A General Definition of Taqwa Which Every Muslim Must Pursue

[Manahel.fatima]

One of the major preaching of Islam that has been under debate for long is the concept of Taqwa. The essence of all the Islamic teachings is Taqwa, yet it is almost impossible to give it a specific definition as in various verses of Quran it has been discussed in various contexts.

 

The various contexts in which Taqwa is used does not undermine its importance, rather for a Muslim it is still imperative to observe Taqwa in a general form where it stands for everything like righteousness, piousness, fear of Allah, dutifulness and so on. The lines below give the importance and general overview of the idea of Taqwa and what it entails.

Pertaingin to the defining of Taqwa and giving a general idea of what it entails, the following ayahs of Quran suffice the purpose, where Allah Almighty says:

 

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, righteousness is rather one who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the angels and the Book, the apostles, and gives his wealth out of love for Him to the near kin and the orphans and the poor and the wayfarer and the needy and for those in bondage; and establishes prayer and pays the poor-rate (Zakat); and those who fulfill their promise when they make a promise and the patient ones in distress and affliction and in the time of war- these are they who are truthful and these are they who have taqwa.” (2:177)

 

This ayah of Quran gives the best example of what Taqwa is and what it entails. On contrary to the general perception that being religious and fulfilling the duties such as prayer is Taqwa. Saying prayers is but a part of Taqwa and it further entails all the good qualities that are a combination of height of piety and good moral values.

 

If the aforementioned ayah be broken down into bits, then Taqwa entails believing in Allah and the Judgment day, believing in Quran, the Prophets, angels, spending money on the loved ones, the needy ones, on the wayfarer and helping people out of bondage. Saying prayer, giving Zakah, remaining patient when struck by afflictions, and fulfilling promises all these are the qualities that a person with Taqwa would possess. Therefore, doing a single of the aforementioned activities does not stand for Taqwa, rather a person needs to incorporate all these habits and qualities to be qualified as a person with Taqwa.

 

Therefore, Taqwa is not just being pious or fearing Allah or performing religious duties or being kind to others, rather Taqwa is a combination of it all and a person who wants to progress forward in Islam and be among the loved ones of Allah Almighty, then he or she needs to incorporate all these characteristics and features in his or her personality to ensure that whatever definition of Taqwa be applied, the person fulfills all of them and becomes a true Muslim who embodies the true Islam.

 

Hijab al Faisal works for QuranReading.com where classes of Quran reading on internet are offered to the students so that they can learn Quran from their homes.

 

 

[Mooge]

manahel, I have never seen you on somalionline before. are you new?

 

thankyou for the reminder sister.

[Holac]

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@Mooge

said:</cite>

manahel, I have never seen you on somalionline before. are you new?

 

:D

 

Is that your new kick at shukaansi?