Understanding Taqwaa

Definition of Taqwaa
Taqwaa in the Qur’aan and Hadeeth
Taqwaa vs. Materialism

• Taqwaa is an Arabic word which means: piety, to be god-fearing (fearing Allah), god- consciousness, awareness (of God) etc.
• In Islam the word taqwaa means to be conscious of Allah at all times. Generally speaking, taqwaa is a state of inner consciousness that drives a person towards good and refrains from evil, seeking the pleasure of Allah.
• Muslims should always be conscious of the fact that Allah ﷻ is aware of what they do no matter where they are, be it in the farthest corner of the earth or in a place where none of the creation is able to see them. This is being conscious of Allah (taqwaa) in the true sense. This is ultimately what every Muslim should strive for.
• Taqwaa is not something that can be physically measured. It is something based on one’s spiritual relationship with Allah ﷻ .
• The Prophet ﷺ has practically illustrated the concept of taqwaa by being conscious of Allah ﷻ throughout every moment of his life.
  ‘Aa’ishah narrated,

كَانَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم يَذْكُرُ اللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ أَحْيَانِهِ. (مسلم)

The Prophet ﷺ used to remember (to be conscious) of Allah ﷻ at all times. [Saheeh Muslim]

• To enmpahsise the importance of taqwaa, Allah openly states that, in His eyes, position, preference and status is not based on physical appearance, social or financial status. It is based on inner consciousness of Allah ﷻ -faqwa.
  Regarding taqwaa Allah ﷻ says in the Qur’aan,

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَـٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ (سورة الحجرات : 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 the most righteous (those who have taqwaa) of you…”. [Soorat  Al-Hujurat : 13]

• Allah ﷻ has created everybody differently, in terms of physical appearance. In addition to this, He has made some people rich and some poor. He has created people into different tribes, races and nationalities speaking different languages.
• In the above verse He informs us that these differences are purely physical and can never be taken as a criterion for judging any person.
• The criterion used by the Qur’aan and hadeeth, to understand one another is taqwaa and not physical appearance or social status. The Prophet ﷺ , in one of his farewell speeches during the Hajj period, had put special emphasis in terms of looking at each other on the basis of taqwaa and not physical appearance or social status,

ألا لا فَضْلَ لِعَرَبِيَّ عَلَى أَعْجَمِي وَلَا لَأَحْمَر عَلَى أَسْوَدِ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى (احمد)

Indeed, there is no preference for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor black-skinned over red-skinned (white) except through taqwaa. [Ahmad]

• On another occasion the Prophet ﷺ spoke about Islamic brotherhood and at the end of his speech he emphasized the essence thereof (brotherhood). He ﷺ pointed to his heart thrice and said,

(مسلم) التَّقْوَى هَهُنَا

Taqwaa is here (in the heart). [Muslim]

• Muslims need to understand that Allah ﷻ does not judge a person according to the way hel she looks or how much money he/she has, but He looks at what is within a person’s heart. Regarding this the Prophet ﷺ says in a Hadeeth,

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَنْظُرَ إِلَى أَجْسَامِكُم وَ لَكِن يَنْظُر إِلَى قُلُوبِكُم (مسلم)

“Indeed Allah does not look at your physical appearances, but rather he looks at your hearts”. [Muslim]

• Today most people put a great deal of emphasis on the way they look, what they wear, or what they drive. They have become extremely materialistic in their outlook. Materialism is therefore the order of the day. Friendships, marriages and other things are based primarily on material assets and social standing as a result of material possessions.
• Ultimately, in the sight of Allah ﷻ , status and superiority is not based on worldly achievements, but rather it is based on consciousness of Allah ﷻ – taqwa. Taqwa of Allah is what defines us as believers. Allah loves those who have taqwa and they are His frinds and allies. No fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.

أَلَآ إِنَّ أَوْلِيَآءَ ٱللَّهِ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ ( سورة يونس : ٦٢)

Unquestionably, for the allies of Allah there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. [Sooral Yoonus: 62]

Learning from the lesson

• A basic understanding of taqwaa
• Taqwaa in the Qur’aan and hadeeth
• Taqwaa vs. Materialism