The =
benefits
of Taqwa
BS Foad, M.D 2009
The order to fast Ramadan came with the rationale that
fasting will allow us to achieve Taqwa (righteousness; God-consciousness;
piety; goodness).
O ye who believe! Fasting is prescr=
ibed
to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may (learn)
self-restraint,
=
; Al-Baqara
2: 183
So what is Taqwa? And why is it so important th=
at
we work hard to achieve this characteristic?
What is Taqwa?
The concept of Taqwa involves several aspects:<= o:p>
·
Fear of Allah’s punishment if we disobey =
His
orders and fear of displeasing Him if we do wrong
·
Sincerity and devotion in worshipping Allah and
following His orders because of our realization how much we depend upon Him=
·
Our love of Him and our desire to please Him
·
Watching our behavior because Allah is watching
what we do, and His angels are recording all that we say and do
Fear of Allah’s punishment and fear of displeasing Allah, or
understanding our accountability to Him
If
we believe that we are accountable to Allah, and that one day we have to an=
swer
to Him, then we do our best to avoid sin and not do wrong, and we are patie=
nt
and control our desires and hasten in all good deeds:
And fear the Day when ye shall be bro=
ught
back to Allah. Then shall every soul be paid what it earned, and none shall=
be
dealt with unjustly.
=
; Al-Baqara
2: 281
And
O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and let every soul look to what
(provision) he has sent forth for the morrow. Yea, fear Allah: for Allah is
well-acquainted with (all) that ye do.
&n=
bsp; Al-Hashr
59: 18
And be ye not like those who forgot Allah, and He made them forg=
et
their own souls! Such are the rebellious transgressors!
&n=
bsp; Al-Hashr
59: 19
And
Which then is best? He that layeth his foundation on piety to Al=
lah
and His Good Pleasure? Or he that layeth his foundation on an undermined sa=
nd
cliff ready to crumble to pieces? And it doth crumble to pieces with him, i=
nto
the fire of Hell. And Allah guideth not people that do wrong.
&n=
bsp; At-Tawba
9: 109
On
the Day of Judgment no one can help us or intercede on our behalf. Our deeds
and our faith will speak for us or against us:
Then guard yourselves against a day when one soul shall not avail
another nor shall intercession be accepted for her, nor shall compensation =
be
taken from her, nor shall anyone be helped (from outside).
&n=
bsp; Al-Baqara
2: 48
And
O mankind! do your duty to your Lord, and fear (the coming of) a=
Day
when no father can avail aught for his son, nor a son avail aught for his
father. Verily, the promise of Allah is true: let not then this present life
deceive you, nor let the Chief Deceiver deceive you about Allah.
&n=
bsp; Luqman
31: 33
Watching o=
ur
behavior for Allah is watching us
The
life of this world is full of temptations, and it is easy to loose our focus
and forget our objective of worshipping Allah. It is easy to succumb to
temptations and follow our vain desires. So what can we do to set our prior=
ities
correctly and watch our behavior?
1-To
understand our Islam and our goal in life
2-To
obey Allah and His messenger
3-To
follow a good deed with a bad deed
4-To
remember Allah at all times and seek His guidance
5-To
seek help in patience and prayers
6-To
stay close to those who are righteous
Understand=
ing
our Islam
When
our faith is based on knowledge and proper understanding it is solid and not
easily shaken by tests and trials or adversity
And that those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that
the (Qur-an) is the Truth from thy Lord, and that they may believe therein,=
and
their hearts may be made humbly (open) to it: for verily Allah is the Guide=
of
those who believe, to the Straight Way.
&n=
bsp; Al-Hajj
22: 54
Part
of this knowledge and understanding is not being dazzled by the material th=
ings
in life
Say: "Not equal are things that are bad and things that are
good, even though the abundance of the bad may dazzle thee; so fear Allah, =
O ye
that understand; that (so) ye may prosper."
&n=
bsp; Al-Maeda
5: 100
And
Your riches and your children may be but a trial: but in the
Presence of Allah is the highest Reward.
&n=
bsp; At-Taghabun
64: 15
So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey; and spend in
charity for the benefit of your own souls. And those saved from the
covetousness of their own souls; they are the ones that achieve prosperity.=
&n=
bsp; At-Taghabun
64: 16
Obeying Al=
lah
and His messenger
When
we obey Allah and His messenger we are guided and we are given life. A life
that is based on morals, ethics and concepts that shape our behavior and
character, and make us better human beings
O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger,
when He calleth you to that which will give you life
&n=
bsp; Al-Anfal
8: 24
And
Verily, this is My Way leading straight: follow it; follow not
(other) paths: they will scatter you about from His (great) Path; thus doth=
He
command you, that ye may be righteous.
&n=
bsp; Al-Ana’m
6: 153
And
So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves t=
hat
which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah is strict in Punishm=
ent.
&n=
bsp; Al-Hashr
59: 7
And
The Thamud (people) rejected the Messengers.
&n=
bsp; Ash-Shura’a
26: 141
Behold, their brother Salih said to them: "Will you not fear
(Allah)?
&n=
bsp; Ash-Shura’a
26: 142
"I am to you a Messenger worthy of all trust.
&n=
bsp; Ash-Shura’a
26: 143
"So fear Allah, and obey me.
&n=
bsp; Ash-Shura’a
26: 144
And
So fear Allah as much as ye can; listen and obey; and spend in
charity for the benefit of your own souls. And those saved from the
covetousness of their own souls; they are the ones that achieve prosperity.=
&n=
bsp; At-Taghabun
64: 16
Following =
a bad
deed with a good deed
As
human beings we are bound to sin and make mistakes. Our job is to learn from
these mistakes. Once we do a bad deed we should hasten and do a good deed to
cancel our bad deed. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
(Be
conscious of Allah at all times; and follow a bad deed with a good deed, it
will wipe it out; and treat others with a good and noble character and
righteous behavior) Abou Dawood & Termedhi
Allah
promised that our good deeds will cancel out our bad deeds
And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at = the approaches of the night: for those things that are good remove those that a= re evil: be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord): <= o:p>
&n=
bsp; Hud
11: 114
And be steadfast in patience; for verily Allah will not suffer t=
he
reward of the righteous to perish.
&n=
bsp; Hud
11: 115
Patiently
persevere and seek help in prayer
Patience
is an active process, where we never give up hope of God’s mercy, and
work hard to solve our difficulty and change our fate.
Prayer
provides comfort and inner strength and brings closer to God. It also prote=
cts
us from shameful deeds
O ye who believe! Seek help with patient Perseverance and Prayer:
for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.
&n=
bsp; Al-Baqara
2: 153
And
Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and
establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust dee=
ds;
and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And
Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do.
&n=
bsp; Al-Ankabut
29: 45
To remember
Allah at all times and to seek His guidance
When
we remember Allah we can see our way clearly and avoid sin and are guided t=
o do
what is right
Those who fear Allah, when a thought of evil from Satan assaults
them, bring Allah to remembrance, when lo! they see (aright)!
&n=
bsp; Al-Araf
7: 201
And
And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged
their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for
their sins; and who can forgive sins except Allah? And are never obstinate =
in
persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done.
&n=
bsp; Al-Imran
3: 135
=
Staying cl=
ose to
those who are righteous and remind us of Allah
When
we work with others who fear Allah and who remind us of our accountability =
to
Allah, we get closer to Allah. Our collective effort benefits the whole
community as it becomes a better place for everyone
Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not =
one
another in sin and rancour: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment. =
&n=
bsp; Al-Maeda
5: 2
Taqwa is f=
aith
in God confirmed with our deeds and good character and proper behavior
Taqwa
is not just rituals of worship like prayers or fasting, or reciting the
Qur’an or remembering Allah or saying Du’a or seeking AllahR=
17;s
forgiveness; Taqwa also involves b=
eing
faithful to our promises, being truthful and patiently persevering during
adversity and difficult times:
It is not righteou=
sness
that ye turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to
believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the
Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, =
for
orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ra=
nsom
of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practise regular charity, to fulf=
il
the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or
suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the
people of truth, the God-fearing.
&n=
bsp; Al-Baqara
2: 177
We
can see from this verse that Taqwa involves:
*Faith
in God and in being accountable to Him
*Taqwa also involves being good to oth=
ers
and helping them as exemplified in this verse by extending a helping ha=
nd
to one’s relatives in need, the orphans, the needy, those in debt and
those who ask for help
*Taqwa also involves being faithful to=
our
promises and covenants and patiently persevering during difficult times and
striving in the cause of God
Nay, those that keep their plighted faith and act aright, verily
Allah loves those who act aright.
&n=
bsp; Al-Imran
3: 76
Taqwa mean=
s that
we are truthful in word and in deed
O ye who believe! Fear Allah and be with those who are true (in =
word
and deed).
&n=
bsp; At-Tawba
9: 119
Taqwa means
solving disputes and improving the relationship between ourselves and other
people
=
so
fear Allah, and keep straight the relations between yourselves: obey Allah =
and
His Messenger, if ye do believe."
=
&=
nbsp; Al-Anfal
8: 1
=
=
And
=
=
The
Believers are but a single Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation
between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive
Mercy.
=
&=
nbsp; Al-Hujerat
49: 10
=
So what ar=
e the
benefits of Taqwa?
We
are rewarded for our Taqwa both in this life as well as in the hereafter
Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily=
, to
him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure, and We will best=
ow
on such their reward according to the best of their actions.
&n=
bsp; An-Nahl
16: 97
Among the
rewards in this life are the following:
1-Our
Taqwa gets us out of trouble
2-Our
Taqwa increases our sustenance from ways we never expected
3-Our
Taqwa forgives our sins
4-Our
Taqwa increases our reward
5-Taqwa
makes our affairs easy
6-Allah
guides those who have Taqwa
7-Allah
loves those who have Taqwa
8-Allah
is with those who have Taqwa with His mercy, guidance and blessings
Our Taqwa =
gets
us out of trouble
And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out,
&n=
bsp; At-Talaq
65: 2
Our Taqwa
increases our sustenance
And He provides for him from (sources) he never could imagine. A=
nd
if anyone puts his trust in Allah, sufficient is (Allah) for him. For Allah
will surely accomplish His purpose: verily, for all things has Allah appoin=
ted
a due proportion.
&n=
bsp; At-Talaq
65: 3
Our Taqwa =
makes
our affairs easier
and for those who fear Allah, He will make their path easy.
&n=
bsp; At-Talaq
65: 4
Our Taqwa
increases our reward
That is the Command of Allah, which He has sent down to you: and=
if
anyone fears Allah, He will remove his ills from him, and will enlarge his =
reward.
&n=
bsp; At-Talaq
65: 5
Allah guid=
es
those who have Taqwa
O ye that believe! Fear Allah, and believe in His Messenger, and=
He
will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy: He will provide for you a
Light by which ye shall walk (straight in your path), and He will forgive y=
ou
(your past); for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful:
&n=
bsp; Al-Hadeed
57: 28
Allah loves
those who have Taqwa
for Allah loveth the righteous.
&n=
bsp; At-Tawba
9: 4
And
Nay, those that keep their plighted faith and act aright, verily
Allah loves those who act aright.
&n=
bsp; Al-Imran
3: 76
Allah is w=
ith
those who have Taqwa with His guidance and blessings
For Allah is with those who restrain themselves, and those who do
good.
&n=
bsp; An-Nahl
16: 128
Rewards of=
Taqwa
in the hereafter
1-Forgiveness
of sin
2-Entering
God’s paradise
3-No
fear or sadness on the Day of Judgment
4-Being
honored and loved by Allah
Forgivenes=
s of
sin
O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion
(to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may
afflict) you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded.
&n=
bsp; Al-Anfal
8: 29
Entering
God’s paradise
On the other hand, for those who fear their Lord, are Gardens, w=
ith
rivers flowing beneath; therein are they to dwell (for ever), a gift from t=
he
Presence of Allah, and that which is in the Presence of Allah is the best
(bliss) for the righteous.
&n=
bsp; Al-Imran
3: 198
No fear or
sadness on the Day of Judgment
Behold! verily on the friends of Allah there is no fear, nor sha=
ll
they grieve;
&n=
bsp; Yunus
10: 62
Those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil.
&n=
bsp; Yunus
10: 63
For them are Glad Tidings, in the life of the Present and in the
Hereafter: no change can there be in the Words of Allah. This is indeed the=
supreme
Felicity.
&n=
bsp; Yunus
10: 64
Being hono=
red
and loved by Allah
Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who=
is)
the most righteous of you. And Allah has full Knowledge and is well-acquain=
ted
(with all things).
&n=
bsp; Al-Hujerat
49: 13