Imam Ibn Kathir (RA) 

            O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may acquire taqwa (piety). Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He alone has the right to be worshipped.” Qurân, 2:21-22Several scholars of Tafsir, like Ar-Razi and others, used this Ayat (verse) as an argument for the existence of the Creator, and it is a most worthy method of argument. Indeed, whoever ponders over the things that exist, the higher and lower creatures, their various shapes, colors, behavior, benefits and ecological roles, then he will realize the ability, wisdom, knowledge, perfection and majesty of the Creator. Once a Bedouin was asked about the evidence to Allah’s existence, he responded: “All praise is due to Allah! The camel’s dung testifies to the existence of the camel, and the track testifies to the fact that someone was walking. A sky that holds the giant stars, a land that has fairways and a sea that has waves, does not all of this testify that the Most Kind, Most Knowledgeable exists?” [Ar-Razi 2:91]Hence, whoever gazes at the sky in its immensity, its expanse, and the various kinds of planets in it, some of which appear stationary in the sky whoever gazes at the seas that surround the land from all sides, and the mountains that were placed on the earth to stabilize it, so that whoever lives on land, whatever their shape and color, are able to live and thrive whoever reads Allah’s statement: “And among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colors and (others) very black. And likewise, men and ad-Dawwabb (moving, living creatures, beasts) and cattle are of various colors. It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah.” (35:27-28)Whoever thinks about the running rivers that travel from area to area bringing benefit, whoever ponders over what Allah has created on earth; various animals and plants of different tastes, scents, shapes and colors that are a result of unity between land and water, whoever thinks about all of this then he will realize that these facts testify to the existence of the Creator, His perfect ability, wisdom, mercy, kindness, generosity and His overall compassion for His creation. There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, nor is there a Lord besides Him, upon Him we rely and to Him we turn in repentance. There are numerous Ayat in the Qurân on this subject. 

Fear Allah Subhana watala

Hadith - Qudsi 22 Let not any one of you belittle himself. They said: O Messenger of Allah, how can any one of us belittle himself? He said: He finds a matter concerning Allah about which he should say something, and he does not say [it], so Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says to him on the Day of Resurrection: What prevented you from saying something about such-and-such and such-and-such? He say: [It was] out of fear of people. Then He says: Rather it is I whom you should more properly fear.Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5083, Narrated AbuDharr: Allah’s Messenger said to him, “Fear Allah wherever you are; if you follow an evil deed with a good one you will obliterate it; and deal with people with a good disposition.” Ahmad, Tirmidhi and DarimiHadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5140, Narrated Hudhayfah: The Prophet said, “By Him in Whose hand my soul is, you must enjoin what is reputable and forbid what is disreputable, or Allah will certainly soon send punishment from Himself to you. Then you will make supplication and not receive an answer.” [Transmitted by Tirmidhi]Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5142, Narrated AbuBakr as-Siddiq: You people recite this verse, “You who believe, care for yourselves; he who goes astray cannot harm you when you are rightly guided.” I heard Allah’s Messenger say, “When people see something objectionable and do not change it, Allah will soon include them all in His punishment.” Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi, who declared it to be sahih, transmitted it. 

We must humble ourselves

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5186, Narrated Uthman ibn Affan: The Prophet said, “The son of Adam* has a right only to the following: a house in which he lives, a garment with which he conceals his private parts, dry bread and water.” Tirmidhi transmitted it. *humankind 

Health, Wealth and Happiness

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5290, Narrated by one of the companions: When we were sitting together, Allah’s Messenger appeared with a trace of water on his head, and when we told him that he appeared to us to be in a happy frame of mind, he agreed. The people then began to discuss wealth and Allah’s Messenger said, “There is no harm in wealth for him who fears Allah, Who is Great and Glorious, but for him who fears Allah health is better than wealth, and a happy frame of mind is one of Allah’s favors.” [Ahmad transmitted it] 

Who do you fear? Mankind? or Allah swt?

The Noble Qur’an At-Taubah 9:13 “Will you not fight a people who have violated their oaths (pagans of Makkah) and intended to expel the Messenger, while they did attack you first? Do you fear them? Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are believers.”Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5306, Narrated AbuDharr -Ahmad, Ibn Majah and Darimi transmitted it: Allah’s Messenger said, he knew a verse which would suffice men if they would but apply it, “For him who fears Allah He will appoint a way out and He will give him provision from an unimagined source.’” 

Tears of Fear

Hadith - Al-Tirmidhi #5359, Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas’ud: Allah’s Messenger said, “If, through fear of Allah, tears–even to the extent of a fly’s head–fall from any believer’s eyes and drop on some part of his cheek, he will be kept away from Hell by Allah.” Ibn Majah transmitted it. 

Must have Knowledge

The Noble Qur’an - Faatir 35:28 “And of men and Ad-Dawab (moving living creatures, beasts, etc.), and cattle, in like manner of various colors. It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. Verily, Allah is All-Mighty, Oft-Forgiving. 

Sayings of the Salaf`

Umar ibn `Abdul `Aziz (Ra) used to say, “None can reach the station of taqwa until he possesses neither action nor words that can be exposed to his embarrassment either in this world or the Hereafter.” He was once asked, “When does the worshipper reach the peak of taqwa? He replied, “If he put all his thoughts and desires in his heart on a plate and then wandered around in the market, he should not feel ashamed of anything there.” He would frequently say, “The sign of the muttaqun (pious person who fears Allah swt much) is to bridle oneself from speaking just like one in ihram bridles himself from speaking. The muttaqun need to be a scholar of the Shari`ah, all of it, otherwise he leaves taqwa without realizing.” 

Action Items for the Muttaqun:

Run from sin and questionable matters (i.e. potential temptations or sins)Run to Allah (i.e. repentence, with sincerity, in ibadah [worship], etc.)Realize that it is out of love that a parent corrects a child. It is a lack of love that neglects or shows little concern regarding a child. So lovingly accept correction from Allah and abstain from evil because of fear of punishment. 

There is no fear where there is not obedience.

Stop fearing mankind. If you’re worried more about what Joe or Hasan down the street thinks then you’re not fearing your Lord. Stop fearing or worrying about the unknown and things you cannot control. “Fix yourself” (i.e. stop trying to fix things you can’t control and stop making excuses that will not stand up to scrutiny on Judgment Day) Accept the Qadar of Allah, swt. Remember… Allah, subhana watala, sees everything we do!