Khawf
Definition
Khawf in al-Ghazali's usage is not the terror of a slave before an unpredictable master, but the reverential awe of a servant who understands the immensity of divine justice and the fragility of their own standing. He insists that the object of khawf is never God himself — for God is not to be feared in the way one fears a dangerous animal — but rather one's own sins, one's uncertain end, and the possibility of divine displeasure. Healthy khawf produces three effects: it sharpens the vigilance of the heart, motivates immediate repentance and spiritual effort, and keeps the servant from the complacency that is the greatest spiritual danger. Unhealthy khawf that tips into despair (qanut) is itself a sin, because it doubts the boundless mercy of God.
As understood in the classical tradition of Imam al-Ghazali and the scholars of his school.
Appears in
1 book in the library
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