Which ayah did Imam Abu Hanifah pick?
The companions of the Prophet (alayhi salam) used to discuss the most hope inducing verses in the Quran and the most fear inducing verses in the Quran. Both are important. Many scholars used to discuss the same issue and put forward their views.
Imam Abu Hanifah was asked for the most fear inducing verse in the Qur’an. Surprisingly, he mentioned Sura Ali-Imran 3:131
وَاتَّقُوا النَّارَ الَّتِي أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَافِرِينَ
And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers. [Quran, 3:131]
Why? He said this address is to the believers. Don’t feel safe that you read about what will happen to the kafireen (disbelievers) and simply think they are a bunch of losers. And think that ‘I’m a Muslim, I’m safe’, I’m on the boat to Jannah’.
This verse warns of punishment and uses the word taqwa. Wa taqun nar. Taqwa is a quality of the believer. You have no guarantee that you will retain your faith. Are you sufficiently grateful to Allah for your faith such that it remains preserved? The basis of fear is to know ‘Who is Allah (swt)?’ The fear of the believer is not contingent on him\her messing up, i.e. when I mess up, then I fear Allah (swt). The fear of the believer is because they know Allah (swt). That just as He (swt) is Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem (The Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy), He is also the most Majestic and All-Powerful.
That is why Sayedeena Umar (ra), one of those promised Jannah, said if he had one foot in paradise, he would not feel safe till he had the second foot in paradise. Why? Because you have awe of the All-Powerful (swt).
One should understand the verses of the Quran personally, so when it talks to the disbelievers or the Pharaoh one should not take that to mean people other than themselves, it can apply to you and me as well.
May Allah enable us to have fear and hope of Him (swt).
These notes were from a podcast I was listening to.
Taji Mustafa