one who has knowledge. Everyone who fears Allah therefore has knowledge. This is what the verse explicitly states. The early generations and most scholars said that it also indicates that everyone who has knowledge fears Allah, just as other verses indicate that everyone who disobeys Allah is ignorant.

As Abū al-‘Āliyah said:

“I asked the Companions of Muhammad about His saying:

‘The repentance accepted by Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance.’

They told me, ‘Everyone who disobeys Allah is ignorant.’”

Mujāhid, al-Hasan al-Basrī, and other scholars among the Successors and those after them said likewise. This is because restriction has the force of an exception, and, according to the majority of scholars, an exception to a negation constitutes an affirmation. Thus, He denies fear to those who are not among the people of knowledge. These are the people who know Him, believe in what the messengers brought, and fear Him.

The Most High says:

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

He also affirms fear for the people of knowledge. Thus, everyone who has knowledge fears Him.

Whoever does not fear Allah is therefore not among the people of knowledge, but among the ignorant, as ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd said:

“Fear of Allah suffices as knowledge, and sufficient