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  1. Home
  2. Critical Examination of Islam
  3. What is the nature of God?
  4. Fear God OR Love God

Fear God OR Love God

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved What is the nature of God?
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  • A Offline
    A Offline
    Ahmad_Bilal
    wrote on last edited by
    #8

    Peace.

    The concept of "fear" doesn't always imply the notion of being afraid. It can also mean to have a profound reverence and awe of something or someone. I think that's closer to what people mean when they say that they 'fear' God. So, in this case, many people's position would be that they fear AND love God, since the two ideas complement each other.

    Peace,

    Ahmad

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    • M Offline
      M Offline
      Man_of_Faith
      wrote on last edited by
      #9

      Peace,

      Thanks for the clarification, brother Ahmad. Well formulated.

      God bless you

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      • Z Offline
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        Zulf
        wrote on last edited by
        #10

        Peace.

        The concept of "fear" doesn't always imply the notion of being afraid. It can also mean to have a profound reverence and awe of something or someone. I think that's closer to what people mean when they say that they 'fear' God. So, in this case, many people's position would be that they fear AND love God, since the two ideas complement each other.

        Peace,

        Ahmad

        Good point.

        And, 'fear of God' can also mean a respect for the system of cause and effect, the 'you reap what you sow', and 'what goes around comes around'...

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        • H Offline
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          hawk99
          wrote on last edited by
          #11

          Peace all,

          Love God, because God grants blessings, comfort, peace, guidance, perseverance,
          intellegence, love, wealth, children, sustenance, friends, free minds, mercy, and much
          much more why wouldn't we love God who does so much for us and fear abandonment
          of such a benefactor.

          Yet, some people set up idols to rival GOD, and love them as if they are GOD.
          Those who believe love GOD the most. If only the transgressors could see themselves
          when they see the retribution! They will realize then that all power belongs to GOD
          alone, and that GOD's retribution is awesome.

          peace

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          • A Offline
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            amin
            wrote on last edited by
            #12

            Love everything around you, and there is no fear God.

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            • Z Offline
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              Zulf
              wrote on last edited by
              #13

              The trillion dollar question is "How do we love God?"

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              • T Offline
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                the_path_of_light
                wrote on last edited by
                #14

                It has been my experience that the best way to love the Infinite Creator is active engagement. A regular practice of meditation/prayer will result in an established line of communication with God, which will inevitably lead to an active love of the Sustainer.

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                • Z Offline
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                  Zulf
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #15

                  I think we cannot love God unless it is expressed through our actions and interaction with the world we live in. We may have a foundation of faith in the God, but prayers alone won't cut it... action, in any form, with proper intentions of course, is a necessary must for loving God. Philosophies won't cut it, spirituality won't do it and shunning the world will prevent it. God is not palpable, but God's creation is, and we are placed in the midst of it for a reason. That's how I see it.

                  Also 'fear of God' and 'love of God' are not mutually exclusive, they are not opposites or demanding a choice. Whatever fear and love really entails, goes hand in hand.

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                  • U Offline
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                    unknownuser
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #16

                    This is the exact questioning I've been pondering on for a while. It seems that Love is the general consensus here and I love the inclusion of a verse to support it. )
                    For me, I love God too much that it bothers me that I can't fear Him. When I do fear anything worldly however, I replace it with the fear of God instead, as He says, Fear Me Alone. I think this is a healthy way of living in peace of mind. I worry if I'm not a loyal enough believer due to the lack of fear, but of course I respect the Lord more than anything and always do good deeds (hope so) to the best of my abilities. I do those things because they provide me comfort and happiness and I know they please the Lord, but sadly, they are not due to fear of Him so much as to avoid troublesome repercussions. As someone else pointed out, fear is the force by which evil controls in this world and obtains power. It is definitely something that should be attributed to the Lord alone.

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                    • M Offline
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                      muslims
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #17

                      Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. (<a href="http//quran.com/33/1-7">33.4</a&gt

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                      • I Offline
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                        IAMOP
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #18

                        When God says "FEAR none but Me"...

                        This is basically like so

                        Imagine someone threatens to kill you or blackmail you. You have 3 parties

                        You
                        Attempted murderer/blackmailer
                        God

                        In order of strongest to weakest

                        God
                        You
                        Attempted murderer/blackmailer

                        So when God says fear Him; this means present your witness and disregard the blackmailer altogether. When you fear the blackmailer above God, you yield to their unjust desires.

                        So you see why FEAR GOD. Because God = JUSTICE. Fear God = FEAR JUSTICE. Why fear the unjust? If you are afraid of the unjust, you will be swept up by their desires. Ask all the farmers who willingly buy Monsanto seeds - God drives them to suicide! Ask the hypocrites who were afraid of man instead of God when they were called to war, each of them were crushed and levelled AND they died in a state of being unjust.

                        Fear God does not mean "be scared of God" like God is some kind of ghost. It means that if you have reason to fear man, then you have EVEN MORE reason to fear The God, so your fear of man is always always always unjust and your fear of God is never unjust.

                        Fearing The-God means paying reverent attention to The-God's commands and executing them regardless of which stupid mortal stands in His way.

                        To fear The-God, is to love The-God. To love The-God, is to fear The-God. If you love The God, you cannot fear any but The God, there is nothing else worthy of fear that remains! All else in comparison are grains of dust, even less.

                        peace

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                        • U Offline
                          U Offline
                          unknownuser
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #19

                          When God says "FEAR none but Me"...

                          This is basically like so

                          Imagine someone threatens to kill you or blackmail you. You have 3 parties

                          You
                          Attempted murderer/blackmailer
                          God

                          In order of strongest to weakest

                          God
                          You
                          Attempted murderer/blackmailer

                          So when God says fear Him; this means present your witness and disregard the blackmailer altogether. When you fear the blackmailer above God, you yield to their unjust desires.

                          So you see why FEAR GOD. Because God = JUSTICE. Fear God = FEAR JUSTICE. Why fear the unjust? If you are afraid of the unjust, you will be swept up by their desires. Ask all the farmers who willingly buy Monsanto seeds - God drives them to suicide! Ask the hypocrites who were afraid of man instead of God when they were called to war, each of them were crushed and levelled AND they died in a state of being unjust.

                          Fear God does not mean "be scared of God" like God is some kind of ghost. It means that if you have reason to fear man, then you have EVEN MORE reason to fear The God, so your fear of man is always always always unjust and your fear of God is never unjust.

                          Fearing The-God means paying reverent attention to The-God's commands and executing them regardless of which stupid mortal stands in His way.

                          To fear The-God, is to love The-God. To love The-God, is to fear The-God. If you love The God, you cannot fear any but The God, there is nothing else worthy of fear that remains! All else in comparison are grains of dust, even less.

                          peace

                          Those are very interesting points. I never thought about the unjust concept but you are absolutely right. Humans are unjust and imperfect and fearing one is surrendering your power and giving it to a wrongdoer. Fearing connects to disappointing - fear of disappointing someone you love, means respecting that very person's wishes. It makes sense in very many ways.

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                          • J Offline
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                            Jane
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #20

                            I think fear is your ego trying to protect itself and if you fear God then something has gone wrong; I think to feel love is to love God.

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                            • D Offline
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                              DrGm
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #21

                              peace,

                              2831 - ...approach and fear not. Indeed, you are of the secure.

                              2710 - ...Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear.

                              unless we feel secure, we'll have fear. this fear is the basic to get security from Allah.

                              i fear Him.

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                              • L Offline
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                                Loveleen
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #22

                                I have this tremendous love for Allah he is soo beautiful in every way possible his creation is just amazingly orchestrated we are beauty in every way possible and i really think the older we are the more beauty you have idk im just weird like that but i just feel like as we age how delicate we look.... lol im sooo weird but i do fear Allah because he is capable of doing things our mind cant comprehend

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                                • I Offline
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                                  Israfeel
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #23

                                  2710 - ...Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear.

                                  Look how Quranists quote the Quran Majeed out of context!

                                  "Now do thou throw thy rod!" But when he saw it moving (of its own accord)as if it had been a snake, he turned back in retreat, and retraced not his steps "O Moses!" (it was said), "Fear not truly, in My presence, those called as apostles have no fear,-

                                  This verse is not referring to fear of Allah, but fear of other things when in the presence of Allah!

                                  Fear of Allah is a sign of belief and worship of Allah. They are called as Al-Khaashioon (the people who tremble in fear) (Surah 232)

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                                  • D Offline
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                                    diamantinehoneybunch
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #24

                                    Look how Quranists quote the Quran Majeed out of context!

                                    "Now do thou throw thy rod!" But when he saw it moving (of its own accord)as if it had been a snake, he turned back in retreat, and retraced not his steps "O Moses!" (it was said), "Fear not truly, in My presence, those called as apostles have no fear,-

                                    This verse is not referring to fear of Allah, but fear of other things when in the presence of Allah!

                                    Fear of Allah is a sign of belief and worship of Allah. They are called as Al-Khaashioon (the people who tremble in fear) (Surah 232)

                                    You have no idea what these people are talking about.

                                    The person whom you replied to didn't do it in order to deceive and twist Qur'anic verses.
                                    He just gave important phrases in a number of Quranic verses that talk about fearing God.

                                    Also, this topic is about Fear God OR Love God.

                                    Don't be hypocritical and try to act like you are innocent.

                                    You have done taking Qur'an verses out of context for so many times and ending up making islam look like a militant sexist religion with your posts.
                                    sigh

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                                    • R Offline
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                                      Recluse
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #25

                                      Both...

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                                      • H Offline
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                                        hawk99
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #26

                                        Both...

                                        Agreed

                                        Yet, some people set up idols to rival GOD, and love them as if they are GOD.
                                        Those who believe love GOD the most. If only the transgressors could see themselves
                                        when they see the retribution! They will realize then that all power belongs to GOD alone,
                                        and that GOD's retribution is awesome.

                                        It is the devil's system to instill fear into his subjects. Do not fear them and
                                        fear Me instead, if you are believers.

                                        God bless

                                        peace

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                                        • J Offline
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                                          JavaLatte
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #27

                                          Love God and fear God, both are right and both are lovely.

                                          I think both can work in harmony on humans if they believe in God.

                                          There is nothing wrong with fear of God. It's beautiful when it appear honestly on someone's attitude.

                                          We can fear God and also love Him at the same time. God is so amazing.

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