Fearing Allah is obligatory; in fact it is one of the most important of religious duties, and the one who does not fear Allah is not a believer. According to Ahl as-Sunnah, the worship that is prescribed includes love and veneration of Allah. Love generates hope and veneration generates fear. The only reason why Allah created creation and sent messengers to them is so that people would worship Him, obey Him, fear Him and His punishment, seek His pleasure, ask for His paradise, and seek His mercy, pardon and forgiveness. Were it not for that, people would have nothing to deter them from committing evil deeds, and they would have no fear of Allah that would prevent them from committing immoral actions, and no faith to instruct them to do what is right.

Key Points about Allah before Creation: -Allah existed alone, without anything before or beside Him. -His Throne was above water before creation. -He later created the heavens, the earth, and all creatures. -Scholars confirm He remains distinct from creation. -Allah is above His Throne in a manner that befits His majesty.

If Islam or Iman is mentioned on its own, then what is meant is the entire religion of Islam, in which case there is no difference between Islam and Iman. But if Islam and Iman are mentioned together in a single context, then what is meant by Iman (faith) is inward deeds (i.e., actions of the heart), such as belief in Allah, loving Him, fearing Him, putting one’s hope in Him, and being sincere to Him alone. As for Islam, what is meant thereby is outward actions that may be accompanied by faith in the heart, or they may not, in which case the doer is a hypocrite or a Muslim whose faith is weak.

Muraqabah (awareness that Allah is watching) means that the Muslim is bearing in mind in all circumstances and situations, and believing with certainty, that Allah sees him and knows his good and bad deeds, and that He knows what is hidden in his thoughts and heart. Muraqabah is essential for every Muslim, because by means of it he will attain sincerity in his acts of worship, perform them properly, and avoid what is prohibited.

It is proven in the Quran and Sunnah and by the consensus of the Salaf that Allah is above His heavens over His Throne (as befits His Majesty), and that He is the Exalted, Most High. He is above all things, and there is nothing that is above Him.

Tawakkul in Islam means depending on Allah and believing that He is the One Who causes measures to be effective; His decree comes to pass; He has decreed all things, counted them out and ordained them. Part of putting one’s trust in Allah is taking appropriate measures and striving to do so.