Allah Ta’ala states in numerous verses of the Qur'aan Sharief, ‘Fear Allah’. Many have a very wrong impression of someone waiting to punish on reading these verses.

The true meaning of this is that we adopt Taqwa and Taqwa means that we restrain ourselves, abstain and stay away from all those things which Allah Ta’ala has declared as Haraam
(forbidden) and displeasing to Him. This fear of Allah should actually be borne out of our intense love for Him.

…Do you not see that person who falls in love with a mere mortal of this world ? Whilst he so desires to please his beloved, he also fears incurring the anger and displeasure of his beloved. This is human nature : the lover does not like to displease the beloved. This fear is borne out of love.

We need to just realise that everything beloved will perish,
except Allah; and therefore there should be no one more beloved than Allah.

Allah Ta’ala says in the Qur'aan Sharief:

“…EVERYTHING WILL PERISH SAVE HIS
COUNTENANCE…”
[SURAH QASAS 28 :88]

Then again, this fear of Allah is not the fear that a person would have for a lion. This fear of Allah is borne out of pondering over the manifestation of His Attributes, which are apparent all around us.

Most often and invariably, we read, see, listen to or experience earthquakes, gale-force winds, floods, droughts and wars, which deliver death to multitudes through out the
world. These are manifestations of Allah Ta’ala’s Power to seize when the indulgence in sins increases and when, ‘Amr bil Ma’roof and Nahy anil Munkar’ (the invitation towards
good and the forbidding of evil) is neglected and discarded.

Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Qur'aan Sharief :

“SUCH IS THE SEIZURE OF YOUR LORD WHEN HE SEIZES
THE (POPULATION OF) TOWNS WHILE THEY ARE DOING
WRONG. VERILY, HIS SEIZURE IS PAINFULAND SEVERE.”
[SURAH HOOD 11 : 102]

Regarding the neglect of ‘Amr Bil Ma’roof’ and ‘Nahy Anil Munkar’, Nabi صلئ الله عليه وسلم  has said :
“I take oath by that Being in Whose power is my life! Command righteousness and prohibit evil, otherwise Allah will overtake you with punishment. At that time, you will make dua, but it will not
be accepted.”

Of course, there are different ways and approaches by which a person calls to truth. Whilst various methods can be elaborated upon, it is sufficient to say at this time that we should take into consideration, the time, the place and the person being addressed, and then we should sincerely advise, encourage, invite or forbid.

…Be that as it may, along with the physical and material forms of retribution witnessed, there also follows on the commission and indulgence in sins, a punishment that is meted to the heart. In fact, the heart is the first ‘zone’ to encounter the power of Allah’s wrath and punishment.

Those who have not experienced these disasters of the outside world, experience, within the little world of the heart, the turmoil of quakes, tremors, flood, upheavals, etc. in the form of restlessness, anxiety, depression, fear and agitation which surround and close in on such a heart.

In spite of the earth’s expanse and spaciousness, such a person finds himself existing in a narrow, little world. All the gold and silver, the mansions, villas and palaces, and all
the luxuries of life cannot remove the strangling which is experienced.

Allah Ta’ala says :

“WHOSOEVER TURNS AWAY FROM MY REMEMBRANCE
(I.E. NEITHER BELIEVES IN THIS QUR'AAN, NOR ACTS ON ITS
LAWS AND INJUNCTIONS) VERILY, FOR HIM IS A LIFE
OF HARDSHIP…”
[SURAH TA-HA 20 : 124]

He, who owns and controls our lives, punishes in whichever way He so wishes.