This Article examines the meaning of the word Taqwaa and how Muslims can maintain Taqwaa.
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The Arabic word taqwaa is derived from the original word waqaa which means to protect or to safeguard. The meaning of the word taqwaa however involves placing something between an individual and whatever he/she fears in an effort to provide him/her with protection. Allah has instructed earlier nations and latter nations to observe taqwaa in His statement:
وَلَقَدْ وَصَّيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ أَنِ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ( سورة النساء: ١٣١ )
“And We have instructed those who were given the Scripture before you and yourselves to fear Allah.” (Soorat an-Nisaa: 131)
In this statement, when a person is asked to observe taqwaa, he is essentially being asked to place a barrier between himself/herself and whatever he/she fears from the anger of Allah and His displeasure. This barrier consists of acts of righteousness that Allah loves and avoiding acts of disobedience that Allah detests.
But the observance of taqwaa is not limited to Allah. In other places in the Qur’aan, Allah commands the believers to observe taqwaa regarding the Hellfire as He mentions in His statement:
فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱلنَّارَ ٱلَّتِى وَقُودُهَا ٱلنَّاسُ وَٱلْحِجَارَةُ ۖ أُعِدَّتْ لِلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ( سورة البقرة : ٢٤ )
“Then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones; (it has been) prepared for the disbelievers.” (Soorat al-Baqarah: 24)
And Allah has also instructed His servants to observe taqwaa regarding the Day of Judgment as He mentions in His statement:
وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًۭا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ( سورة البقرة : ۲۸۱)
“And feara Day when you will be returned to Allah. Then every soul will be compensated for what it eamed, and they will not be treated unjustly.” (Soorat al-Baqarah: 281)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِۦ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ ( سوره آل عمران : ۱۰۲ )
“O you who believe, fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims.” (Soorat al Imraan: 102)
Ibn Mas’ood explained this level of taqwaa in his statement: “It involves obedience without disobedience, remembrance without negligence, and thankfulness without ungratefulness.”
So the word taqwaa represents a comprehensive expression that is commonly used by Allah to admonish all of His creation. The Prophet has also used this expression quite frequently when addressing the believers and his Companions. He continually instructed his Companions to observe taqwaa. He advised them with it during the farewell pilgrimage, reminded his messengers of it whenever he sent emissaries to other lands, and consistently repeated it whenever he addressed his Companions with the sermon of need (Khutbatul- Haajah). The students of the Prophet and the many generations of Muslims who would come after them have continued to advise one another with this comprehensive expression until today.
