear, like the fear upon seeing a snake or wild animals, is different. This fear is not in comparison to Allah; it is just a natural feeling, as when Musa (peace be upon him) feared the snake. Allah's command is:
وألق عصاك فلما رآها تهتز كأنها جان ولى مدبرا ولم يعقب يا موسى لا تخف إني لا يخاف لدي المرسلون. (An-Naml: 10)
Translation: "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it wriggling as if it were a snake, he turned in flight and did not look back. [Allah said], "O Musa, fear not. Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear."
The reward for fearing Allah is Paradise. Allah's command is:
وأما من خاف مقام ربه ونهى النفس عن الهوى فإن الجنة هي المأوى. (An-Nazi'at: 40-41)
Translation: "But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from [unlawful] inclination, then indeed, Paradise will be his refuge."
May Allah bless us with the quality of fear and reverence. Ameen.
Those who doubt the Quran and Hadith form sects in the names of Imams.
In regions where people indulge in grave worship and shirk, they can be subject to Allah's wrath and punishment at any time. May Allah protect us.
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