Fear of Allah

It is narrated from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) that one day Amir’ul-Mu’mineen (as) was one day offereing his morning prayer in Iraq. After the prayer he delivered a sermon. Talking of the fear of Allah the Imam (as) cried. The others too cried a lot. Then he said, “By Allah’s Greatness! I have seen a group of Mu’mins in the time of the Prophet of Islam (S). They used to be unkempt, dusty and of emaciated bodies. Their stomachs used to cling to their backs. The foreheads of these Mu’mins were calloused because of perpetual prostration. These calousses were like the ones that are found on the flanks of the camels. Offering prayers and prostrations in the nights they used to see the dusk in this act. They used to cry inconsolably seeking protection of Allah from the Hellfire. When Allah’s name was mentioned before them, they used to shiver like the tree in times of strong winds. This used to be their condition whenever they thought of Allah’s Retribution. And when I see the people now I find them in a state of oblivian and forgetfulness. After delivering this sermon Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) went to Bayt al Sharaf and never ever laughed till the day he was martyred.”  Reference :Ain-Al Hayat, The Essence of Life