"When you advise any person you should be guided by the fear of God"
About this Quote
To advise another is not a casual exchange of opinions but a moral act that shapes lives. Guidance anchored in the fear of God demands a higher standard than personal preference or social convenience. It begins with taqwa, a steady awareness of being answerable to a just and merciful Lord. Such reverent fear clears the fog of ego, anger, vanity, and the urge to dominate, replacing them with humility, truthfulness, and compassion.
In practical terms, God-conscious counsel avoids both flattery and cruelty. It resists the temptation to say what gains favor, and it refuses to wound merely to appear bold. It seeks the good of the other, not the gratification of the self. Tone, timing, and intention matter: advice is offered gently, with evidence, in ways that preserve dignity, often privately, and always with the willingness to be corrected. The adviser remembers that he too stands under judgment, which restrains arrogance and invites empathy.
Abu Bakr, the first caliph and close companion of the Prophet Muhammad, was renowned for humility and accountability. His leadership emphasized that obedience to rulers is conditional upon their obedience to God, and he urged people to correct him if he strayed. The line reflects that ethic: counsel is a trust (nasihah), and the one who gives it must be as scrupulous as the one who receives it. Fear of God protects the process from the distortions of power and praise.
The idea travels well beyond its early Islamic context. Whether speaking to a friend, a family member, or a leader, grounding advice in a higher moral horizon frees the adviser from fearing people and from weaponizing truth. It cultivates courage without harshness and kindness without dishonesty. In an age of public call-outs and performative righteousness, it is a reminder to make conscience, not clout, the guide of our words.
In practical terms, God-conscious counsel avoids both flattery and cruelty. It resists the temptation to say what gains favor, and it refuses to wound merely to appear bold. It seeks the good of the other, not the gratification of the self. Tone, timing, and intention matter: advice is offered gently, with evidence, in ways that preserve dignity, often privately, and always with the willingness to be corrected. The adviser remembers that he too stands under judgment, which restrains arrogance and invites empathy.
Abu Bakr, the first caliph and close companion of the Prophet Muhammad, was renowned for humility and accountability. His leadership emphasized that obedience to rulers is conditional upon their obedience to God, and he urged people to correct him if he strayed. The line reflects that ethic: counsel is a trust (nasihah), and the one who gives it must be as scrupulous as the one who receives it. Fear of God protects the process from the distortions of power and praise.
The idea travels well beyond its early Islamic context. Whether speaking to a friend, a family member, or a leader, grounding advice in a higher moral horizon frees the adviser from fearing people and from weaponizing truth. It cultivates courage without harshness and kindness without dishonesty. In an age of public call-outs and performative righteousness, it is a reminder to make conscience, not clout, the guide of our words.
Quote Details
| Topic | God |
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