Can Fear be Positive?
Allah ﷻ says in Surah Al-Baqarah 2:2,
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]
The Book of God towards the very onset teaches us to have be Muttaqi, to have Taqwa - i.e. to worship God out of love for Him but with a healthy balance of fear and hope.
What does it mean to have a balance of fear and hope?
Could fear really be a positive institutional force?
Many times we see fear being used as one of the strongest force in regulating behaviour and actions of people institutionally. No doubt that fear is a valid and necessary emotion for stopping injustice to self or others. But I guess it shows how much each system is abused these days, for them to have to resort to promoting fear as the primary and many a times the only force. If people involved in all institutions were doing their actual job then hope, love, kindness, peace, justice and progress would be the primary motivators and yes fear would also have its rightful place.
Government
Government is meant to support and promote - overall peace; justice; personal, social and economic prosperity of ALL PEOPLE in its constituency.
Law abiding citizens must feel safe, have vast opportunities to thrive and have freedom to share their respectful opinions,
Criminals should be scared to commit crimes.
School
A school is meant to expand the mind, body and hearts - with beneficial knowledge, compassion, care, discipline, opening up new opportunities, making lasting friendships for ALL STUDENTS.
Students who respect and put in the work should see the fruits of their labour and experience happiness, success, contentment and healthy opportunities.
And the mischief makers should be scared to harm others or be disrespectful towards the opportunities they have.
Religion
Religion is meant to connect us to the our Creator, One True God; to help us understand our purpose of life, and help us in fulfilling that purpose, to make our life and Afterlife beautiful; to know who to turn to for help; to gain peace of heart at the time of pain, and to observe healthy boundaries in our matters; to be a source of benefit to other creation of God. It shows us what true goodness is, and helps us to achieve it. Religion offers an equal opportunity to ALL OF HUMANITY to know God, connect to God, seek from God’s unlimited treasures of love, provision, knowledge, mercy, grace and forgiveness, and to progress on the path towards Paradise.
Those who have faith and gratitude towards God. And keep trying to be and do better with reverence in their heart, truthful acknowledgement in their speech and proof in their actions should enjoy the peace of heart and mind that comes with it.
And those who recklessly enjoy the life and pleasures that God has given them, yet remain thankless, destroy life and property He has given them, are rude and untrustworthy, propagate crimes against humanity and other creation of God should be scared of His justice that they won’t be able to escape - if not in this life, then definitely in the next...
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]
The Book of God towards the very onset teaches us to have be Muttaqi, to have Taqwa - i.e. to worship God out of love for Him but with a healthy balance of fear and hope.
What does it mean to have a balance of fear and hope?
Could fear really be a positive institutional force?
Many times we see fear being used as one of the strongest force in regulating behaviour and actions of people institutionally. No doubt that fear is a valid and necessary emotion for stopping injustice to self or others. But I guess it shows how much each system is abused these days, for them to have to resort to promoting fear as the primary and many a times the only force. If people involved in all institutions were doing their actual job then hope, love, kindness, peace, justice and progress would be the primary motivators and yes fear would also have its rightful place.
Government
Government is meant to support and promote - overall peace; justice; personal, social and economic prosperity of ALL PEOPLE in its constituency.
Law abiding citizens must feel safe, have vast opportunities to thrive and have freedom to share their respectful opinions,
Criminals should be scared to commit crimes.
School
A school is meant to expand the mind, body and hearts - with beneficial knowledge, compassion, care, discipline, opening up new opportunities, making lasting friendships for ALL STUDENTS.
Students who respect and put in the work should see the fruits of their labour and experience happiness, success, contentment and healthy opportunities.
And the mischief makers should be scared to harm others or be disrespectful towards the opportunities they have.
Religion
Religion is meant to connect us to the our Creator, One True God; to help us understand our purpose of life, and help us in fulfilling that purpose, to make our life and Afterlife beautiful; to know who to turn to for help; to gain peace of heart at the time of pain, and to observe healthy boundaries in our matters; to be a source of benefit to other creation of God. It shows us what true goodness is, and helps us to achieve it. Religion offers an equal opportunity to ALL OF HUMANITY to know God, connect to God, seek from God’s unlimited treasures of love, provision, knowledge, mercy, grace and forgiveness, and to progress on the path towards Paradise.
Those who have faith and gratitude towards God. And keep trying to be and do better with reverence in their heart, truthful acknowledgement in their speech and proof in their actions should enjoy the peace of heart and mind that comes with it.
And those who recklessly enjoy the life and pleasures that God has given them, yet remain thankless, destroy life and property He has given them, are rude and untrustworthy, propagate crimes against humanity and other creation of God should be scared of His justice that they won’t be able to escape - if not in this life, then definitely in the next...