The dual drives fear and hope have strong psychological...

The dual drives fear and hope have strong psychological effects and are a powerful moving force which stamps their mark on man's behaviour, pushing him towards good, or dragging him towards evil. 2-JamiAl-Sa'adat, Vol.3, P.150. 3-ibid. P.152. 4- bid, p. 154. [ 19 ] This is because fear and hope form in the depths of the human soul, the two expressions of a balanced equation which dictate the sum total of human motives and conduct.

Imam Muhammed Al-Baqir (a.s.) explained the effect of these two drives on the believer's soul, and the psychological relation between them. He said: "There is no believing servant without having in his heart two lights: the light of fear and the light of hope; if he weighed the one, it would not seem to be heavier than the other.

Allah had joined them when He described those whom He praised, saying: (They)cry to their Lord in fear and hope.." 5 Imam Al-Sadiq (a.s.) elaborated on this concept and illuminated it by saying: "Fear is the watcher over the heart, and hope is the intercessor for the soul.

Whoever knows Allah, fears Him, and to Him he places his hope, as these are the two wings of faith by which the righteous servant ascends to Allah."6 From this brief presentation of the psychological motivation inherently compelling man to true servitude, we understand that love, longing, fear and hope are the psychic drives interacting in the depths of the soul and urging man to be connected with Allah, and to try through all available means including conduct, thought, emotions and activity, to obtain Allah's pleasure, and win His reward for purely and sincerely worshipping Him.