Taqwa is one of those unique words in the Arabic language that cannot simply be translated into a word or two in English. As a result, many translators struggle to bring out the real meaning of the word taqwa.
What is Taqwa in Islam?
Literally, taqwa means to protect and could be that one protects himself from the Wrath of Allah by protecting himself from indulging in things that Allah forbids. In the Shariah, taqwa as used in the Quran repeatedly, signifies the obedience to the Rules of Islam while avoiding Haraam, and additionally abstaining from unsuitable things in life.
Taqwa in the Qur’an
Taqwa is mentioned in the Qur’an many times over and Allah has ordered each and every Muslim to have taqwa.
A couple of verses that mention taqwa are presented below:
“It is not taqwa that you turn your faces toward East or West, but it is taqwa to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book and the Messengers, to spend of your substance out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts you have made; to be firm and patient, in pain and adversity. Those are the truthful and those are the muttaqun.” [Qur’an 2:177]
“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa. Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” [Qur’an 49:13]
Hadith on Taqwa
The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The most common thing which leads people to Paradise is taqwa of Allah and good conduct, and the most common thing which leads people to the Hell Fire is the mouth and the private parts.” [Tirmidhi]
Tafseer ibn Kathir mentions that Atiyah As-Sa’di said the Propeht (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “The servant will not acquire the status of those with taqwa until he abandons what is harmless out of fear of falling into that which is harmful.” [Ibn Majah, Tirmizi]
Sayyiduna Ali (R.A) defined Taqwa as being the ‘fear of Jaleel (Allah), acting upon the tanzeel (Quran), being content with qaleel (little), and preparing for the day of raheel (journeying from this world).
Hadrat Umar ibn Khattab (R.A) once asked Hadrat Ibn Ka’ab (R.A) the definition of taqwa. In reply Hadrat Ibn Ka’ab asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Hadrat Umar replied in the affirmative and Hadrat Ka’ab continued, “How do you do so?”
Hadrat Umar said that he would carefully walk through after first having collected all loose and flowing clothing in his hands so nothing gets caught in the thorns hence injuring him. Hadrat Ka’ab said, “This is the definition of taqwa, to protect oneself from sin through life’s dangerous journey so that one can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin.”
Sayyiduna Mu’adh (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said: ‘…Indeed the people what will be closest to me [on the day of qiyamah] are those who have taqwa, whoever they are and wherever they are.’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol.5 pg.235)
Maymun ibn Mihran (rahimahullah) said: “A man will not attain true taqwa as long as he does not take reckoning of himself, and as long as he does not know the source of his food, drink and clothes.” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 36419 and Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 4 pg. 89. Also see: Musnadul Firdaws, Hadith: 8377)
Hadrat Hasan Basri said, “Taqwa is the basis of Deen. Desire and greed destroy this basis.”
Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi (RA) said that the Haqeeqat (reality) of Taqwa is for Tayaqquz (alertness) to be created in all facets of life. This means that one should ponder upon every step whether this is for Allah or for the Nafs or how much is for Allah and how much is for the Nafs.
Maulana Maseehullah Khan said: “Make good character and noble speech, coupled with taqwa and humility, your life-long constitution.”
Hadrat Maulana Hafiz Ghulam Habib (r.a.) used to define taqwa as the shunning of everything and anything that causes a deficiency in one’s relationship with Allah.
How to attain or develop Taqwah?
- Sayyiduna ‘Atiyyah As-Sa’dy (radiyallahu’anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) said:
‘A person will not be counted from the muttaqin (those who have taqwa) until he abstains from what is not wrong, out of fear of falling into what is wrong.’ (Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2451)
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has declared this sound (hasan gharib).
- The reliable Tabi’i; Maymun ibn Mihran (rahimahullah) said: “A man will not attain true taqwa as long as he does not take reckoning of himself, and as long as he does not know the source of his food, drink and clothes.” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Hadith: 36419 and Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 4 pg. 89. Also see: Musnadul Firdaws, Hadith: 8377)
- One should ponder over the verses in the Quran that encourage taqwa, as well as the Hadiths above. Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) has made the following promise for those who have taqwa:
‘Whenever you abandon anything out of the fear of Allah, Allah will certainly grant you a better replacement.’ (Musnad Ahmad, vol.5 pg.78-79)
‘Allamah Haythami (rahimahullah) has declared the narrators as reliable (rijalus sahih). (Majma’uz zawaid, vol.10 pg.296)
- There are several du’as that have come in the Hadith for taqwa, here is one:
اللَّهُمَّ أَغْنِنِي بِالْعِلْمِ وَزَيِّنِّي بِالْحِلْمِ وَأَكْرِمْنِي بِالتَّقْوَى وَجَمِّلْنِي بِالْعَافِيَةِ
Allahumma aghnini bil ‘ilm wa zayyinni bil hilm wa akrimni bit taqwa wa jammilni bil ‘afiyah.
O Allah enrich me with knowledge, adorn me with tolerance, honour me with piety and beautify me with safety/good health.
(Tarikh Ibn Najjar and Tarikh Qazwin; refer: Kanzul ‘Ummal, Hadith: 3663 & 3757)
- In addition to reciting du’as, one should make a concerted effort to avoid sin.
- Frequenting the company of the pious, Allah fearing individuals is also an effective method of developing taqwah.
May Allah give all the Muslimeen the ability to cultivate taqwah in our lives and grant us paradise, Ameen.
See also:
Month of Taqwah
Our Speech