What is Taqwa?

The word ‘Taqwa’ implies protecting one’s self from anything one feels afraid of. In the terminology of Shari’ah, ‘Taqwa’ implies protecting one’s self from committing any sin or from missing any Shar’i obligation. For example, protecting oneself from Kufr [i.e. disbelief], Shirk [i.e. polytheism], major sins and indecent acts. Moreover, refraining from Unlawful things and performing Obligatory acts etc. It is also said that Taqwa means, your Lord should not find you at that place from where He has prohibited you.

Sayyiduna Sufyan Sawri رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ has stated: The pious are called ‘Muttaqi’ for the reason that they refrain from even those things which are usually difficult for a person to refrain from.

A poet has said: The one who fears Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ gets the beneficial thing. It is only piety and good deed that remain with a person in his grave.

(Minhaj-ul-‘Aabideen, pp. 150)

Let’s now listen to the kinds of piety:

Kinds of piety

As per the blessed saying of A’la Hadrat, Imam of Ahl-us-Sunnah, Maulana Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه, there are seven kinds of piety:        (1) Refraining from disbelief (2) Refraining from heresy [i.e. deviation from correct Islamic beliefs] (3) Refraining from major sins (4) Refraining from minor sins (5) Refraining from doubtful things (6) Refraining from desires of Nafs (7) And avoiding those acts which divert attention from Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. The Holy Quran provides guidance about all of these levels of piety.

(Khaza`in-ul-‘Irfan, Al Baqarah, pp. 4)

Dear Islamic brothers! Some people sing praises of high-ranking professionals and prominent businessmen and show warm hospitality towards them. But regretfully they, look down upon those Muslims who have inferior but permissible jobs or businesses. These types of people even make a fun of the poor and hurt their feelings.