Fear and Hope - Abu Hamid Al Ghazali

Fear and Hope - Abu Hamid Al Ghazali

Fear and hope (AI-khawf wa ar-Rajâ') are the two wings which allow the Closer (Muqarrabûn) to soar to the sublime stations. They are like two mounts that allow you to cross the paths leading to the beyond and to pass any difficult and thorny obstacle. For only the bridles of hope lead to the nearness of the All-Merciful (Rahmàn) and the bliss of Paradise, although it is a long and arduous path, strewn with pitfalls for the heart and pitfalls for the senses and the organs.

Likewise, there is nothing better to ward off the Fire of Gehenna (Jahîm), the place of the most atrocious sufferings, although it is paved with pleasant desires and wonderful pleasures, than the whips of intimidation and the assaults of reproof .

Fear and hope help maintain consistency. The way to Paradise is strewn with unpleasant things that can only be faced with constancy through the power of hope. As for Gehenna, it is surrounded by passions and alluring things, and one can only work steadily to eradicate them by the force of fear.