Significance of Taqwa (Piety) in the Qur'an

Significance of Taqwa (Piety) in the Qur'an

 

When we look at the various practices and teachings of Islam with regards to acts of worship, we find most of them, if not all, guiding people towards this state of Taqwa. For example, with regards to fasting,

قال الله سبحانه وتعالي:

Allah is saying, "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was for those before you in order that you may be of those who have Taqwa."

This concept of Taqwa, wherein one seeks to protect oneself from the wrath of Allah by doing the things, which are pleasing to Him, one can only do so if one is conscious of Allah. This is why the term Taqwa is also expressed in English as God-consciousness. And when we look with regards to salah, we find Allah saying, "Establish the prayer for my remembrance."

So salah, and virtually all aspects of `ibaadah, serve to keep us in a state of consciousness of Allah in that when a person is conscious of Him, aware that He is watching, then that person would not seek to do the things which would not be pleasing to Allah. It is when we forget Allah that Satan finds the opening, he is able to approach us, suggest evil and we fall into evil.

A Muslim surrenders before Almighty Allah and does what he is ordered to do and refrains from what he is told to keep away from. Taqwa, the fear of Almighty Allah, is the only force that can restrain man from evil and wickedness. It is this fear of Almighty God that keeps the heart of a believer awake and enables him to distinguish right from wrong.

Besides, Taqwa is the only virtue that brings honor to a believer, man or woman, in the Islamic society. The Holy Qur'an says:

 

يا ايها النا س ا نا خلقنكم من ذ كر وا نثي وجعلنكم شعو با وقبا ئل لتعا رفوا ان

اكر مكم عند الله اتقكم (سورة الحجرات آيت 13 )

 

"O mankind, We have created you of a male and a female and appointed your castes and tribes that you may recognize one another.

Verily he has greater respect with God who is possessed of greater courtesy" (49-13)

 

Justice and Taqwa are two principles that emerge as necessary corollaries from the doctrines of Oneness of Allah, which according to the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah, is the basic article of faith, whereas the discipline and the dos and the don'ts of the canon law are merely its outward expression, or means to the attainment of divinely ordained ends of man in its collective as well as individual existence.

In Islam, being just is considered to be a necessary condition or being pious and God-fearing, the basic characteristics of a Muslim.

 

The Holy Qur'an says:

 

اعد لوا هو اقرب للتقوي واتقوالله ان الله خبير بما تعملون (سورة المائده آيت 8 )

 

"Do justice _ that is nearer to piety, and fear you God. Allah is well aware of what you do."

 

The Holy Qur'an aims to create an ideal society based on Taqwa for the good of the entire humanity.

Allah says:

 

كنتم خير امت اخرجت للنا س ( سورة آل عمران آيت 110 )

 

"You are the best community created for the good of mankind." (3:110)

 

 

The fear of Almighty Allah, the root of all wisdom, find expression in the individual's awareness of the impact that his actions or failure to act will at the various stages or levels of his social connections and relationship have on others. It is admitted that the primary concern of Islam is to develop the personality of the individual as a God fearing man, and equip him with the talent to live in peace with him and peace with others.

In Surah Al Imran, Taqwa is bracketed with steadfastness and patience, and in Surah Baqarah with making peace among mankind. Even in conducting wars, when mere values are generally overlooked, Muslims have to abide by the dictates of Taqwa. This condition of heart transforms both the thinking and the action of man. The Holy Qur'an repeatedly asks us to observe Taqwa, to abide by the decisions of the Prophet, to act up to the injunctions of the Shariah, and to refrain from prohibited acts, and to attain glory.