Accusing Chaste Woman

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Chastity means moral virtue and maturity that enables one to refrain from derogatory behaviors in the eyes of Allah and people, by resisting one’s desires. And honor means, with its general meaning, the sum total of values that shape one’s moral characteristics and which is the reason of respect for the person himself and his close relatives. Honor, with its peculiar and narrow meaning, means chastity and purity in terms of sexuality.

Chastity and purity, with their both meanings, are amongst people’s main rights in Islam and attacks against them are deemed as crimes and sins; and they are subject to worldly and otherworldly sanction. Prohibition of fornication and of what may lead to fornication, and orders and regulations about hijab (covering) are indeed actions aimed at protection of individuals’ chastity and honor, and social moral values.

Slandering a chaste woman is called “Qazf” in Islamic terminology.

Qazf literally means throwing something hard, throwing words out of mouth, aspersing and slandering one’s chastity. It is a law term which means accusing an innocent man or woman of fornication, with words such as “you fornicated…” or “you fornicator”. Qazf is one of the great sins. On the issue, Allah states,

إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ ٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتِ ٱلْغَـٰفِلَـٰتِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ لُعِنُوا۟ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْءَاخِرَةِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ ﴿٢٣

Indeed, those who [falsely] accuse chaste, unaware and believing women are cursed in this world and the Hereafter; and they will have a great punishment (23)

[Qur'an, Annur 24:23]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) counted qazf amongst seven factors which led one to destruction in his Hadiths. (Bukhari, Wasaya, 23).

The punishment for qazf is flogging him/her eighty times and rejecting his or her witnessing:

وَٱلَّذِينَ يَرْمُونَ ٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَأْتُوا۟ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَٱجْلِدُوهُمْ ثَمَـٰنِينَ جَلْدَةً وَلَا تَقْبَلُوا۟ لَهُمْ شَهَـٰدَةً أَبَدًا ۚ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْفَـٰسِقُونَ ﴿٤

And those who accuse chaste women and then do not produce four witnesses - lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient, (4)

[Qur'an, Annur 24:4]

Accordingly, the crime of slandering one with fornication is valid only when the accuser accuses one of fornication and he can bring at least four witnesses to prove that crime.

Stripes are hit on not a specific part of the body, but on various parts of body. Besides, outer clothes such as coats and mantles of the criminal are taken off.

That the person slandered is “muhsan” means that he or she is free, sane, pubescent, Muslim and innocent.

If a person admits to have slandered and attempts to retract, it is not accepted and he or she is punished.

If a person slanders one with anything other than fornication, such as sinfulness, infidelity or maliciousness, he or she is sentenced to the penalty, if there is, established by the Islamic state.

Even if a person punished because of slandering repents, his or her evidence is not accepted. [Qur'an, Annur 24:4]

Disinterested criteria have been employed in proving crimes for which there are severe penalties such as fornication in Islamic law in order to protect especially indispensable values; and those crimes were not punished until they were proved. This attitude is an important precaution taken in order to prevent wearing out the institution of family and tainting individuals’ chaste and honor easily. Indeed, since people are very careful about their honor and chaste, in other words, since people’s chaste resembles an untainted, clean and white floor, any gossip on the issue is very effective and causes a state of victimization which cannot be compensated for that person. Islam laid down serious conditions of proving for such a serious accusation in order not to give rise to such gossips and to prevent judging by suspicion and prejudice. When the crime is impossible to prove with precise evidence, Islam orders people to keep silent and to keep their personal judgments and information to themselves.

All of the other kinds of slanders and calumnies apart from fornication that is aimed at chaste and honor are also forbidden by the Quran and sunnah, criticized and, even though declared to require responsibility, is not punished; and it is left to the community’s initiative to take necessary precautions on the issue. In this sense, it is possible and necessary for communities to make some lawful regulations and find various solutions in accordance with their era and social conditions in order to protect their peace and unity. As a matter of fact, it would not be appropriate to leave the prevention of gossips, wrong information and slanders solemnly to religion’s and social structure’s way of sanction. Law system’s supportive precautions on the issue always play an important role

May Allah protect us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next and make us of those who have taqwa and increase us in iman and taqwa. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- What is True Success?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

If you believe success is simply making (or having) a lot of money, you may be setting yourself up for failure. The whole world and its comforts which we term signs of “success” were created as mere tools for pursuing true success. The only one who has a right to define true success is Allah, our Creator.

وَٱلْوَزْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ فَمَن ثَقُلَتْ مَوَ‌ٰزِينُهُۥ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٨

And the weighing [of deeds] that Day will be the truth. So those whose scales are heavy – it is they who will be the successful.

[Quran, Al-'Araf 7:8]

Then Why All These Comforts?

If following the guidance of Allah is the only way to success, and if success is in the Hereafter, why then did Allah put in us this drive to earn worldly luxuries, to achieve worldly success? We do love to wear beautiful clothes and to live in big comfortable houses with our beloved ones. We love to eat exotic food at posh restaurants. And all this is natural – it’s part of our humanness. We learn from the Sunnah that it’s alright to wear good clothes:

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “He who has, in his heart, an ant’s weight of arrogance will not enter Jannah.” Someone said: “A man likes to wear beautiful clothes and shoes?” Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Allah is Beautiful, He loves beauty. Arrogance means ridiculing and rejecting the Truth and despising people.” [Muslim]

Enjoy the Blessings

We learn from the Quran that it’s perfectly fine to eat good and tasty food. When the People of the Cave woke up from their 300-year-long sleep, they said:

وَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَـٰهُمْ لِيَتَسَآءَلُوا۟ بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَآئِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا۟ رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَٱبْعَثُوٓا۟ أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَآ أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿١٩

And similarly, We awakened them that they might question one another. Said a speaker from among them, "How long have you remained [here]?" They said, "We have remained a day or part of a day." They said, "Your Lord is most knowing of how long you remained. So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the city and let him look to which is the best of food and bring you provision from it and let him be cautious. And let no one be aware of you. (19)

[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:19]

But Don't Become Lazy

In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH.

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him: Once the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said,

"The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."

[Bukhari]

The concerns of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) came true in Andalus, Muslim Spain. The great Muslim empire began here. Muslims came in Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others everybody fight to take their piece and self destruct. We have become a nation of buying and hoarding stuff.

Remember...

ٱلْمَالُ وَٱلْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَٱلْبَـٰقِيَـٰتُ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلًا ﴿٤٦

Wealth and children are [but] adornment of the worldly life. But the enduring good deeds are better to your Lord for reward and better for [one's] hope. (46)

[Quran, Al-Kahf 18:46]

Comfort is the Road to Success— Not Success Itself

On a different note, Allah has put a special mercy in the hearts of our parents, which makes them give their children the best food while they themselves happily go hungry. They install in their child’s room an air conditioner, while they sleep in the heat. They give their children every comfort they can afford, according to their means, so that they can study well and achieve worldly success.

Now imagine what the parents would feel if their child became so comfortable with these luxuries that he doesn’t feel like studying anymore. He uses the computer to play games or surfing the internet aimlessly or wasting his time on social media. He watches movies all day while enjoying his air conditioner and cool drinks from his refrigerator, thinking that if this comfort will last forever, why study?

In fact, what he has done is what you and I do every day– he imagines that the tools to success are success in themselves.

The Ultimate Success

Allah has given us comfort on this earth so that we can have the time and energy to do our real work– obeying Allah and His Messenger and establishing tawheed (Oneness of God) on this earth. We imagine that all this comfort will last forever, and thus we forget our ultimate goal– success in the Hereafter.

How to achieve success in the Hereafter? Allah gives us the formula, in Surah al-Baqarah, when He introduces us to the Quran:

الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَو‌ٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْءَاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ﴿٤﴾ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ﴿٥

Alif, Lam, Meem. (1) This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah - (2) Who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them, (3) And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muhammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith]. (4) Those are upon [right] guidance from their Lord, and it is those who are the successful. (5) [Quran, Al-Baqarah 2:2-5]

May Allah grant us true success and tawfiq (success) to the highest station. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Finding Your True Purpose -- The Impossibility of Satisfying Another Human Being

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Have you ever tried to satisfy a human being? Whether they be your friends, relatives, teachers, spouse or even your parents, one thing you soon realize is that it’s quite impossible to completely satisfy them in every respect.

Parents generally have high expectations of their offspring, and the higher you go the higher they expect. If you’re the best doctor in the hospital they want you to be the best in the city, then the country, then the world, etc. Far from being satisfied with you their desire will increase, and this kind of attitude may lead them to indulge in sins such as showing off the status of their children.

Even if the people in your life are satisfied with you today they may become dissatisfied with you tomorrow. Something as simple as an offensive phrase can end years of strong friendship, and the friend who loves you dearly now might soon come to hate you.

If this is the case with parents and best friends, we don’t have to mention others. These are all the results of the human weaknesses of impatience, ingratitude, and an unwillingness to forgive.

Allah Most High describes the human character in Surat Al-Ma`ārij:

إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا ﴿١٩﴾ إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًا ﴿٢٠﴾ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا ﴿٢١

Indeed, mankind was created anxious: When evil touches him, impatient, And when good touches him, withholding [of it].

[Qur'an, Al–Ma’arij: 70:19-21]

Instead of pursuing the hopeless task of trying to please other human beings, why not strive to please and satisfy the one being whose characteristics are perfect in every aspect, the One who is kind, merciful, understanding, and much more?

Our simple brains fail to fully comprehend the perfection of our Creator’s nature. The Quran mentions that Allah is the most compassionate and the most merciful. He is the most kind, the most loving, and the most wise. He is also the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Healer. He is the One who guides, the One who protects, the One who forgives.

O son of Adam, as long as you call upon Me and put your hope in Me, I have forgiven you for what you have done and I do not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins were to reach the clouds of the sky and then you would seek My forgiveness, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, if you were to come to Me with sins that are close to filling the earth and then you would meet Me without ascribing any partners with Me, I would certainly bring to you forgiveness close to filling it. [Hadithi Qudsi]

Imagine if our Creator were to have human characteristics like impatience, bad temper, arrogance, and ignorance; we might not even be able to exist to this day because if He were to get angry the way we do He might decide to destroy the earth in no time since He has the power to do so. But alhamdulillah thumma alhamdulillah the nature of our Creator is . . . just . . . indescribably great!

It is easy to please the Rabb

Allah does not expect anyone of us to do anything beyond our ability. So forget about all those horrible tasks that your boss gave you and concentrate on what the Boss of your boss and the King of all Kings tells you to do.

First of all, we have to understand the mercy of our Creator and see that He doesn’t expect us to do anything beyond our scope.

لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope.

[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:286]

مَآ أُرِيدُ مِنْهُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَن يُطْعِمُونِ ﴿٥٧

I do not want from them any provision, nor do I want them to feed Me.

[Qur'an, Adh-Dhariyat, 51:57]

What does Allah want us to do? It’s a simple task that requires no money or power to accomplish, and yet the reward is immense if done properly. This task is none other than to fulfill our purpose of existence.

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ ﴿٥٦

And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).

[Qur'an, Adh-Dhariyat, 51:56]

Allah’s right over His servants is that they worship Him without associating any partner with Him in worship, and their right over Him is that He does not punish anyone who worships Him without associating any partner with Him in worship.

[al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

May Allah help us worship Him with excellence. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

When Hijab becomes Cultural and is not Observed (Properly)

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Wearing ḥijāb was never easy for many. I started covering in my early 30s when I realized that hijab is obligatory for women. Yes, I never knew that it was obligatory until I came across a hadith in a halal and haram book which I was reading to my young children back then.

Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin (may Allah be pleased with her):

Asma, daughter of Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them), entered upon the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) wearing thin clothes. The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) turned his attention from her. He said: O Asma', when a woman reaches the age of menstruation, it does not suit her that she displays her parts of body except this and this, and he pointed to his face and hands. [Abu Dawud said: This is a mursal tradition (i.e. the narrator who transmitted it from 'Aisha is missing) Khalid b. Duraik did not see 'Aisha].

It was a challenge, but it slowly became my identity. I learned lessons through wearing ḥijāb that I might not have learned otherwise. It gave me confidence, self-respect and taught me to stand up for my beliefs even if I had to swim against the tide. I lost friends but I also found friends, Muslim and non-Muslim, who didn't care how I looked or how I dressed; rather, they respected me for myself and valued my friendship despite of my “strange” clothes.

A piece of cloth that made me look different, caused many to stare and laugh at me, slowly became my pride. It was not just ḥijāb anymore; it made me realize what it meant to do something for no other purpose than to please Allāh alone; to be tested and along the way to become stronger (inshā'Allāh).

Ḥijāb became a responsibility. It was a symbol or worship and servitude to Allah. I was representing my religion every time I stepped out of my house. I started enjoying being an ambassador. I used my ḥijāb to avail every opportunity to make da'wah.

There were tough times too, especially when my children noticed their mother was different from others. There were times when they stood out just because their mother looked different. Or when people at the supermarket parking lot laughed at me asking “Hey what's on your head?” Even intellectuals and professionals like among my law school classmates or my lawyer colleaques would pose such questions as, "Why do you have that thing on your head?" "Did your husband made you wear it?" "Are you bald (had chemo)?" And non-lawyers mistaken me for a non-lawyer and was chastised for waiting in the attorney line for service or using the attorney fast lane, or in court, a judge mistaken me for a client, not an officer of the court.

In the West, ḥijāb is frequently misunderstood as “cultural”. I was often appalled at this misrepresentation. It was not until I stayed in the middle east and other so-called Islamic countries for an extended period of time that I understood the grounds of Western arguments. I realized accusing ḥijāb as a cultural practice forced on women by their men folk, holds water.

Ḥijāb and jilbabs are very common there, but the oppression is reflected through the way ḥijāb is worn. Sometimes, it feels like women are in a prison waiting to break out. A sheer piece of black cloth carelessly resting midway across their head, the layers of hair slipping attractively out from the front makes these women look no less stunning than Princess Jasmine. Layers and layers of make-up makes me wonder if they get ready at salons every day. Many women use artificial hair-buns under their hijabs, making it look like a perfect “camel-hump”.

Many women wear front-open abayas that split open up at every step they take; a glance of their tight skinny jeans and high heeled sandals only make them seem far more alluring.

That's not all. Jilbabs are tight. Some women cover their faces (which is mostly forced by their families) but their skin-tight jilbabs, designed especially to enhance body curves, are enough to catch anyone's attention; forget the faces.

Many women there do not want to wear ḥijāb but are forced to by their families. I don't know how ḥijāb evolved into culture, but unfortunately it did. Even the welcoming package and little leaflets designed for expatriates introduce ḥijāb as a cultural dress code.

What would be the impression all those non-Muslim expatriates take back to their respective countries? Can they be blamed for accusing Muslims of imposing ḥijāb on women?

There is always khayr (good) in whatever happens in our lives. Firstly, difficulties and challenges are not unnecessary, rather, they reform us.

Secondly, not all Western accusations are unfounded.

We should realize that it is partially our own fault that ḥijāb is misunderstood. Had our Muslim brethren not sent out the wrong message, much against ḥijāb would have been easier to clarify. Some progressive females, who label ḥijāb as a forced cultural practice, are as ignorant of ḥijāb as many Muslim women in “Muslim” countries.

We have a lot of work to do from within. At times, it seems easier to make da'wah to non-Muslims and non families than Muslims themselves and our own families. Just look in your Facebook...so many of our friends, our youth and even older people are displaying their bodies or parts of them, by their pictures posted on their FB. Some of these people are part of practicing Muslim families, knowledgeable people or active members of Muslim communities. What kind of message are we sending to our youth, new Muslims and non-Muslims?

May Allāh make the real knowledge of Islam sink into our hearts and return us our glory and 'izzah (honor) that we have lost at our own hands. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

Taqwa--Balancing Love and Fear of Allah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

A precise definition of Al-Muttaâqun appears early in the Qur’an:

الٓمٓ ﴿١﴾ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٢

This is the Book (the Qur'an), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaâqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allâh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allâh much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].

[Qur'an, Al-Baqarah 2:1-2]

The following Ayah announces the intricate connection between Al-Muttaâqun and Taqwa:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣

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 honorable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqun (the pious). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

[Quran, Al-Hujurat 49:13]

That which links these two concepts together is ‘Ibaadah. Ibaadah involves those actions of the heart, mind and body that are consistent with what Allâh has ordained and avoids those actions which Allâh had forbidden. The fruit of Ibaadah is Taqwa.

Taqwa involves the cleansing and purification of the heart and soul as a consequence of endeavoring to please Allâh. This requires the introduction of a fourth concept: Ikhlaas. Ikhlaas means sincerity, that an action is performed solely for the pleasure of Allâh, as a result of one’s love for Him, while fearing that one will invoke his anger. Allâh said:

قُلْ إِنِّىٓ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ ٱلدِّينَ ﴿١١

Say (O Muhammad) “Verily I am commanded to worship Allâh (Alone) by obeying him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only.”

[Qur'an, Az-Zumar 39:11]

Considering the two Ayat quoted above in connection with one another, it is clear that having Taqwa requires the individual to possess both fear of Allâh and love of Allâh. To merely love Him but not fear Him, or to fear Him and not love Him does not represent Taqwa. Either one, by itself represents an incomplete relationship with Allâh. They must each exist in one’s heart in a state of completeness, dynamically balanced with one another for true Taqwa to exist. And the love is requited:

بَلَىٰ مَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِعَهْدِهِۦ وَٱتَّقَىٰ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ ﴿٧٦

But yes, whoever fulfills his pledge and fears Allah much; verily, then Allah loves those who are Al-Muttaqun.

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:76]

Taqwa comes from Allâh:

وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱهْتَدَوْا۟ زَادَهُمْ هُدًى وَءَاتَىٰهُمْ تَقْوَىٰهُمْ ﴿١٧

While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and bestows on them their piety (Taqwa)

[Qur'an, Muhammad 47:17]

The comprehensiveness and importance of Taqwa is shown in the following hadith: Narrated Ibn Ashwa: from Yazid bin Salamah Al-Ju’fi, he said: “O Messenger of Allâh, I heard so many narrations from you that I am afraid the last of them will cause me to forget the first of them. So narrate a statement to me that will encompass them. So he said: ‘Have Taqwa of Allâh with what you learn.'” [at-Tirmidhi]

The following ahadith demonstrates that Taqwa – though established in relationship to Allâh – is relevant in our dealings with our Muslims: Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allâh (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The Muslim is the brother to the Muslim, he does not cheat him, lie to him, nor deceive him. All of the Muslim is unlawful to another Muslim: His Honor, his wealth, and his blood. At-Taqwa is here. It is enough evil for a man that he belittle his brother Muslim.” [at-Tirmidhi]

The love and fear Allâh should free us from fear of Satan:

إِنَّمَا ذَ‌ٰلِكُمُ ٱلشَّيْطَـٰنُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَآءَهُۥ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٧٥

It is only Shaytan (Satan) that suggests to you the fear of his Auliya’ [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger, Muhammad (saws), so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers.

[Qur'an, AleImran 3:175]

أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢

No doubt! Verily, the Auliya’ of Allâh [i.e. those who believe in the Oneness of Allâh and fear Allâh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)], no fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.

[Qur'an, Yunus 10:62]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “The most common thing which leads people to Paradise is Taqwa of Allâh and good conduct, and the most common thing which leads people to the Hell Fire is the mouth and the private parts.” (at-Tirmidhi)

Those who possess Taqwa shall be exempt from fear on the Day of Judgment.

يَوْمَ نَحْشُرُ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ إِلَى ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ وَفْدًا ﴿٨٥

The Day We shall gather the Muttaâqun (the pious and righteous persons) unto the Most Gracious (Allâh), like a delegation (presented before a king for honor).

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:85]

ثُمَّ نُنَجِّى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوا۟ وَّنَذَرُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ فِيهَا جِثِيًّا ﴿٧٢

Then We shall save those who used to fear Allah and were dutiful to Him. And We shall leave the Zalimun (polytheists and wrongdoers) therein (humbled) to their knees (in Hell).

[Qur'an, Maryam 19:72]

Tafseer ibn Kathir mentions that Atiyah As-Sa’di said the Prophet (saws) 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, Tirmidhi)

An individual who possesses Taqwa continually strives for that which will lead to righteousness in this world and to that which Allâh has promised the Muttaâqun in the Hereafter. Allâh says:

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣﴾ لَهُمُ ٱلْبُشْرَىٰ فِى ٱلْحَيَو‌ٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ ۚ لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِكَلِمَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ هُوَ ٱلْفَوْزُ ٱلْعَظِيمُ ﴿٦٤

Those who believed and used to fear Allah much (by abstaining from evil deeds and sins and by doing righteous deeds), for them are glad tidings in the life of the present world and in the Hereafter. No change can there be in the Words of Allâh. This is indeed the supreme success.

[Qur'an, Yunus 10:63-64]

May Allah make us of the people of taqwa and purify our hearts and grant us deeds that are pleasing to Him and bring us closer to Him and grant us success to the highest station. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam