Although we may not often acknowledge or admit it, much of our lives are often governed and limited by fear. At times, fear is simply ever-present in the background of our minds, quietly and constantly contributing to stress. At other times, fear reaches a heightened level of manifestation, resulting in outright panic and anxiety attacks.
In this post, I share what I have come to learn through the prophetic path as the key to progressively overcoming fear and thereby learning how to live a life of true and authentic freedom in which the heart and soul are liberated from the limiting shackles of both conscious and subconscious fear.
The Root of all Fear
The root of all fear is the fear of death. When we experience anxiety, stress and worry about potential future events, what we are actually experiencing is the emotional response to the possibility of death.
Whether we worry and are anxious about rejection, failing, not having sufficient financial means to meet our responsibilities and obligations or anything else, our minds are subconsciously translating these possibilities into the possibility of death as the potential result.
I have often stated that the opposite of fear is faith. The ultimate act of faith is to surrender to death—if it is willed by the Divine.
How to Become Fearless
Based on the guidance, wisdom and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the last of the great prophets and messengers of God, the key to overcoming fear and making faith real is the acknowledgement and acceptance of death.
The Prophet ﷺ continually advised and admonished his companions to remember death often, and that by doing so, their hearts would become liberated and free from attachment to that which is temporal and so shift attachment to that which is Eternal.
Remember often that which ends indulgences—death.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Consequently, believers have throughout history made the remembrance of death a consistent part of their spiritual paths and practices, some going so far as to dig a grave to spend time in it.
Most know of the story of the great companion of the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyiduna ‘Umar (ra), who once employed a man to stand outside his door only to remind him of death as he would pass by.
Such were men of faith, and if we are to cultivate and awaken true faith, we must make peace with death, for doing so necessitates trust and faith in the Almighty. Thus we awaken actual faith in the heart.
How to Remember Death
One of the simplest ways to cultivate transcendence and non-attachment is by learning to simply become still and surrendered—what is often referred to as meditation—on a daily basis.
The state of stillness and surrender that is cultivated in meditation is in fact an experience of spiritual death and the transcendence it makes possible. In this way, by spending a period of time daily in the letting go of all worldly concerns, thoughts and attachments, the heart becomes increasingly liberated from the temporal world and of all that is transient, and one progressively experiences the peace, joy and freedom that is the result of increasing attachment to that which is Real—the Divine.
May the Almighty guide each of us to that which is best and most blessed, and that leads to His divine peace and pleasure.
To your divine and eternal success.
15 Responses
Thank you for your post. I believe it will be of great benefit. I will take by your advice… its what our beloved prophet said. Remembering death should be truely liberating and I think any meditation can help. Thank you for your advice again brother.
You are most welcome, Mahmoud. May the guidance and support of Allah Almighty be with you and with us all. To your divine and eternal success.
Thank you for this great reminder! God bless you and everyone!
Ameen, and thank you as well, Nad. Please remember us in your prayers, and may Allah Almighty unite our hearts in truth and excellence.
AsSalaam-u-Aleikum,
Alhamdulillah, this is an excellent reminder and I whole-heartedly agree with the content. Islam, like all the authentic spiritual traditions preceding it, and of which it is the fountainhead, repeatedly reminds us that aging, illness, and ultimately death are inescapable realities and perhaps the most powerful “teachers” we will ever encounter. Facing these teachers courageously deepens our faith and engenders the quality of fearlessness to arise in our being.
It strikes me, however, that it is possible to follow basic health measures, including vaccinations, physical distancing, limitations on numbers for physical gatherings, etc. during a time of global pandemic whilst still remaining present in the moment and not being seduced into thinking that by doing so we somehow will evade death. Observing such basic health measures helps protect ourselves and our loved ones from needless illness and suffering and, in my view, Islam reminds us to care for those around us. Minimizing contagion and illness to others is one way of us doing so.
Drawing further on the battle metaphor, I see modern vaccines and medical therapies as a form of armor and weaponry that enables the prudent “warrior” to enter battle and focus on the real enemy – the nafs; only a foolish warrior willingly leaves aside his armor and enters battle without his sword when he has a choice to do otherwise.
In similar fashion, failing to observe prudent health strategies against acquiring preventable illness does not, in my view, constitutes the act of being meritorious, courageous, or fearless, rather, it evidences foolishness, recklessness, and masochism brought on by the negative aspects of the ego which constantly encourages us not to be mindful or aware.
May Allah (SWT) guide each of us to His light and bless us with His limitless Loving Compassion and Loving Mercy, ameen.
Wasalaam,
Daniel
Wa alaykum as-salaam, and thank you for sharing your thoughts, Daniel. Yes, we as believers seeking to walk the straight path must allow knowledge and wisdom, in addition to the guidance and grace of God, to direct our steps and our actions. May Allah Almighty protect and preserve us from fear, ignorance and manipulation, and increase our faith and trust in He while concurrently acting in accordance with His will. Best and most blessed regards.
Fear of death for Islamic reason, i.e. having failed in our committment to the one and only Allah SWTA is realistic and encourages toward improving our worship as death is a daily possibility.
However responding to the fear propaganda mankind is being exposed to from all sides would indicate a lack of faith on my part. We are re assured everything lies in the power of the best planner. Although a new revert, I have full faith in that statement and enjoy the sense of freedom that knowledge brought me.
Congratulations and welcome back to al-Islam, Christa. May Allah Almighty continue to guide, strengthen and support your heart, and lead you to what is best and most excellent in both this life and the next. To your divine and eternal success.
MashaAllah! Such a beautiful reminder for us❤
Alhamdulillah, thank you, Anam, and may Allah Almighty continue to guide us all towards that which is best and most pleasing to He. Best and most blessed regards.
Salaams…My great uncle was a great man of faith, who lost his sight early in life…He was the most humblest and beautiful of men…He asked his son to have a grave dug in the foregarden of his house…Every day he would lie in his grave to get used to how that would feel and remind himself of the inevitability of death …He did this for years until he’s death and was buried there…As children we would go into the room and see the empty grave , for years I found this hard to fathom…I was scared out of my wits for years knowing when we pass away we are alert to everything thats happening around us, especially hearing the footsteps of our loved ones leaving us and walking away from our graves, I would literally cry in fear even though I was finding life unbearable…I was actually terrified but life has a way of creating change , there came a time when literally I prayed for death and envied those who passed away around me, asking Allah almighty why HE didn’t take me instead…Than I learnt it was wrong to ask for death, it showed my lack of faith in God and lack of willpower on my part…We must do our best to deal with the challenges of life with courage and patience, knowing and believing God will never test us beyond our capabilities, at times that is still a challenge…Its WE who lack faith and give in… Today I don’t fear death but I fear dying and facing Allah almighty empty handed…Working with being present and in the moment is helping me connect to the real ME who will always BE no matter what…
These are powerful reflections and reminders, Yasmin. Thank you for sharing. May the mercy, peace and healing of God be with you.
Dear Brother Ihsan.
Jazakallah for this beautiful mail. I whole heartedly accept and agree with the content. I recently lost one of my sisters and the experience left me with the same thought …..DEATH IS THE ULTIMATE TRUTH. we must keep our faith in death and AKHIRAH.
That’s the only way of salvation.
In the end I am repeating what you wrote at the end of your post with jazakallah.
*May the Almighty guide each of us to that which is best and most blessed, and that leads to His divine peace and pleasure.*
To your and our divine and eternal success.
Thank you for sharing, Nasra. May your sister and all loved ones who have passed be taken with the mercy and forgiveness of God, and find eternal peace in the world beyond. Blessed regards.
Early last summer I ask my neighbor, who is a writer on Sufism and Islamic topics, about Dschihad and the circumstances legitimizing a religious war. He responded with telling me, last legitimate Dschihad had been in Afghanistan after the invasion of the Sowjetunion.
In early summer 2021 I wasn’t really following the NEWS coming out of Afganisthan but it felt that time, despite of having fought a legitimate Dschihad … the Taliban had lost the conflict.
Only a few weeks later, a sudden shift happened and the NEWS from Afganisthan announced an overwhelming victory of the TALİBAN … I immediately rushed to my neighbor as I perceived the reports as utmost positive and a sign of signaling HOPE for the UMMAH.
I had signed onto Islam in Saudi Arabia, my Shahada is stamped in Makkah and my understanding of the gender relation in Islam derived from a book by Satchiko Murata ‘The Tao of Islam’.
The book is absolutely complimentary to this excellent lecture.
The ‘ Tao of İslam’ and IBN ARABI’S interpretation of LOVE or AL NIKAH became a solid foundation or path I am walking on. Al hamdullelah.