These kinds of fears and sorrows become a hindrance in...
These kinds of fears and sorrows become a hindrance in spiritual wayfaring to Allah. Of course, sometimes it occurs that sorrow with regard to issues of the world is related to Allah, like when an affliction befalls man and they fear that it might be divine requital. It is natural that this kind of fear and dread will become a source of motion for them. Or one becomes heartbroken at losing some [worldly] favors and a cause of their awakening that they ought not to fall in love with the world.
Therefore, it is likely that fear of losing worldly blessings can indirectly motivate man to motion in the direction of eschatological and spiritual perfection.
Allah, the Exalted, states in two verses that once We send prophets ( ‘a ) to the people, We afflict them with hardships and adversities: وَمَا اَرْسَلْنَا في قَرْيَةٍ مِنْ نَبِيِّ اِلاَّ أَخَذْنَا أَهْلَهَا بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَضَّرَّعُونَ “And We did not send a prophet in a town but We overtook its people with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves.” [^1] And in another verse, Allah states: وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا إِلی أُمَمٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِالْبَأْسَاءِ وَالضَّرَّاءِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَضَرَّعُونَ “And certainly We sent apostles to nations before you, then We seized them with distress and affliction in order that they might humble themselves.” [^2] It is because of His grace for them that Allah afflicts His slaves with hardships and problems in order for it to become a cause of alertness and vigilance for them and awakening from heedlessness so as to acquire more preparedness for accepting right.
Because until man is intoxicated with pleasure and elation and drowned in prosperity, he lacks the preparedness to accept right and what is related to the hereafter. Fear and Sorrow and the Spiritual Ascension and Growth of Man It has been said that fear and dread with regard to matters of the hereafter causes spiritual ascendance, perfection and prosperity.
In this regard, Allah states: وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَی النَّفْسَ عَن الْهَوَی \* فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَي “And as for him who fears to stand in the presence of his Lord and forbids the soul from low desires; then surely the Garden—that is the abode.” [^3] With regard to the role of piety in keeping man away from sins and fear of Allah, Imam ‘Ali ( ‘a ) states: “O creatures of Allah!