PERSONAL NOTES

FEAR OF GOD
The meaning of the word "fear of God " could be better understood by studying other religious traditions. The Qur’an can be a valuable resource and we could consider the advice from the Guardian of the Baha’i Faith.

“Guardian would certainly advise, and even urge the friends to make a thorough study of the Qur'an as the knowledge of this Sacred Scripture is absolutely indispensable for every believer who wishes to adequately understand and intelligently read the Writings of Baha'u'llah. ...... competent teachers should encourage and stimulate the believers to get better acquainted with the Sacred Scriptures of Islam.”
(From a letter written on behalf of the Guardian to an individual believer, December 2, 1935: Centers of Baha'i Learning, p. 9)
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According to a Qur’anic commentary in the translation By Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Taqwa in Arabic means fear of God, which can mean, restraining, or guarding one’s tongue, hand and heart from evil, hence righteousneass, piety and good conduct, depending on the context.
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The following Islamic commentary on "Taqwa" provides interesting insights into the meaning of "Fear of God" By Dr. Jamal Badawi Dec. 4, 2005
Divine love is a mutual genuine feeling between God and man. Taqwa is a central concept that has been frequently mentioned in the Qur’an, especially in verses that deal with individual behavior in social relations. Some of the common English translations of the word taqwa are “piety” and “heed” or “God-fearing.” Each of these translations gives only a partial understanding of this word’s true meaning because it is an attitude that combines many feelings, such as fear of God, heeding, and above all being God-conscious.

MORE HERE TAQWA - Between Love & Fear of God