Q and A's

[Peace]

I have a question. I'd like to know what your understanding of Taqwa is? I'm hoping to get answers from all branches/sects of Islam.

(btw, I am Sunni)

What I understand of Taqwa or piety is to do one's best to obey Allah and avoid His disobedience. Taqwa is to be conscious all the time that Allah is watching over you and that leads one to avoid all what is forbidden and what may incur God's wrath.
I can use an analogy here to describe Taqwa; it is like if you are walking in a path full of thorny trees and plants and you are making great efforts to avoid being hurt or injured by by one of the thorns.
I would say the thorns here are the sins and all what Allah has forbidden. So to be "taqiy" (pious) is to lead a life of one who is aware of what is forbidden and thus doing his best to avoid it, and on the other hand doing all what pleases Allah so as to earn His pleasure and mercy.

 

[Pastek]

I have a question. I'd like to know what your understanding of Taqwa is? I'm hoping to get answers from all branches/sects of Islam.

(btw, I am Sunni)

Taqwa ?
I think it's when you hide your faith because you are afraid of beeing persecuted.

Is that what you asked ?

Because Taqwa means "fear "

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ​

1.49 O you who have believed, do not put [yourselves] before Allah and His Messenger but fear Allah . Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

If you are talking about hiding our faith, then we have the right to do so if we are afraid of any thread or persecution.
I you are talking about a war strategy, i don't know. But Allah said :

8.58 If you [have reason to] fear from a people betrayal, throw [their treaty] back to them, [putting you] on equal terms. Indeed, Allah does not like traitors.

 

[Peace]

Taqwa ?
I think it's when you hide your faith because you are afraid of beeing persecuted.

Is that what you asked ?

Because Taqwa means "fear "

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لَا تُقَدِّمُوا۟ بَيْنَ يَدَىِ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ۖ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ​

1.49 O you who have believed, do not put [yourselves] before Allah and His Messenger but fear Allah . Indeed, Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

If you are talking about hiding our faith, then we have the right to do so if we are afraid of any thread or persecution.
I you are talking about a war strategy, i don't know. But Allah said :

8.58 If you [have reason to] fear from a people betrayal, throw [their treaty] back to them, [putting you] on equal terms. Indeed, Allah does not like traitors.

Salam Pastek,

Actually, Taqwa has nothing to do with taqiyya. The latter is used by Shia to hide some aspects of their belief.
Taqwa comes from تقوى الله. Please refer to my post above.

 

[Shia Islam]

Salam Pastek,

Actually, Taqwa has nothing to do with taqiyya. The latter is used by Shia to hide some aspects of their belief.
Taqwa comes from تقوى الله. Please refer to my post above.

"
لَا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا أَنْ تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ ۗ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliyâ (supporters, helpers) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allâh in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allâh warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allâh is the final return."

 

[cocolia42]

What I understand of Taqwa or piety is to do one's best to obey Allah and avoid His disobedience. Taqwa is to be conscious all the time that Allah is watching over you and that leads one to avoid all what is forbidden and what may incur God's wrath.
I can use an analogy here to describe Taqwa; it is like if you are walking in a path full of thorny trees and plants and you are making great efforts to avoid being hurt or injured by by one of the thorns.
I would say the thorns here are the sins and all what Allah has forbidden. So to be "taqiy" (pious) is to lead a life of one who is aware of what is forbidden and thus doing his best to avoid it, and on the other hand doing all what pleases Allah so as to earn His pleasure and mercy.

Peace, are you Sunni? My understanding is very similar to yours

"
لَا يَتَّخِذِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الْكَافِرِينَ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِنْ دُونِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ فَلَيْسَ مِنَ اللَّهِ فِي شَيْءٍ إِلَّا أَنْ تَتَّقُوا مِنْهُمْ تُقَاةً ۗ وَيُحَذِّرُكُمُ اللَّهُ نَفْسَهُ ۗ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ الْمَصِيرُ

Let not the believers take the disbelievers as Auliyâ (supporters, helpers) instead of the believers, and whoever does that will never be helped by Allâh in any way, except if you indeed fear a danger from them. And Allâh warns you against Himself (His Punishment), and to Allâh is the final return."

Shia Islam, can you tell me how you understand Taqwa?

The reason I ask this question is because I have heard different opinions of what Taqwa means and I was curious to see if these opinions are very personal or if they tend to be based on each branch's beliefs.

 

[Peace]

Peace, are you Sunni? My understanding is very similar to yours

Yes, I am. I follow the Quran and the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet peace be upon him

 

[Matemkar]

"Wahabi" aka Salafiyyah is Sunni.

Salam.. Sunni islam has its root in the first centuries after the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) whereas wahabism is a new one, claiming they are the "real" sunnis.. (btw, Wahabism does not mean being related to al-Wahhab/the God.. but, it means being related to a guy called Abdulwahhab.. It is an abbreviation for an innovation..) Anyway, the differences etc. between the sunnis and wahhabis/salafis pose new questions like which is the real follower of "sunnah".. the former? the latter? and to what extent? However, my aim here was not to study it.. I just wanted to mention they are not the mainstream sunnis.. and they have "interpretations" especially in islamic laws that are not accepted by sunnis.. the practices that Saudi "Royal" Family imposes does not represent all sunni muslims as well as sufi and shia muslims.. Anyway.. I don't want to turn this thread into a sectarian discussion.. Thank you for your understanding..

Greetings,
I'm curious to know what the major differences are between the different Islam branches.

Hi/Shalom.. the differences are not major.. because in usoul (basic tenets of the religion of Islam) they are the same.. Please, see: What_are_the_basic_tenets_of_Islam? and the sticky threads on the forum named "overviews" for each an every islamic branches can be helpful.. And, if you have any questions, feel free to ask the subscribers of the branches in related directories..

and we have to keep in mind that islam promotes unity by concentrating on commonalities, not the differences.. and this is not just among branches of islam (Quran 3:103 and 8:46 etc.) but also Abrahamic religions.. (Please see the interpretations of Quran, chapter: 3, verse: 64) thanks..

I have a question. I'd like to know what your understanding of Taqwa is? I'm hoping to get answers from all branches/sects of Islam.

(btw, I am Sunni)

Salam.. though I disagree with the root of the term (to me it is wa-qa-ya or wi-qa-yah) Brothers here shared good information..
and I think it is a great topic we can learn much from..
ok.. I can suggest two short booklets on the subject which I think explains it well..
Taqwa by Martyr Ayatollah Murtaza Mutahhari
Ethical Discourses, 40 Lectures On Islamic Morals, Etiquette And Self Building - Lecture 10 - Taqwa (Consciousness of Allah)

thanks.. ma salam

 

[Rational_Mind]

Taqwa: Can be translated with connotative meaning the fear of Allah (swt). As a denotative meaning it would translate to righteousness attained purely through the immense love for Allah (swt) which brings a fear of slipping and losing closeness to Allah (swt).

The expression Taqwa in fact denotes that the true believers keep a vigilant watch over themselves and always try their best to refrain from doing anything which is not approved by Allah.

Clarification on what it means to "fear" Allah (swt):

Love is an amazing force. On the one hand, it fills the heart with an urge to seek the beloved, while on the other it instills in the heart a concurrent sense of fear as well. Love generates a very unique sense of fear – the fear of losing the loved one. Hence, when the Qur’an speaks of the ‘fear of Allah’, what is meant is not the fear of harm. The concept of the ‘fear of Allah’ is, in reality, the fear of losing Allah or in other words, of being distanced away from Him due to His displeasure. Thus, when we read in the Qur’an “Me alone should you fear” (Ch. 2:V.41), it is the fear of God’s displeasure that is being mentioned. In the Qur’anic terminology, this unique form of fear – the fear of losing the Beloved – is called “Taqwa”. One who treads the path of Taqwa is called a Muttaqi. When the love for God surpasses the combined love for everything else and when the fear of losing Him exceeds all other fears combined, then it can be assumed that the Muttaqi is on the path of discovering the splendours of God’s Absolute Oneness.
Absolute Oneness, Sayed Hameedullah Nusrat Pasha

As to the reference of avoiding thorns as one treads the path it is actually how it was explained by the Holy Prophet (saw) himself.

Once the Holy Prophet Muhammad defined taqwa in these words: "A man,
who is passing through a thick forest of thorny bushes, tries to protect himself
from the thorns all around him. He endeavours to keep off the thorny bushes
from him. Sometimes, he moves to this side and sometimes to the other to
guard himself from the probable injury that he might otherwise suffer from
the thorns. This action and carefulness on the part of this man in the thorny
forest to protect himself from the thorny bushes and trees is taqwa. This is how
a muttaqi should lead his life in this world, which is full of the thorns of evil and
corruption. Prayer is prescribed to develop protection, a kind of
immunization, in the form of taqwa in a believer to guard him from the
onslaught of evil from within and without. And the best of men in the eyes of
God is the one who has His taqwa in his heart: "O Mankind, We created you
from a single (pair) of a male and female, and made you into nations and
tribes, that you may know each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the
eyes of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you" (49:13).
Taqwa, Afazalur Rahman

 

[Shia Islam]

Peace, are you Sunni? My understanding is very similar to yours

Shia Islam, can you tell me how you understand Taqwa?

The reason I ask this question is because I have heard different opinions of what Taqwa means and I was curious to see if these opinions are very personal or if they tend to be based on each branch's beliefs.

Salam,
They define Taqwa as مَـلـَـكـَـــة MALAKA, that is a property of one's character which push him/her away from committing sins, and brings him/her toward making good.

This means that it's directly related to the level of Iman (belief).
Practically, one first believes in the existing of Allah, then this belief becomes stronger and stronger, till it reaches a point where he/she becomes very aware of Allah's existence and being aware that:

He uttereth no word but there is with him an observer ready.
ما يلفظ من قول الا لديه رقيب عتيد
سورة ق - سورة 50 - آية 18

 

[Shia Islam]

Salam,
They define Taqwa as مَـلـَـكـَـــة MALAKA, that is a property of one's character which push him/her away from committing sins, and brings him/her toward making good.

This means that it's directly related to the level of Iman (belief).
Practically, one first believes in the existing of Allah, then this belief becomes stronger and stronger, till it reaches a point where he/she becomes very aware of Allah's existence and being aware that:

Just to add that the words "Taqiya تقية" and the Word "Taqwa تقوى" have the same root, where they originate from the same root as that of the verb "Yattaqi يتقي", which means to guard; to protect; to prevent; and to escape from..

 

[Assad91]

Salam.. Sunni islam has its root in the first centuries after the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh&hp) whereas wahabism is a new one, claiming they are the "real" sunnis.. (btw, Wahabism does not mean being related to al-Wahhab/the God.. but, it means being related to a guy called Abdulwahhab.. It is an abbreviation for an innovation..) Anyway, the differences etc. between the sunnis and wahhabis/salafis pose new questions like which is the real follower of "sunnah".. the former? the latter? and to what extent? However, my aim here was not to study it.. I just wanted to mention they are not the mainstream sunnis.. and they have "interpretations" especially in islamic laws that are not accepted by sunnis.. the practices that Saudi "Royal" Family imposes does not represent all sunni muslims as well as sufi and shia muslims.. Anyway.. I don't want to turn this thread into a sectarian discussion.. Thank you for your understanding..



Hi/Shalom.. the differences are not major.. because in usoul (basic tenets of the religion of Islam) they are the same.. Please, see: What_are_the_basic_tenets_of_Islam? and the sticky threads on the forum named "overviews" for each an every islamic branches can be helpful.. And, if you have any questions, feel free to ask the subscribers of the branches in related directories..

and we have to keep in mind that islam promotes unity by concentrating on commonalities, not the differences.. and this is not just among branches of islam (Quran 3:103 and 8:46 etc.) but also Abrahamic religions.. (Please see the interpretations of Quran, chapter: 3, verse: 64) thanks..



Salam.. though I disagree with the root of the term (to me it is wa-qa-ya or wi-qa-yah) Brothers here shared good information..
and I think it is a great topic we can learn much from..
ok.. I can suggest two short booklets on the subject which I think explains it well..
Taqwa by Martyr Ayatollah Murtaza Mutahhari
Ethical Discourses, 40 Lectures On Islamic Morals, Etiquette And Self Building - Lecture 10 - Taqwa (Consciousness of Allah)

thanks.. ma salam

With respect, I dont think you know what you are talking about when it comes to "wahhabis" and sunnis.

With your logic then any sect besides sunni is illigitamite. All the madhabs, shia, sufi, etc.

 

[cocolia42]

Taqwa: Can be translated with connotative meaning the fear of Allah (swt). As a denotative meaning it would translate to righteousness attained purely through the immense love for Allah (swt) which brings a fear of slipping and losing closeness to Allah (swt).

Just to add that the words "Taqiya تقية" and the Word "Taqwa تقوى" have the same root, where they originate from the same root as that of the verb "Yattaqi يتقي", which means to guard; to protect; to prevent; and to escape from..

OK, now we're getting somewhere. I'm a recent revert from Christianity. I remember the Bible saying "Fear God and obey His command for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecclesiastes 12:13) It refers to fearing His punishment if you don't obey. I never felt this fear.
After reverting (and before hearing the word taqwa) I started feeling fear, but it was not fear of His punishment. It was fear of "slipping and losing closeness to Allah subhanah wa ta'ala" (as Rational Mind put it).

One of the links that Matemaker provided earlier in this thread states, "it means that he must always be fearful of transgressing in following his unquenchable desires so that they never take the rein of his affairs from his reasoning and his faith" (Taqwa by Martyr Ayatollah Murtaza Mutahhari )
The other link provided by Matemaker states, "the sense of responsibility (to Allah (SwT)) which is inside the spirit of a person and the state of Wiqayah (inner protection), is nothing other than Taqwa!" (Ethical Discourses, 40 Lectures On Islamic Morals, Etiquette And Self Building - Lecture 10 - Taqwa (Consciousness of Allah))

 

[Gharib]

I may be a bit off topic as I have problems understanding the proper meaning of some Arabic words. But I will give this a shot.

From my understanding, taqwa goes hand in hand with the state of Ihsan.

Being in the state of Ihsan means to worship Allah as if you see him, and although we do not see him, he sees us.

When ones iman has reached the state of Ihsan, one fears committing sins and loves doing good things be they small or big simply because they are pleasing to Allah.

Don't know if this is in the right track but I hope it makes sense. I can expand further on this if necessary. I do tend to be very bad at answering simple questions who have simple answers. I think I'm used to writing essays when it comes to explaining my views/understanding of something. I am very bad at expressing my views unfortunately. But see how that goes.

 

[cocolia42]

I may be a bit off topic as I have problems understanding the proper meaning of some Arabic words. But I will give this a shot.

From my understanding, taqwa goes hand in hand with the state of Ihsan.

Being in the state of Ihsan means to worship Allah as if you see him, and although we do not see him, he sees us.

When ones iman has reached the state of Ihsan, one fears committing sins and loves doing good things be they small or big simply because they are pleasing to Allah.

Don't know if this is in the right track but I hope it makes sense. I can expand further on this if necessary. I do tend to be very bad at answering simple questions who have simple answers. I think I'm used to writing essays when it comes to explaining my views/understanding of something. I am very bad at expressing my views unfortunately. But see how that goes.

It makes sense. My question is, for you, does that fear of committing sins involve fear of Allah's punishment? or fear of disappointing Him? or fear of slipping away from Him and closer to Shaitan? or what?

 

[F0uad]

I would rather describe it as shameful.

 

[Gharib]

It makes sense. My question is, for you, does that fear of committing sins involve fear of Allah's punishment? or fear of disappointing Him? or fear of slipping away from Him and closer to Shaitan? or what?

That fear is a lot of things. At times it is the fear of going to hell. At other times it is the fear of ungratefulness seeing that Allah has given me so much. At times it is the fact that Shaytan is encouraging me to do something and I end up angry and stop myself from such sins out of anger towards obedience to shaytan. And at other times it is the fear of disbelief because one sin usually leads to another. So rather than pave my own way to disbelief I stop to think of the favours of Allah and how much I owe him for everything.

It can be many things really. But when it comes to repentance it is His punishment which I fear due to having the power to be obedient yet I choose not to. Even though the shaytan encourages me, at times of repentance I hold only myself responsible and I express my hate of the hell fire even though I am not deserving of Paradise.