I agree with you Rehan bhai that fear of Allah is exaggerated by some Muslims scholars to get us to do many little things they think are part of Islam. For example one lady told me that during Namaz when we are sitting down if our hand and fingers are hanging down from our knees it is very big sin and in Akhirah our fingers will be chopped down with punishment. Straight away the thing that came to my mind is why? for this little thing Allah will give this harsh punishment. On the other hand in Quran one Ayah that tells us that if you stay away from biggest sins small sins will be forgiven shows that He understands human nature that we all will waver some time or other. But he makes sure that we do not violates others rights, be Muslim or non Muslim by telling us that he will not forgive sins committed against others if they themselves do not forgive us. So he is very merciful when it comes to his rights but when it comes to other peoples rights he tell us to take responsibility for that. So our religious scholars should put emphasis on haququl aibad but I think that they make us to be more fearful of not doing so many little things other then fard more then being fearful of violating others rights. If you see in the light of Quran we have nothing to be fearful of if we do not violate others peoples rights ( which too he will forgive if we asked and got forgiveness from them) and do not commit biggest sins that is how most people are. But if you listen to molvis and other religious people they will make every other thing a biggest sin and will make us fear so they can get us to do it. I read that if we knew how big the sin is if we drink water standing up we will put your finger in the throat and vomit out.There are many other little things like this to get us do out of fear. Before going to Umrah I read books from Pakistani scholars and then Saudi scholars. In Pakistani scholars book there were so many little things which could constitute as sins we must be fearful of which will make Umrah void where as in Saudi book they had only few fards that if done make Umrah valid. I think if we teach people to do out of love of Allah or prophet that is much better then making it the biggest sin and being fearful. If we emphasized on rewards we get for doing something then we will get joy in doing it. I believe in his mercy and think that he would not punish so harshly for every little thing. I feel that we must be very careful about anything presented as hadith as they were written hundreds of years after our prophets death. Hadith scholars also consider some hadiths weak or strong etc. If we believed on something which he did not say that is the biggest insult to him, just think about it if someone said something to others from you and you did not say it then how would you feel.

Mah Talat