Taqwa: Mark of Believer Middlesex University Thursday 11 Nov 2010 Abdullah Hasan.

Taqwa: Mark of Believer Middlesex University

Thursday 11 Nov 2010

Abdullah Hasan

What is Taqwa?

• Waqa [root: قي [ [ و• I waqahu وقاه to 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 ( ه ) someone from); to guard ھ ه ھsomeone against); to protect, offer or afford protection (ھ against); to prevent, obviate (ھ a 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

Taqwa (Self-restraint)

Patience

Self-control

Self-discipline

Responsibility

Obedience

Purification of soul

God-fearing nature

Afterlife Accountability

Quran & Taqwa

Guidance Baqra 2

Admonition (وعظ)Ale-imran 138

Beneficial (خير)Nahal 30

RefresherHaqa 48

How many times is Taqwa mentioned in the Qur’an?

Taqwa & Character

Limits in revengeBaqara 194

Avoiding bad deedsTauba 108

Real virtue Baqra 177

Worship & CharityZariyat 15-19

Means of achieving

Higher GradesMaida 93

Self-control/DisciplineFath 26

Earning & Taqwa

No Interest

Baqra 278Ale-imran 130

No fraudulent trade

Sho’ara 179-182

No deceptive dealings

Baqra 188

Only earn halal RizqMaida 88

Haram is not equal to halal

Maida 100

Relaxation to Debtors

Baqra 281

Taqwa in Social Relations

BrotherhoodHujarat 10

Prohibition of

Backbiting etc.

Hujarat 12

No oppression/ aggression

Qasas 83

Positive talk in private

discussionsMujadala 9

Supporting good

activitiesMaida 2

Ethical Behavior

Ahzab 70

Enjoining Good,

Forbidding Bad

Ale-imran 114-115

Promise keeping

Ale-imran 76

Fight against Kuffar

Tauba 123

Joining Truthful People

Tauba 119

Fighting despite injuries

Ale-imran 172

Help withAngels

Ale-imran 125

Persistence & Unity

Ale-imran 200

Struggle withLife & Wealth

Tauba 44

Taqwa & Jihad

Scope of Taqwa

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-married3.Isolation (tark-e-

Duniya4.Not taking benefit

from allowable things/acts

5.Continuous Nafl Worships

Desired Outside the scope

Fair-judgment

(حسن المعاملة)

Faithful (وفاء)

Care of kin (صلة الرحم)

Compassion (شفقة)

Affection (محبة)

Devotion

obedience (تسلیم و رضا)

Reliance (توکل)

Sincerity (صداقة)

Amity (الفة)

Fruits of Taqwa(Piety)