27. 📌 What is (Piety) Taqwa?

 27. 📌 What is (Piety) Taqwa?

As per the Linguists the root word of Taqwa is W-Q-Y  و ق ی -   to protect something; to save one from harmful and painful thing. In Quranic context it means “The meaning is to save or avoid from harm by following the Quran. The term وَاتَّقُوا (wattaqu) in (59:18) means to avoid the adverse consequences of one’s deeds. This means save yourself (from the consequences) of breaking the laws of Allah or avoid rebellious to them”. Its mentioned in 258 verses in Quran.

Its state of the heart in which:

·         The one who believes that Allah is always present and watching,

·         Creates a distinction between good and evil in the heart.

·         Attraction to good – aversion to evil

·         Living according to god's commandments

📍 Example: Given its importance, and to enable easy understanding for common person once Hazrat Umar (RA) asked Abi Bin Ka'b RA, "Tell me what is piety?" he said that Ameerul Momineen! Have you ever passed through a path that is narrow, thorny, and difficult to walk on?

Hazrat Umar said, "Yes, I have passed through such a place.". Abi asked “what you do then”

Hazrat Umar replied that I used to pass in such a way that I had wrapped my skirt, and I used to pass very carefully to protect myself,

Hazrat Abi bin Ka'b said: That is the Taqwa (piety).

📍 Taqwa for All nations: Allah says due to its paramount importance, Piety has been enjoined on all people of books, as mentioned in Quran

وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَإِنْ تَكْفُرُوا فَإِنَّ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَنِيًّا حَمِيدًا 004.131

تم سے پہلے جن کو ہم نے کتاب دی تھی انہیں بھی یہی ہدایت کی تھی اور اب تم کو بھی یہی ہدایت کرتے ہیں کہ خدا سے ڈرتے ہوئے کام کرو لیکن اگر تم نہیں مانتے تو نہ مانو، آسمان و زمین کی ساری چیزوں کا مالک اللہ ہی ہے اور وہ بے نیاز ہے، ہر تعریف کا مستحق (131)

We enjoined upon those who were given the Book before you, and also yourselves, to have fear of Allah. But if you disbelieve, then bear in mind that all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth belongs to Allah. Allah is Self-Sufficient, Most Praiseworthy. (4:131) 

📍 Origin of Taqwa is our heart. As narrated by Prophet Mohammed PBUH while pointing finger towards his chest.

📍 Only fearing Allah: only Allah is worthy to fear him as he has created us and to him we have to return. And on our return, he will make judgement on the actions & intentions of our deeds.

هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَىٰ وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ ﴿٥٦﴾

وہ اس کا حق دار ہے کہ اُس سے تقویٰ کیا جائے

He is worthy to be feared; and He is worthy to forgive (those that fear Him). (74:56)

 

📍 Living within Boundaries: Allah has assigned certain limits for us, which is beneficial for individual as a person and humanity as a whole to survive. We have been asked not to wander around these boundaries, which sometimes tempts us in crossing the boundaries limits.

. وَلا تُبَاشِرُوهُنَّ وَأَنْتُمْ عَاكِفُونَ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ تِلْكَ حُدُودُ اللَّهِ فَلا تَقْرَبُوهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَّقُونَ 002.187

جب تم مسجدوں میں معتکف ہو، تو بیویوں سے مباشرت نہ کرو یہ اللہ کی باندھی ہوئی حدیں ہیں، ان کے قریب نہ پھٹکنا اِس طرح اللہ اپنے احکام لوگوں کے لیے بصراحت بیان کرتا ہے، توقع ہے کہ وہ غلط رویے سے بچیں گے (187)

But you should not have intercourse with your wives while you confine yourselves to mosques. These are the bounds set by Allah; so do nut go near them. In this way Allah makes His Commands clear to mankind. It is expected that they will guard themselves against wrong ways. (2:187)

 

📍 Torch bearer of Truth: essence of taqwa is to become torch bearer of Truth in all circumstances even if sometimes it hurts us.

وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُون

اور جو شخص سچائی لے کر آیا اور جنہوں نے اس کو سچ مانا، وہی عذاب سے بچنے والے ہیں (33)

But he who brought the Truth, and those who confirmed it as true, such are the ones who shall be guarded against the chastisement. (39:33)

 

📍 Criteria for Nobility: Allah has demolished all criterion based on race, wealth, power, beauty, colour etc and only criteria acceptable for nobility is Taqwa.

إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

در حقیقت اللہ کے نزدیک تم میں سب سے زیادہ عزت والا وہ ہے جو تمہارے اندر سب سے زیادہ پرہیز گار ہے یقیناً اللہ سب کچھ جاننے والا اور باخبر ہے (13)

Verily the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most God-fearing of you. Surely Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (49:13)

‏‏‏‏‏‏May Allah Provide us Taqwa to follow the path which pleases you. Aameen