Intermediate
States of the Heart
Surah: Fatir (28)
Only Those Fear Allah Who Have Knowledge — Awe Is the Fruit of Knowledge
إِنَّمَا يَخۡشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡعُلَمَٰٓؤُاْ
— فاطر الآية 28
Verse: "Only those fear Allah, among His servants, who have knowledge." (35:28)
Object "Allah" placed before subject "the knowledgeable":
In Arabic rhetoric: this is for emphasis — true awe is specifically directed at Allah, not anything else. Real knowledge leads to awe of Allah, not arrogance.
What "knowledge" is meant?
Ibn Kathir: "The knowledgeable here are those who know Allah — His names, attributes, and actions — not merely those with worldly knowledge alone." Though cosmic knowledge can lead to Allah as we established earlier.
The connection between knowledge and awe:
The more you know of Allah's greatness, the greater your humility and reverence before Him. The ignorant may be bold out of unawareness — the knowledgeable are awed from full comprehension.
Lesson: Measure your knowledge by your awe — if your knowledge does not yield awe, look for where the fault lies.
Object "Allah" placed before subject "the knowledgeable":
In Arabic rhetoric: this is for emphasis — true awe is specifically directed at Allah, not anything else. Real knowledge leads to awe of Allah, not arrogance.
What "knowledge" is meant?
Ibn Kathir: "The knowledgeable here are those who know Allah — His names, attributes, and actions — not merely those with worldly knowledge alone." Though cosmic knowledge can lead to Allah as we established earlier.
The connection between knowledge and awe:
The more you know of Allah's greatness, the greater your humility and reverence before Him. The ignorant may be bold out of unawareness — the knowledgeable are awed from full comprehension.
Lesson: Measure your knowledge by your awe — if your knowledge does not yield awe, look for where the fault lies.
Source: Ibn Kathir (6/527); Al-Sadi; Al-Qurtubi (14/345)
Test Yourself
What is the Quranic evidence that true knowledge yields awe, not arrogance?
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