The Right Way to Fear Allāh

Imām Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allāh have mercy him, said:

[A] slave-worshiper should never attach his hope to [anything or anyone] other than Allāh, and he should never fear of Allāh that He will [ever] treat him unjustly; rather, he should be afraid that He will give him [the punishment he deserves] for his sins.

This is the meaning of what has been narrated as coming from ʿAlī, may Allāh be pleased with him, that he said: “A slave-worshiper must never, ever put his hope in other than His Lord, and he must never, ever fear other than his own sins.”

Majmūʿ Al-Fatāwá, vol. 10, p. 256.