Chapter on Knowing Taqwa and What It Is

from them khawf (fear) and grief on the Day of dread and sorrows, when terrors overwhelm all creatures.

And He made for them victory in this world and assistance upon His obedience, and He made for them the way out from every straitened circumstance upon His servants, and He guaranteed provision from directions they do not reckon. The Most High said: «And whoever has taqwa (mindful fear) of God, He will make for him a way out, and will provide for him from where he does not reckon» [65:2–3]. And the Most High said: «And whoever has taqwa of God, He will make ease for him in his affair» [65:4].

Examine these verses and what they contain, and consider them with your qalb (heart) — do you find any place in them for one who does not have taqwa?

The Chapter on Knowing Taqwa and What It Is

The taqwa (mindful fear of God) for which God Most High has prepared Paradise for its people is: the avoidance of shirk (associating partners with God) and what is besides it, of every sin from what God has forbidden.

And the Most High said: «And We charged those who were given the Scripture before you, and you: Have taqwa of God» [4:131]. And this is the counsel of God, Mighty and Majestic, to the first and the last: that they have taqwa of God .

And the Most High said: «Indeed, the awliyā' (allies) of God — no fear shall be upon them, nor shall they grieve; those who believed and used to have taqwa» [10:62–63].

And it has been related in the hadith that:

A caller shall call out on the Day of Resurrection: "O My servants, no fear upon you this Day, nor do you grieve." Thereupon all creatures shall raise their heads, saying: "We are the servants of God, Mighty and Majestic." Then the caller calls out: "Those who believed and did not mix their faith with wrongdoing" — and the disbelievers bow their heads. Then he calls out the third time: "Those who believed and used to have taqwa" — and the people of major sins bow their heads, while the people of tawḥīd (monotheism) remain with their heads raised. Then the people of major sins bow their heads, and the people of taqwa remain with their heads raised.

Because He is the Most Generous of the generous, He promised them as He removed from them — may God be exalted — the honor of khawf (fear) and huzn (grief), and He neither abandons nor forsakes His close servant.

God Most High says: «Indeed, the God-fearing shall be in a station of security, with the angels» [44:51].

And that is because taqwa (God-consciousness) — its root was indeed fear and dread of God Most High. And likewise God Most High says: «And for the one who feared the station of his Lord, there shall be two gardens» [55:46]. And He said: «But as for the one who feared the station of his Lord and restrained the soul from caprice» [79:40–41].

So sacred knowledge informs us that fear came before taqwa.

And the Arabs in their language are agreed that when one commands another to guard against something, one says: "Fear it." So since the root of taqwa toward God Most High was fear, God promised them security in exchange for what they feared, to protect themselves from His punishment. God, Mighty and Majestic, said:

«Indeed, the God-fearing shall be in a station of security» [44:51]. And He said: «Enter it in peace, secure» [15:46]. And God Most High said: «Is the one who is cast into the Fire better, or the one who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection?» [41:40].

And concerning this, the report has come that God, Mighty and Majestic, says on the Day of Resurrection:

"By My might and majesty, I shall not gather for My servant today two securities, nor shall I gather upon him two fears. Whoever feared Me in this world, I have granted him security today; and whoever felt secure from Me in this world, I have made him fear today."

So what do you suppose God, Mighty and Majestic, does with him?