The Ever-Changing State of a Believer
In Islamic belief, a perfect believer neither completely loses hope in Allah’s mercy (despair) throughout his life nor becomes entirely secure from His punishment (security). He oscillates like a pendulum between these two feelings (fear and hope). Hazrat Geylani describes this changeable and delicate state of the heart of a perfect believer as follows: “A believer is sometimes like mountains, and sometimes like a vein trembling in the breeze.” The believer, who exhibits an unwavering stance like mountains at the point of acceptance of fate, dons a fragile and sensitive spirit as susceptible as a vein trembling in the gentle wind, considering that he will be accountable before Allah.
Beware of the Feeling of Security
As long as a servant lives in this world, it is a spiritual suicide for him to relax his worship or act carelessly towards sins by saying, “I am now complete, I am saved.” Geylani (may Allah be pleased with him) strongly warns believers against this danger: “Be fearful. Do not feel secure. Let this state continue until you meet your Lord… Restrain yourself until the state of security is laid out before you.” It is unknown whether a person will go to his last breath with faith (a good ending). Therefore, living with the guarantee of “nothing will happen to me” is itself pride and heedlessness. The feeling of trust and security will be fully experienced only when one enters the gates of paradise.
How Fear Cleanses the Heart
The fear of Allah (taqwa and awe) is a tremendous source of healing that washes away the sins that darken the heart. “As long as a servant fears his Lord, he removes evils; his heart and secrets become calm.” This fear is not a pathological fear that drives people into panic, but a deep respect and etiquette towards an Almighty and Absolute Justice Creator. With this respect, the servant who avoids prohibitions, repents for his mistakes, eventually sets sail on that unique sea of hope (hope) and is surrounded by the boundless mercy of his Lord.