True faith lies in balancing love, hope and fear in worship - Mufti Menk

KUALA LUMPUR - The balance between fear and love is a central theme in the teachings of the Quran, particularly in shaping one’s relationship with Allah SWT.

Prophet Muhammad SAW exemplified this harmony, approaching Allah SWT with deep love, hopeful devotion and reverent fear.

Famous Zimbabwean Islamic scholar Mufti Menk said true spiritual connection comes from maintaining balance, not through blind optimism or overwhelming fear, but through genuine and steady faith.

"True belief in Allah and in the entire belief system is a delicate balance between hope and fear. When this balance is disrupted, problems arise. If we focus only on fear, we may fall into despair.

"If we focus only on hope, we may take Allah's mercy for granted and become careless with our actions," he said.

He said this during a faith conference organised by Faith Events entitled "Serene Soul: When Desires Meet Divine Orders" held at the Bank Rakyat Twin Towers, here, on May 17.

Menk whose real name is Ismail Musa Menk said this balance was not to justify sin, but to prevent spiritual hopelessness.

"Allah offers believers hope in the Quran precisely so that they avoid falling into despair.

"At the same time Allah warns us about His punishment; not to make us live in constant fear of Him as an entity, but to remind us to be cautious of His anger and displeasure.

"This fear is not the kind born of terror, but the kind born of deep love. When you love someone dearly, you are afraid of hurting them.

"Similarly, we fear Allah’s punishment because we love Him so much. We do not want to be distanced from Him or end up on the wrong side of His judgment," he added.

Reflecting on the actions of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, Menk said although the Prophet was sinless, he still sought Allah’s forgiveness up to 100 times a day.

Menk said the Prophet did not do it because he doubted Allah’s mercy, but to draw closer to Allah and to set an example for the believers.

"For us, too, seeking forgiveness should not stem from doubt in Allah’s mercy, but from our desire to be closer to Him. Even Prophet Adam AS made a mistake, but Allah used that moment to teach us how to seek His forgiveness.

"Do not let your sins convince you that you are beyond Allah’s mercy. If you make an effort within your capacity, He will forgive you. Do not allow guilt to hold you hostage. Instead, use it as a motivator to improve and reconnect with your Creator," he added.

He also pointed out that the Quran reflected this balance as verses that described Paradise were often followed by verses warning of Hellfire.

This, he said was intentional as it illustrated the necessary harmony between mercy and justice and between reward and warning.

He said striking this balance was essential for every believer who desired to live a life of faith, humility and closeness to Allah.

Mufti Menk - Photo: Faith Events

Meanwhile, Faith Events founder Khairul Amar Razali said the conference served as a meaningful space for attendees to reconnect with their faith and reflect on life’s bigger purpose.

"This gathering is more than just an event, it is a sacred space for spiritual renewal. A moment to pause, listen with intention and reflect with sincerity.

"May every step taken to attend be counted as an act of worship and may every moment here draw us closer to the One who knows our souls best," he said during the event.

CIMB Islamic chief executive officer Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff shared that the bank which was in its second year partnering with Faith Events said this year, they were focusing on one major event which ran for two days featuring three international Islamic scholars.

Last year, he said there were five events held with global speakers and 12,500 attendees.

"At CIMB Islamic, our role extends beyond organising events. We aim to support customers in both their financial and spiritual growth by encouraging reflection, core values and uplifting others," he said.

He also shared that the invited scholars for the "Serene Soul: When Desires Meet Divine Orders" conference, including Mufti Menk, brought diverse global perspectives especially from non-Muslim majority countries which offered fresh and valuable insights into practising faith within Malaysia’s multicultural society.