The Needed Fear to Unlock The Grants of Allah’s Mercy

The greatest of the grants of Allah’s Mercy (swt) upon His servants are contained in His commands. In fact, all His (swt) words are Guidance, Mercy and Healing for that which is in the hearts. Adhering to His guidance and observing His commands is the way to unlock the grants of Allah’s infinite Mercy.“O, humanity! Indeed, there has come to you a warning from your Lord, a cure for what is in the hearts, a guide, and a mercy for the believers. Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ 'In Allah’s grace and mercy let them rejoice. That is far better than whatever ˹wealth˺ they amass'” (10: 57-58). One of these core commands, which contains, actually, the solution to perseverance and the preservation of enthusiasm driving one toward being the nearest to Allah, is the command which consists of following every accomplished act of worship and/or duty with much remembrance of Allah (swt).

Actually, one might assume that, after completing the celebration of the rites of the Hajj, the sacrifice, and the ten days of Dhul Hijja, that now would be a down time for rest! However, Allah’s command instructs the believers to actually remember Him more passionately after fulfilling the rites. “When you have fulfilled your sacred rites, praise Allah as you used to praise your forefathers ˹before Islam,˺ or even more passionately” (2:200). This is because Allah’s grants of Mercy upon His servants reside in fulfilling His remembrance and in striving to be the nearest to Him (swt). It is, in fact, a principle that runs throughout the spirit of the law of the Sharia’. “So once you have fulfilled ˹your duty,˺ strive ˹in devotion,˺ and turn to your Lord with longing” (94: 7-8). One can also see more clearly this core aspect of the path in the following Ayah: “O, you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance. It is He who confers blessing upon you, and His angels [ask Him to do so] that He may bring you out from darknesses into the light. And ever is He, to the believers, Merciful. Their greeting the Day they meet Him will be, 'Peace.' And He has prepared for them a noble reward” (33:41-44). The receiving of the divine blessings then results after doing much remembrance.

To be able to keep the heart busy with the remembrance of Allah (swt), so as to unlock the grants of Mercy related to perseverance and preservation, one has to implant in it a specific type of fear to serve as the drive to the perseverance and the preservation of the remembrance. The development of such a fear starts first with acknowledging that being a believer and having Iman is a purely a favor from Allah alone, meaning that Iman could be taken away whenever Allah (swt) wills! “O, believers! Respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah stands between a person and their heart, and that to Him you will all be gathered” (8:24). Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) often used to pray: "O, Controller of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion." She said: "O, Messenger of Allah, you frequently make this supplication." He said: "There is no heart but that it is between two fingers of the fingers of the Most Merciful. If He wills to keep it steadfast, He keeps it steadfast; and if He wills to let it deviate, He lets it deviate."

One would not know how the deviation of the heart might happen. In fact, deviation can result from various factors that affect the heart, whether due to an inherent flaw, influences from interactions or desires, or a weakness of will. These factors divert the soul from the virtues it possesses to vices instead that it had previously resisted, due to the ingrained divine guidance embraced by the believer. However, the believer would not know when the causes of misfortune may befall him/her. Likewise, the miserable, ignorant person would not know when the causes of abandoning his/her current state may surround him/her due to a change in character or disposition, or a transformation of circumstances. Allah, the Exalted, says: "And We turn their hearts and their eyes" (6:110).

The believer’s deepest fear is, then, losing the Iman which he/she has been gifted! When a believer's heart perceives the impact of Allah's will in this manner, there is no alternative but to cling to the support of Allah (swt) with fervor, to hold firmly to His protection with determination, and to turn to Him, imploring His mercy and grace to preserve the treasure He has granted and the gift He has bestowed. The way to implore for Allah’s grace and bounty and to preserve this treasure of Iman and guidance, is to unlock Allah’s Mercy contained in the following Duaa. The action of unlocking means that this Dua is not only meant to be uttered, but to make it as a guide and protection of all actions and a means to an increase in piety and humility to Allah (swt). The Duaa is: “Our Lord, let not our hearts deviate after You have guided us and grant us from Yourself mercy. Indeed, You are the Bestower. Our Lord, surely You will gather the people for a Day about which there is no doubt. Indeed, Allah does not fail in His promise” (3:8-9).

Reflecting and pondering on the deviation that might occur without one’s knowledge, fearing deeply to succumb to misguidance, and keeping the tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah and with this Duaa, would help the believer, by the leave of Allah, unlock the grants of Allah’s Mercy contained in His commands.