God states in many verses that He casts fear into the hearts of those who disbelieve:
And when your Lord revealed to the angels, 'I am with you so make those who have faith firm. I will cast dread into the hearts of those who are disbelievers...'
It is He who expelled those who were disbelievers among the People of the Book from their homes to the first gathering-place. You did not think that they would leave and they thought that their fortresses would protect them from God. Then God came upon them from where they least expected it and cast dread into their hearts. Their houses were pulled down by their own hands and by the hands of the believers. People of insight, take note!
What is told in these verses is a miracle by God. Through casting dread into their hearts, God diminishes the strength of those who oppose believers and who resist God and the morality of His religion. It is of great importance that believers should ponder on these verses and draw lessons for themselves. This is because, as mentioned in previous chapters, our hearts are in God's hand, and God sows whatever He wills in the heart of whoever He wills. The duty of believers is not to try to create an impact on others, but only to be sincere. For example, a believer is responsible to warn a person in the light of God's verses. However, that person will only be rightly guided by the advise given, no matter how lucid the explanation, if God guides that person to the right path. By the same token, a believer is helpless against dangers. Alternatively, there is no power to frighten enemies. But God protects and supports believers who are sincere and put forth efforts for the sake of God's pleasure. For example, as said in the verses above, He casts dread into the hearts of their enemies, making them deeply occupied with their own troubles. This way, God gives relief to believers.
God inspires various fears into the hearts of disbelievers. There is the fear of death, the future, injury, natural disasters or fear of loss of wealth. Alternatively, the fear of death is greater because a disbeliever does not believe in the hereafter and is strongly attached to this world. Believing that he will be reduced to nothing and lose all possessions, the great fear for death is nurtured. Ultimately, this fear breeds infirmities. God tells us dread is cast into the hearts of disbelievers because they associate others with Him. The end these people will meet is related in the Qur'an as follows:
We will cast dread into the hearts of those who are disbelievers because they have associated others with God for which He has not sent down any authority. Their shelter will be the Fire. How evil is the abode of the wrongdoers!
