Chapter on Knowing Taqwā and What It Is

The Chapter on Knowing Taqwā and What It Is

The taqwā (God-consciousness) 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 taqwā of God» [4:131]. And this is the counsel of God, Mighty and Majestic, to the first and the last: that they have taqwā 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 taqwā» [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 taqwā" — and the people of major sins bow their heads, while the people of tawḥīd (divine unity) remain with their heads raised. Then the people of major sins bow their heads, and the people of taqwā 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 taqwā (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 taqwā.

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 taqwā 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?

Your heart at that time cannot but be one of two hearts: either a heart that was in this world occupied with obedience to God — and it soared with joy, for it was fearful of God Most High, then was gladdened with delight and gladness at what it saw of the consequences of sabr (patient endurance), and what settled in its heart of security, and what it heard of the special distinction granted to it by God Most High, [exalted and majestic is He,] and the proclamation of security and good pleasure before the heads of the assembled congregation; or a heart that was in this world heedless, deluded, feeling safe — and it soared with terror and dread, overcome by regret, remorse, and grief, when it saw the evil consequences of its heedlessness and self-delusion, and yaqīn (certainty) took hold of its heart that the wrath of God, [exalted and majestic is He,] had descended upon it, and that it would never be saved from the punishment of God Most High, exalted and majestic is He, given its weakness, and what God Most High had singled it out for of wretchedness and enmity — the proclamation of disgrace before the heads of the assembled congregation.