What Quran Says about Importance of Avoiding Fear in Emotional Discipline
According to the Quran, releasing all kinds of emotions should be in relation with God and His will. This is true about negative emotions such as fear as well. In order to achieve emotional discipline, one must leave the Wilayat of Satan so that he would become free from the fear that Satan instills in his heart. God says in Verse 175 of Surah Al Imran: “It is Satan who frightens his friends. Do not be afraid of them (enemies) but have fear of Me if you truly believe.”
Basically, Satan advances his affairs and makes people do wrong things by frightening them with poverty and misery. “Satan threatens you with poverty and commands you to commit sin. God promises you forgiveness and favors. God is Munificent and All-knowing.” (Verse 268 of Surah Al-Baqarah)
Getting free from Satan is the beginning of getting free from the fear of anyone but God, and achieving a freedom and power that can only be achieved through faith in God. That is why God has banned any fear but the Khashiya of Him: “Surely, Allah has better rights that you fear Him, if you are believers.” (Verse 13 of Surah At-Tawbah)
God also commands us to avoid fear of people. Referring to the people’s fear of some Jewish scholars, the Quran says: “We have sent down the Torah in which there is guidance and light by which the submissive prophets judged the Jews, as did the rabbis and those of their Lord, guarding what they were required to of the Book of Allah, and for which they were witness. Do not fear people, but fear Me. And, do not take a small price for My verses. Those who do not judge with what Allah has sent down are the unbelievers.” (Verse 44 of Surah Al-Ma’idah)
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In essence, paying attention to what others think and being afraid of what they might say would make one confused and aimless, weaken his power of thought and rationality, and lead him home to confusion. Fear of God, on the other hand, helps one to become free and obedient to the only Creator and Sustainer of the world and frees him from all humiliation.
