Piety (Taqwa)

 

Piety (Taqwa)

All praise is due to Allah, abundant praise, and peace and blessings be upon the one sent to all of humanity as a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. To proceed, piety (taqwa) is a great and comprehensive quality that encompasses the attributes of the believers. It is Allah's command to the earlier and later generations, as He says: "We have certainly enjoined those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to have Taqwa" [An-Nisa: 131].

Al-Fayruzabadi said: "If there were any trait in the world more beneficial for a servant, more comprehensive for good, more rewarding, more honorable in servitude, greater in value, more suitable in one's current state, or more successful in the end than this trait, then Allah – Glorified and Exalted – would have commanded it and recommended it to His special worshipers, due to His perfect wisdom and mercy. Since He advised all of the earlier and later generations with this single trait and confined it to this alone, we know that it is the ultimate goal that cannot be surpassed or limited." (1)

It is also the commandment of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), as reported in Musnad Ahmad (17275) and authenticated by At-Tirmidhi from the narration of Al-Irbad (may Allah be pleased with him), where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "I advise you to have taqwa." The word Taqwa and its derivatives are mentioned over 200 times in the Qur'an, which highlights its importance.

Below is an explanation of the meaning of taqwa, its virtues, its ruling, and how to embody it.

Definition of Taqwa

Linguistically, taqwa means protection, as the believers’ said: "{So Allah has granted us favor and protected us from the punishment of the Scorching Fire}" [At-Tur: 27], and their prayer: "{And protect us from the punishment of the Fire}" [Al-Baqarah: 201].

In Islamic terminology, it means: Taking the means of success in this world and the Hereafter.

This definition is derived from several religious texts and the statements of scholars. Among the texts is Allah’s saying: "{Fear Allah so that you may be successful}" [Al-Baqarah: 189], where He makes taqwa the path to success. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: "Protect yourself from the Fire, even if with half a date" [Agreed upon]. The hadith shows that taqwa is not just about abstaining from actions but also includes performing them.

Ibn Taymiyyah said: "Taqwa is to protect oneself from harm by doing what is beneficial" [Majmoo' Al-Fatawa: 10/144].

Ibn Kathir defined taqwa as: "A comprehensive term for performing acts of obedience and avoiding prohibited actions" [Tafsir: 1/492].

The Ruling of Taqwa

Taqwa is obligatory upon all creation, and Allah has commanded it in various instances. Among them is His saying: "{O humans! Have Taqwa}" [An-Nisa: 1], which is a command of taqwa to all people, believers, and disbelievers alike. And He says: "{O you who have believed, have Taqwa}" [Aal-Imran: 102], specifying the believers with the level of taqwa that Allah deserves. As He describes Himself as: "{He is worthy of taqwa}" [Al-Muddathir: 56], meaning He is most deserving of having taqwa for.

Achieving taqwa should be done to the extent of one's ability, as Allah says: "{have taqwa as much as you are able}" [At-Taghabun: 16].

Allah made the fulfillment of taqwa a condition of faith, as He says: "{have Taqwa if you are believers}" [Al-Ma’idah: 57]. This condition applies differently depending on the person’s state: it could be a condition for the perfection of faith if the believer already possesses the basic level of taqwa but falls short in its branches. Alternatively, it may be a condition for the very existence of faith. This understanding led to the saying, "There is no faith for the one who lacks taqwa" (3). 

Ibn Al-Qayyim said: "The absence of fear of Allah results in the absence of faith, just as the absence of a condition results in the absence of what is conditioned" (4).

The Sunnah also commands taqwa, as in Musnad Ahmad (5), authenticated by At-Tirmidhi, where Umm Al-Husayn narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O people, fear Allah."

The Prophets used to command their people to fear Allah, as repeated in the speech of several Prophets: "{Will you not fear Allah?}" [Ash-Shu'ara: 106], "{Then will you not fear Him?}" [Al-A'raf: 65].

Allah also commanded the believers to cooperate in achieving taqwa, saying: "{And cooperate in righteousness and piety}" [Al-Ma’idah: 2].

The Virtues of Taqwa

There are many virtues of taqwa, including:

1. Allah loves those who have taqwa: "{Indeed, Allah loves the people of Taqwa}" [At-Tawbah: 4].

2. Taqwa is the best provision and garment for success in both worlds: "{take provisions, indeed, the best provision is taqwa}" [Al-Baqarah: 197], and "{the covering of Taqwa is best}" [Al-A'raf: 26].

3. The people of Taqwa would have a good outcome in this world and the Hereafter: "{And the [best] outcome is for the people of Taqwa}" [Al-A'raf: 128], and "{the Hereafter is better for who has taqwa}" [An-Nisa: 77]. 

4. Taqwa is a means of mercy: "{have Taqwa so you receive mercy}" [Al-An’am: 155].

5. Taqwa is a means of provision, relief from difficulties, and ease in matters: "{whoever fears Allah – He will make a way for him/her}" [At-Talaq: 2-3].

6. Taqwa raises ranks and forgives sins: "{whoever fears Allah – He will remove for him/her their misdeeds and make their reward great}" [At-Talaq: 5].

7. Taqwa is the attribute of Prophets and those who follow them in righteousness: Allah praised Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) for his taqwa, saying: "{And [he] was pious}" [Maryam: 13].

8. Taqwa is the standard of honor in Allah’s sight: "{Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you}" [Al-Hujurat: 13].

How to Embody Taqwa

After understanding the meaning, ruling, and some of the virtues of taqwa, it is beneficial to consider how one can embody this quality. This includes praying to Allah, accompanying righteous people, understanding taqwa in its comprehensive sense, and applying it in all actions, speech, and abstentions – whether in worship, dealings, or customs.

For example, it is part of taqwa regarding the body to maintain health through exercise, healthy food, and a sound mind, as it is said, "Prevention is better than cure." Similarly, in learning, it is part of taqwa to choose the right and sound resources of knowledge in order to gain the right information.

We ask Allah to make us among the people of Taqwa and gather us with the Prophets in the gardens of bliss.

(1) Basair Dhawi At-Tamyeez: 2/116

(2) Ibn Taymiyyah, Sharh Umdat Al-Fiqh: 5/362

(3) I'jaz Al-Qur’an, Al-Rafi’i: 73

(4) Tareeq Al-Hijratayn: 282

(5) (27811)

(6) Musnad Ahmad: 23885