بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
One of the conditions to understand sacred knowledge is taqwa (fear of Allah). Allah says,
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۖ وَيُعَلِّمُكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ﴿٢٨٢
...And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things. [Quran, Al Baqarah 2:48]
If you are learning sacred knowledge, have taqwa of Allah and He guarantees your success. Inshaa Allah.
What is Taqwa?
Taqwa is one of those unique words in the Arabic language that cannot simply be translated into a word or two in English. As a result, many translators struggle to bring out the real meaning of this word.
Ali (radhiAllahu anhu) defined Taqwa as being the ‘fear of Jaleel (Allah), acting upon the tanzeel (Quran), being content with qaleel (little), and preparing for the day of raheel (journeying from this world).
Umar ibn Khattab (radhiAllahu anhu) once asked Ibn Ka’ab (radhiAllahu anhu) the definition of taqwa. In reply Ibn Ka’ab asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Umar replied in the affirmative and ibn Ka’ab continued, “How do you do so?”
Taqwa can be compared to walking through a narrow path with thorny bushes on both sides and a person passing through it tries his level best to save his clothes from being torn. The thorns are the sins and the clothes is one's Iman (faith).
Allah Almighty says:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ﴿١٠٢
O you who believe! Have Taqwa of Allah, as you should have of Him and do not die except as Muslims. (102)
[Quran, AleImran 3:102]
Ibn Mas'ud (radhiallahu anhu) said speaking about this verse, Allah is meant to be obeyed, and not disobeyed; remembered at all times, and not forgotten; and to be thanked; and we are not to be ungrateful to Him."
Taqwa makes one deserving of Allah's pleasure and love. Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ ﴿١٣
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is that (believer) who has Taqwa. (13)
[Quran, al-Hujurat 49:13]
Taqwa keeps one steadfast on the Straight Path and protects him from deviation. Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِن تَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّكُمْ فُرْقَانًا وَيُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّـَٔاتِكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّـهُ ذُو ٱلْفَضْلِ ٱلْعَظِيمِ ﴿٢٩
O you who have believed, if you fear Allah, He will grant you a Furqaan (criterion to judge between right and wrong) and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty. (29)
[Qu'an, Al-Anfaal 8:29]
Taqwa is a means by which a believer performs righteous deeds and Taqwa causes the righteous deed to be accepted by Allah.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّـهَ وَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًا سَدِيدًا ﴿٧٠﴾ يُصْلِحْ لَكُمْ أَعْمَـٰلَكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّـهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدْ فَازَ فَوْزًا عَظِيمًا ﴿٧١
O you who have believed, fear Allah and speak words of appropriate justice. (70) He will [then] amend for you your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment. (71)
[Quran, al-Ahzab 33:70-71]
Allah mentioned the characteristics of His Awliya (Friends of Allah) saying:
أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّـهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ﴿٦٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ يَتَّقُونَ ﴿٦٣
Unquestionably, the friends of Allah shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve (62) Those who have believed and have been fearful of Allah. (63)
[Quran, Yunus 10:62-63]
How to achieve Taqwa?
Allah Almighty says,
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ ٱعْبُدُوا۟ رَبَّكُمُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ وَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٢١
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (those who possess Taqwa) (21)
[Quran, al-Baqarah 2:21]
Thus, Taqwa is the fruit of 'ibadah (act of worship) and can only be achieved by performing acts of 'ibadah. Therefore, we often find Allah mentions Taqwa with 'ibadah. Allah Almighty says regarding the fasts of Ramadhan:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿١٨٣
O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting)[] is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqûn (those who possess Taqwa) (183)
[Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:183]
Taqwa inhabits the heart and it is only within the capability of Allah to know what the hearts conceal. Therefore, judging people's righteousness and spirituality is beyond our ability.
وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُعْجِبُكَ قَوْلُهُۥ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيُشْهِدُ ٱللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلْبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلْخِصَامِ ﴿٢٠٤
There is among people, he whose speech will dazzle you in this life and he will claim that Allah is witness (to the sincerity of) what is in his heart, yet he will be among the most vicious enemies (of mankind).
(204)
[Quran, al-Baqarah 2:204]
May Allah forgive our sins and make us among the people of Taqwa and guide us, our families and the Ummah. Aameen.
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
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