Fear of Allah Ta’ala

Qataadah (rahimahullah) narrates that Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) used to say, (out of the fear of standing before Allah Ta’ala on the Day of Qiyaamah and rendering an account for his actions and deeds):

وددت أني كنت كبشا ، فيذبحني أهلي ، فيأكلون لحمي ، ويحسون مرقي .

“How I wish that I was just a sheep. My owners would have slaughtered me, eaten my meat and sipped my gravy.” (Siyaru Aa’laamin Nubalaa 3/14)

In other words, the fear of Allah Ta’ala and having to give an account for his actions was so great that he wished that he was a sheep so that he would not have to render an account for his actions and deeds in the Hereafter.