What is Taqwa ?
Taqwa means abstinence, fear of Allah and piety. Taqwa is the state of heart and mind that brings fear of Allah.
Taqwa prepares the faithful to obey the Commandments of Allah spontaneously. It springs from the heart and refreshes all aspects of life. Prophet ﷺ therefore, during his Farewell Pilgrimage pointed his forefinger towards his chest and pronounced three times: "Taqwa is here." (Muslim)
Once Caliph Umar R asked Ubai Ibn Ka'ab R What is Taqwa? He replied: O Ameerul Mo'mineen! (Chieftain of the Faithful) Have you ever passed through a path full of bushes and thorns? Umar R said: Yes! Then Ubai Ibn Ka'ab R asked: How did you cross it? Umar R said: I wrapped up shees of cloth around the body and while protecting the cloth with one hand, I removed bushes and thorns with the other. This way, very cautiously, I crossed the path step by step. Ubai Ibn Ka'ab R said: This is Taqwa, O Ameerul Mo'mineen!
What are the benefits of Taqwa ?
Allah has guaranteed well-being in this world and in the Hereafter for the people who imbibe the characteristics of Taqwa. Allah accepts the deeds of Muttaqeen (those having Taqwa) only.
إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him]
- (Al Maidah: 27)
Allah is always with those who have Taqwa. He helps them at every stage.
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
And fear Allah and know that Allah is with those who fear Him.
- (Al Baqarah: 194)
Allah loves those who have Taqwa.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Indeed, Allah loves the righteous [who fear Him].
- (At Taubah: 4)
People having Taqwa have been given the glad tidings of the bounties of Jannah.
إِنَّ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Indeed, for the righteous with their Lord are the Gardens of Pleasure.
- (Al Qalam: 34)
Allah also removes the hardships of the people of this world due to Taqwa and increases their livelihood. Allah says in Qur'an:
And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out and provide for them from sources they could never imagine.
- (At Talaq: 2-3)
Yet at another place Allah says:
And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened [i.e., bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth;
- (Al A'raf: 96)
O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty.- (Al Anfal: 29)
Identity of Muttaqi
A person who has taqwa is called Muttaqi and its plural is Muttaqeen. Essence of Taqwa and the characteristics of Muttaqi have been described by Allah. By adopting the characteristics one can get Taqwa. The Qur'an says:
Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets and gives wealth, in spite of love for it, to relatives, orphans, the needy, the traveler, those who ask [for help], and for freeing slaves; [and who] establishes prayer and gives zakāh; [those who] fulfill their promise when they promise; and [those who] are patient in poverty and hardship and during battle. Those are the ones who have been true, and it is those who are the righteous.
- (Al Baqarah: 177)
It is clear from this verse that Taqwa is not just the performance of certain external rituals for self-aggrandizement. Taqwa is rather a firm belief in the Islamic creed. It is to act upon the fundamentals of the faith. It is the fulfillment of promises made to others.
Taqwa is also to adorn oneself with high moral characters such as patience and steadfastness. It is thus very easy for us to recognize people having Taqwa in the light of the above-mentioned characteristics.
Status of Taqwa
Taqwa brings a great change in the conduct of a person. Therefore, the Qur'an instructs to adopt the life of Taqwa. The purpose of different Ibadah is to produce taqwa and it is considered the criterion of human excellence.
إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ
"The most honoured among you in the sight of Allah is the one who has the highest level of Taqwa."
- (Al Hujurat: 13)
Prophet ﷺ during his Farewell Pilgrimage said, "An Arab has no superiority over an Ajami (non-Arab), nor an Ajami has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black, nor a black has any superiority over a white; superior is one who has more Taqwa." (Bukhari)
An Example of Taqwa
A favourite slave of Abu Bakr Siddiq R offered him something to eat. As soon as he had taken a morsel, the slave asked: How is it that today you did not ask about the food? From what source has it come? It has been your practice to ask before you consume any food. Abu Bakr R said: Yes, I committed a mistake. Since I was hungry and the food came before me, I just took it. Tell me about it now. The slave said: I used to practice magic and sorcery. However, I abandoned it after embracing Islam. A fee of my previous visit (to the patient) that was due arrived today. I accepted it and brought food for you.
Abu Bakr R became very disturbed after knowing that a morsel of Haram food has gone inside his stomach, he put his fingers inside his mouth again and again to take the food out. Someone present there suggested to him that if he wished to take the food out, he should first drink lot of water and then try to vomit it out. Trial after trial, with great difficulty. Abu Bakr R vomited it.
Someone present there commented that it was just a morsel. Abu Bakr R said: One who eats Haram will not enter Jannah. Therefore, my heart did not allow even a morsel of Haram food to remain in my stomach.
This is Taqwa. If a person attains such a state of Taqwa, evils will not come near him. And earning good deeds for such a person becomes very easy.
The Best companion of life
And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah. And fear Me, O you of understanding.
-(Al Baqarah: 197)
The life of this world is full of trials and tribulations. The best companion in the journey of life is Taqwa. Therefore, a person should not leave Taqwa till his last breath. Allah says:
O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].
- (Ali 'Imran: 102)
We should always invoke Allah that He keep us bestowed upon with the wealth of Taqwa. "O Allah! I seek from You Your guidance. Taqwa, virtue and contentment." (Muslim)
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Allah and his messenger knows best