and if he does not suffer misery, he is a recipient of mercy. These are the people of the straight path, whom Allah has blessed—the prophets, the steadfastly truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous—not those who have incurred His anger, nor those who have gone astray. Those who receive mercy have not incurred His anger, and those who are guided have not gone astray. Thus it becomes clear that those who stand in awe of Allah are mindful of Him and deserving of His Paradise without punishment. These are the ones who have fulfilled the requirements of obligatory faith.

Among the passages indicating this meaning is His saying, Most High:

“It is only those of His servants who have knowledge who fear Allah.”

This means that none fears Him except one who has knowledge. Allah has thus declared that everyone who fears Him has knowledge, as He says in another verse:

“Is one who is devoutly obedient during the hours of the night, prostrating and standing in prayer, fearing the Hereafter and hoping for his Lord’s mercy, like one who is not? Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’”

Fear always includes hope; otherwise, it would be despair. Likewise, hope necessarily entails fear; otherwise, it would be a sense of security. Those who fear Allah and place their hope in Him are therefore the people of knowledge whom Allah has praised.

It is reported that Abū Hayyān al-Taymī said: “Scholars are of three kinds.” One knows Allah but does not know Allah’s commands; another knows Allah’s commands but does not know Allah; and another knows both Allah and His commands. The one who knows Allah is the one who fears Him, while the one who knows Allah’s commands is the one who knows what He commands and forbids.

In al-Sahīh (The Authentic Collection), it is reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“By Allah, I hope to be the one among you who fears Allah most and knows His limits best.”

Since those who fear Allah are the scholars praised in the Book and the Sunnah, they cannot be deserving of blame. This can only be the case if they fulfil their obligations. This is also indicated by His saying, Most High: