Human nature has been endowed with two powerful tools: love and fear. These emotions are inevitable and must be directed—either toward the Creator or toward His creation. When love and fear are misdirected solely toward created beings or things, they become sources of deep sorrow and disappointment.
Fear of the creation is a terrible affliction, for it places our sense of security in those who often show no mercy. We become anxious about the opinions, judgments, or threats of others—who, in reality, hold no true power over our fate.
Blind love of the creation is equally dangerous. Many of the things or people we love do not acknowledge or reciprocate our feelings.
One may gaze at the stars with wonder, but the stars offer no recognition.
A mother may pour her heart into her children, but they may take her for granted, blind to her sacrifices.
Even the love between spouses, as sacred and beautiful as it is in Islam, cannot become the ultimate source of happiness. A husband or wife may love sincerely, but neither can fulfill the soul’s longing for permanence and perfect love. Spouses may grow distant, misunderstand one another, or depart this world, leaving hearts in pain.
Even the most cherished aspects of life—our youth, our wealth, our loved ones—eventually leave us, or we leave them. They slip away without farewell, without gratitude, without permanence.
Therefore, we should direct our fear and love to such a One that our fear becomes a pleasant humility and delicate submission, and our love becomes a noble happiness free of humiliation. Only the Creator acknowledges, responds, and remains. Only He deserves to be the object of ultimate fear and unreserved love. He is the Ever-Living who never dies, the Most Merciful who never turns away.
