Two-Winged Flight: Fear and Hope
Among the most fundamental feelings a heart must carry on its spiritual journey are fear of Allah’s punishment (havf) and hope for His mercy (reca). When Abdülkadir Geylânî Hazretleri was asked to guide people in a dream, he advised them to distance themselves from the people and turn towards Haqq (Truth), desiring with their hearts rather than their tongues. For desiring with the heart is like desiring with the tongue; but it is free from the calamities of the tongue. It should also be known that Allah Most High is constantly at work, changing and transforming, elevating and humbling. Allah raises some of His servants to illiyyîn (the highest) while lowering others to esfel-i sâfilîne (the lowest of the low). The fear of those who ascend to illiyyîn is falling into esfel-i sâfilîne; their hope is preserving what they possess and remaining eternal at that height. This delicate balance is the greatest guide sustaining a believer’s spiritual life.
Hope Elevates, Fear Preserves
Fear and hope are divine shields protecting humanity from complacency and despair. Those who are lowered to esfel-i sâfilîne fear remaining in their degradation, while their hope is being raised to illiyyîn. A believer must always cling to these two feelings when facing the manifestations of fate and destiny in this world. One should not dwell on what has been written eternally; for He who wrote it is also capable of altering it. He who is capable of building a structure is also capable of destroying it. Therefore, relying on one’s own actions is the most dangerous dimension of pride and heedlessness.
A Perpetual Balance for Direction and Safety
For those devoted to spirituality, fear and hope are not merely feelings at the beginning but a state of awareness that must endure until the last breath. One must always be in a state of fear, hope, caution, and obedience. The believer must remain in this state until he leaves this place with the foot of safety and passes on to the next. Until death arrives, it is essential not to abandon fear, obedience, and caution against evil. However, once one has passed away well and attained safety, there is no need for fear; for then there will be no more change or transformation. As long as a person walks with the balance of havf and reca at this transient station, he protects himself from the deceptions of the nafs (ego) and Satan and progresses firmly towards eternal union.