Chapter: On Taqwa (God-consciousness)

باب فی التقوی — تقوے کے بارے میں

بَابٌ فِي التَّقْوَى — On Taqwa

إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ

"Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous (muttaqi) of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted." (Al-Hujurat, 49:13). The author elaborates: The measure of nobility in Islam is not lineage, race, wealth, or language, but taqwa. Whether Arab or Indian, black or white, English or Hindustani — all Muslims form one nation, and the criterion of distinction is solely God-consciousness. This Islamic teaching overturns all false hierarchies.

إِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ

"His allies are only the muttaqun (the God-fearing)." (Al-Anfal, 8:34). The author: the friends of Allah are those who guard themselves against what He has forbidden, observe His commandments, and purify their hearts.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

"O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him]." (Al-Imran, 3:102). Fear Allah as He truly deserves — that is, obey Him with all one's capacity, never disobey Him, and remain firm as true Muslims until death.

اَلْمُسْلِمُونَ إِخْوَةٌ لَا حَدَّ إِلَّا بِالتَّقْوَى

"Muslims are brothers; no one is superior to another except through taqwa." (Narrated by Habib ibn Kharash — Kanz al-'Ummal)

عَنْ عَطِيَّةَ السَّعْدِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: لَا يَبْلُغُ الْعَبْدُ حَقِيقَةَ التَّقْوَى حَتَّى يَدَعَ مَا لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ حَذَرًا مِمَّا بِهِ بَأْسٌ

Narrated by 'Atiyya al-Sa'di (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: 'A servant does not reach the true reality of taqwa until he leaves what is harmless out of caution against what is harmful.' (Tirmidhi)