Hope and Fear

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Raheem

In Salat we recite “Al Rahman” which mean the merciful to all things Allah has created and “Al Rahim” which means to a specific group a special mercy for them (the believers). When we say this we are remembering that Allah is very merciful and can forgive us of our sins, therefore we have hope that He will forgive us. Though we have this hope we also have a fear which is clear when we recite “Malik yaum-id-din” in our Salat. Even though He may forgive us, we have no guarantee He will. We should always remember the Day of Judgement, if we do this we would be to afraid to commit a sin. Saying this everyday in our Salat “Malik yaum-id-din” reminds us that His Sovereignty and Domination that day over everything and everyone. Allah’s Mastership on this day is not similar to our imaginary ownership of that which belongs to us from the things of this world (the imaginary ones from this world will disappear that day)
Some may bring up the fact that Shias have intercession on this day so why have fear? There is a hadith Umar Ibn Yazid says that, “I asked Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.), “I have heard you saying that all our Shia’s will enter Heaven however sinful they may be?” Imam replied, “By Allah I had truly said, they shall all belong to Heaven.” Then I asked, “May my life be sacrificed upon you, even if their sins are great and in large number?” Imam said, “All of you (Shias) shall enter Paradise by the intercession of the Holy Prophet (S) or his successors on the Day of Judgement. But, by Allah I fear for you the Barzakh.” I asked,”What is Barzakh?” He replied, “Barzakh is the grave. Its duration commences from the time of death until the Day of Judgement.” (al-Kāfi). With these types of hadith and with intercession we should still not think we are clear and have no worries for the Judgement Day. First we need to realize that intercession is only for those you are not heedless in their prayers. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “Our intercession is not for those who consider the Prayers unimportant.” or another hadith in this regards “Bab-ul-Hawaij Imam Musa al-Kadhim (a.s.) says: “Our shias are only those who follow us (in every respect), walk in our footsteps and imitate our actions.” (Bihār al-Anwār)” Even if there is intercession on us and we commit so many sins that barzakh doesn’t clean us from those sins we still can enter the fire of Hell for a long period of time. Holy Prophet (S) said, “Verily, a person shall be kept imprisoned in Hell for a hundred years for each of the sins (that he commits).” (al-Kāfi)
In conclusion we should always stay hopeful for His Mercy and yet be fearful so that we repent for our disobedience to Him. We must not be hopeless in His forgiveness and on the same hand fear Him so that our fear will drive us away from committing sins. With that I will end with one more hadith Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) told Mufazzal bin Umar, “If you wish to see one of our devotees then look for that person who abstains from sins and fears more His Creator and remains hopeful of His reward. Whenever you find such an individual then take it for granted that he is one of my devotees.”