Taaqwa

Taaqwa Alone Is The Criterion Of Greatness In The Sight Of Allah.

Taaqwa Alone Is The Criterion Of Greatness In The Sight Of Allah.

Allah says:

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that
you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has
Taaqwa (God-consciousness, fearing Allah). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (Surah al-
Hujurat 49:13)

Allah has erased all distinctions of racism cast and colour and made all human beings equal. He has
established a unique criterion for greatness and that is Taaqwa. Taaqwa is the essence of the teachings of
Allah‟s Messenger (SAW). Whenever Allah‟s Messenger (SAW) sent his Sahabaa on a military
expedition, he would advice them to have deep-rooted Taaqwa of Allah and he would also advise the rest
of his military party likewise.

The Pious Predecessors continued this practice of giving mutual advice of Taaqwa after Allah‟s
Messenger (SAW) passed away. Umar Ibn Khattab (RA) wrote to his son, Abdullah: “To proceed: „Verily
I advise you to have Taaqwa (fear) of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, for whoever fears Him, Allah will
protect him, and whoever gives a loan to Him, Allah will reward him, and whoever thanks Him, Allah
will increase Him.”

Some benefits of Taaqwa:

1) Taaqwa is a means by which a believer performs righteous deeds and Taaqwa causes the righteous
deed to be accepted by Allah.

Allah says:

“O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth.” (Surah al-
Ahzaab 33: 70)

2) Taqwa makes one deserving of Allah‟s Pleasure and Love. Allah says:

“Verily, the most honourable of you in the Sight of Allah is that (believer) who has Taaqwa.” (Surah al-
Hujurat 49: 13)
“Nay―Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright―verily Allah loves those who act aright”
(Surah Al-Imran 3:76)

3) Taaqwa causes sins to be forgiven and increases rewards. Allah says:

“And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him. He will remit his sins from him, and will enlarge
his rewards.” (Surah at-Talaaq 65: 5)

4) Taaqwa keeps one steadfast on the Straight Path and protects him from deviation. Allah says:

“O you who believe! Have Taaqwa of Allah. He will give you a Furqaan (criterion to judge between right
and wrong).” (Surah al-Anfaal 8:29)

Ibn al-Katheer said in his Tafseer, „Ibn Abbas, as-Sudde, Ikrimah, adh-Dahhak, Qataadah and Muqaatil,
Ibn Huyyan, all said about „Furqaan‟ that it means a way out (from difficulty). Mujaahid added: „A way
out from difficulty both in this world and in the Hereafter.‟ In a narration from Ibn Abbas, he said: “It
means, „Salvation‟ and in another narration from him „being helped.” Muhammad Ishaaq said that it
means: “A criterion to judge between truth and falsehood.” This explanation from Ibn Ishaaq is the most
general of what has proceeded and it is a necessary consequence of it. Since whoever has Taaqwa of
Allah by obeying His commands and abandoning what He has prohibited, will be given the ability to
recognize truth from falsehood. This will be the cause for his salvation, his being helped; and the cause
for his worldly affairs being made easier and his happiness on the Day of Judgment. It will be the cause
for his sins to be expiated by Allah, and his being granted forgiveness and Allah shielding him from the
people. It will likewise be the cause of him being the recipient of a great reward from Allah, as He the
Most High says:

“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 you (your past): For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah al-Hadeed 57:28)

The question that now comes to mind is “How to achieve Taaqwa?”

Here is our answer:

Allah says:

“O mankind! Worship your Lord, Who created you and those who were before you so that you may
become al-Muttaqoon.” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:21)

Thus, Taaqwa is the fruit of Ibaadah (worship) and can only be achieved by performing acts of Ibaadah.
Therefore we often find Allah mentioning Taaqwa with Ibaadah, he said regarding the fasts of
Ramadhaan:

“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may
become muttaqoon (those who posses Taaqwa).” (Surah al-Baqarah 2:183)