Taqwa: Mark of Believer
Middlesex University
Thursday 11 Nov 2010
Abdullah Hasan
What is Taqwa?
• Waqa [root: ] ‫] و ق ي‬
• I waqahu ‫وقاه‬to preserve ( ‫ھ‬something) [LL, HW,
LQ]; to take good of ( ‫ھ‬something) [LQ, HW]; to
be cautious of (something) [LL]; to safeguard,
shield, shelter, preserve, protect, keep ( ‫ھ ه‬
someone from); to guard ( ‫ھ ه‬someone against);
to protect, offer or afford protection ( ‫ھ‬against);
to prevent, obviate ( ‫ھ‬a danger) [HW]; to
preserve (a thing) against any harm or injury or
damage [R]
Definition of Taqwa
• ‘Following of the commands of Allah
the Exalted and avoidance of His
prohibitions outwardly and inwardly
with a sense of the glorification,
reverence, awe and fear of Allah’
Imam Ghazzali on Taqwa
• ‘Taqwa in the Quran has three meanings. First is fear
and a sense of awe. The second includes obedience
and worship. Third is freeing the heart from sins, which
is the reality and essence of taqwa. In summary, taqwa
is to guard oneself against the anger of God and His
punishment by fulfilling His commandments and
abstaining from what He has prohibited. The reality of
taqwa is that your Lord never sees you where He has
forbidden you to be, nor does He miss you where He has
commanded you to be’
Benefits of TAQWA : How
character-building is achieved
God-fearing nature
Afterlife Accountability
Patience
Taqwa (Selfrestraint)
Self-control
Self-discipline
Responsibility
Obedience
Purification of soul
Quran & Taqwa
Guidance
Admonition (‫)وعظ‬
Baqra 2
Ale-imran 138
Refresher
Beneficial (‫)خير‬
Haqa 48
Nahal 30
How many times is Taqwa mentioned in the
Qur’an?
Taqwa & Character
Earning & Taqwa
No
Interest
No fraudulent
trade
No deceptive
dealings
Sho’ara 179-182
Baqra 188
Only earn halal
Rizq
Haram is not
equal to halal
Relaxation to
Debtors
Maida 88
Maida 100
Baqra 281
Baqra 278
Ale-imran 130
Taqwa in Social Relations
Brotherhood
Hujarat 10
Prohibition
of
Backbiting
etc.
Promise
keeping
Ale-imran 76
Ethical
Behavior
Ahzab 70
Hujarat 12
No
oppression/
aggression
Qasas 83
Positive talk
in private
discussions
Mujadala 9
Supporting
good
activities
Maida 2
Enjoining
Good,
Forbidding
Bad
Ale-imran 114-115
Taqwa & Jihad
Struggle with
Life & Wealth
Persistence
Joining
& Unity
Truthful People
Tauba 44
Ale-imran 200
Tauba 119
Fight against
Fighting despite
Kuffar
Help with
injuries
Angels
Tauba 123
Ale-imran 172
Ale-imran 125
Scope of Taqwa
Desired
Outside the scope
1.Elimination of haram
2.Avoiding doubtful
things
3.Avoiding acts leading
to breach of hudud
Allah
4.Discharge of all rights
(Allah, Nafs, parents,
spouse, relatives, poor
etc.)
1.Imposing hardship on
self
2.Remaining un-married
3.Isolation (tark-eDuniya
4.Not taking benefit
from allowable
things/acts
5.Continuous Nafl
Worships
Amity
(‫)الفة‬
Sincerity
(‫)صداقة‬
Faithful
(‫)وفاء‬
Compassion
(‫)شفقة‬
Devotion
Fruits of
Taqwa
(Piety)
Care of kin
(‫)صلة الرحم‬
obedience
(‫)تسلیم و رضا‬
Fair-judgment
(‫)حسن املعاملة‬
Reliance
(‫)توکل‬
Affection
(‫)محبة‬