Is this an appeal to positive consequences?

This verse is making a promise that if you do X then Y will be the result. The Arabic word in question تَتَّقُونَ which translates "that you may become righteous" and derives from the word تَقْوَى -- taqwah -- or the fear and reverence of God.  This word, as well as its derivatives, appears numerous times in the Quran. Note that it is very difficult to translate some of these terms into English as they lose their meaning in translation. This is so because the Arabic language is very precise and sensitive.   

An appeal to consequences, also known as argumentum ad consequentiam (Latin for "argument to the consequence"), is an argument that concludes a hypothesis (typically a belief) to be either true or false based on whether the premise leads to desirable or undesirable consequences.

I don't think that every appeal to consequences constitutes a logical fallacy. For example, you say to your child, "don't touch the burner or you will get burnt." Or you tell someone, "don't speed or you will get a ticket." Both examples are appeals to consequences based on a belief that a certain outcome will take place if a particular action is taken.  

This is the same with the verse in question. It is saying if one does this, then a certain outcome will take place. 



 

I should add that even what I wrote might be seen as non-fallacious. It would be more fallacious if the argument were "God exists, because if he doesn't, then you can get all the benefits that would come with him existing" or something like that. This could be different than just telling someone to believe, which does not necessarily mean that what is asked to be believed is true.

Thanks for the answer. You said there's no truth claim being made, but given the context of the verse (as its addressed to mankind, so this would include non believers), isn't worship synonymous with belief?

Also on a slightly unrelated note, I had a question about appeal to force/appeal to fear. I've seen the common example cited of "You should believe in God because if you don't, you will go to hell". I understand how this commits the fallacy since acceptance of the premise is linked with force/threat. However, if someone said "If you don't believe in God, you will go to hell", is this still fallacious? On reflection, I don't think it is as it could just be viewed as a statement outlining the consequences of non belief or a warning, and there doesn't seem to be an attempt to change the opponents viewpoint. 

isn't worship synonymous with belief? 

Not necessarily. There are many religious people in the "fake it till you make it" crowd that goes through the steps hoping to one day have authentic belief. This is what Pascal was referring to in his infamous "wager."

"If you don't believe in God, you will go to hell", is this still fallacious? 

We can argue that it is almost certainly factually incorrect. We can also argue that it begs the question that both God and Hell exist (fallacious). To be free from fallacy, the statement would have to specify cause and effect without taking anything for granted (e.g., if you drink a full cup of bleach you will die).

"We can also argue that it begs the question that both God and Hell exist (fallacious)"

Since it is phrased as a claim, how would it be begging the question? I thought 'begging the question' only applies to arguments which isn't the case with the above example.

It is an implied argument, but I wouldn't bother arguing that is one were to disagree.

[To Bo Bennett, PhD]

"This could be different than just telling someone to believe, which does not necessarily mean that what is asked to be believed is true."

Isn't it implied that something is true when you are told to believe in something? Especially if a statement that you should believe appeared in a religious text.

Isn't it implied that something is true when you are told to believe in something?

Not necessarily. Adults tell kids to believe in Santa because of the "magic and wonder." There is also a psychosomatic effect that belief has, like believing that if you think of a cow your hiccups go away. And the confidence and persistence from belief, like believing one can become a millionaire. Sometimes, the act of believing alone has real positive effects.