Taqwa - Its literal & legal (Islamic) Meaning

Literal Meaning:

Ferozabadi (رح) says: “The verb in its radical, three-letter form means to protect and preserve.”

Sheikh Muhammad Tantawi (رح) says: “The word Muttaqoon is the plural of Muttaqi. Muttaqi is the gerund from the verb Ittaqa (he acquired protection). Ittaqa is from the root verb Waqa, which means he protected himself from that which harms him.”

Legal (Islamic) Meaning:

Ali (رض) says: “Taqwa is to fear the Almighty; to act upon the Revelation; to be content with little, and to prepare for the Day of Travel.” (A combination of all four qualities.)

Abu Darda (رض) says: “The complete form of taqwa is to fear Allah so much that one begins to fear Him from (the potential sin in) a mustard seed and until one leaves what might be halal in the fear that it could be haram. This is substantiated by the verse: ‘So whoever does an atom’s amount of good, he will see it; and whoever does an atom’s amount of evil, he will see it.’ So do not undermine any goodness and act upon goodness. Likewise, do not underestimate any evil and protect yourself from it.”

Ibn Abbas (رض) says: “The ones with taqwa are those believers who prevent themselves from shirk—associating partners with Allah.” He also said: “They are the ones who fear Allah’s punishment for failing to follow what they know to be guidance and hope for His Mercy with regard to that which they believe came from Him.”

Muadh Ibn Jabal (رض) says: “On the Day of Judgement, it will be announced: ‘Where are the ones who had taqwa?’ So they (the ones with taqwa) will stand up from under the Shelter of the Compassionate. Allah will not be invisible to them.” People asked Muadh who are the ones with taqwa. He replied: “Those who stay away from shirk and worshipping idols and then purify their Deen for Allah.”

Ibn Masood (رض) commented about the verse: “Fear Allah as He is supposed to be feared,” that it means to obey Him and not to disobey Him, to remember Him and not to forget Him, and to thank Him and not to be ungrateful.”

Abu Hurairah (رض) was asked about taqwa so he asked the questioner whether he had trodden a thorn-infested path. The man said he had. Abu Hurairah asked him how he walked on it. The man said: “When I saw a thorn, I took evasive action, lest I was pricked by it.” Abu Hurairah (رض) answered him by saying: “That is exactly what taqwa means (to take evasive action on seeing sin).”

Ibn Mu’taz (the poet) rephrases this: “Leave sins big and small; that is taqwa. Be like the one walking on thorns, dreading what he sees. Don’t underestimate the minute (small), for mountains are made of small stones.”

Hasan Basri (رح) says: “The ones who have taqwa protect themselves from what Allah has prohibited and act upon what He has mandated. Taqwa remains with them until they forsake many halal things fearing that they could be haram.”

Sufyan Thauri (رح) says: “They have been called ‘the fearing’ because they fear what is not usually feared.”

Talq ibn Habib (رح) says: “Taqwa is to obey Allah with the (divine) insight (noor) that He will reward and to refrain from disobedience with the insight and fear that He will punish.”

Omar ibn Abdul-Aziz (رح) says: “Taqwa is not fasting by day and standing for prayers at night. Rather, it is to refrain from what Allah has prohibited and act upon what He has mandated. Whoever is granted anything beyond (this level of obedience), he has been given goodness upon goodness.”

Ibn Rajab (رح) says: “The essence of taqwa is to make a shield (which guards) against Allah’s anger and punishment. That shield is to obey His commands and abstain from His prohibitions. Perfect taqwa requires that one performs all voluntary and recommended acts as well as refraining from all reprehensible and dubious acts. This is the ultimate form of taqwa.”

Sahal ibn Abdullah says: “There is no assistant except Allah and there is no guide except the Messenger of Allah. There is no provision except taqwa, and there is no act except to be firm using taqwa. Whoever desires to reform his taqwa should abstain from all sins.”

Nasrabadhi says: “Whoever holds firm to taqwa will inevitably look forward to leaving the world. Allah says: ‘And certainly the abode of the Hereafter is much better for those who have taqwa. Do you not understand?’”

Abu Sulaiman Darani says: “Taqwa comprises all goodness. It is Allah’s order for predecessors and for posterity. It is the best way for a person to derive benefit, in the same way that Abu Darda (رض) replied when people asked him why he did not engage in poetry (while his companions did):
‘Man wishes that he is given his desire; whereas Allah bars everything except that which He intends.
Man says: “My benefit and my wealth”; whereas the fear (taqwa) of Allah is the best form of benefit.’”

So be informed, my brother! Are you among those who have taqwa, or are you with those who are transgressors and oblivious? Do you fear Allah as these predecessors feared Him, or do you fall short of that?

Glossary of Key Terms

رح (rahimahu Allah) - "May Allah have mercy upon him." Used as a respectful phrase for scholars who have passed away.
رض (radhi Allahu anhu) - "May Allah be pleased with him." Used to honor companions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Shirk - Associating partners or equals with Allah. Considered the gravest sin in Islam, as it goes against the belief in one God.
Halal - Permitted or lawful actions and things in Islam, especially in terms of food, behavior, or actions.
Haram - Forbidden or unlawful actions and things in Islam.
Muttaqoon - People who have taqwa, meaning they are mindful of Allah and strive to protect themselves from sin.
Muttaqi - A person who has taqwa, or a deep consciousness and fear of Allah, leading them to avoid sin and follow good deeds.
Ittaqa - The act of acquiring protection or self-restraint; it comes from a root word meaning “to protect oneself.”
Waqa - A root word in Arabic meaning "to protect" or "to shield."
Day of Travel - A metaphorical way of describing the Day of Judgment when every soul will be held accountable for their deeds.
Sin - An act that goes against Allah’s commands, harmful in both religious and spiritual terms.
Atom’s Weight - Used to emphasize that even the smallest actions, whether good or bad, are counted and rewarded or punished by Allah.
Taqwa - Consciousness, fear, and mindfulness of Allah, motivating a person to obey Allah and avoid sin.
Quran - The holy book of Islam, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, containing Allah’s guidance for humanity.
Hadith - Recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad, which provide guidance for Muslims.
Compassionate (Al-Rahman) - One of Allah’s names, describing His mercy and kindness toward His creation.
Deen - Refers to the way of life in Islam, including worship, behavior, and actions aligned with Allah’s guidance.
Doubtful or Dubious Acts - Actions that are unclear in terms of being halal (permitted) or haram (forbidden). They are avoided by those with taqwa.
Revelation - Divine guidance given by Allah to His prophets, especially referring to the Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
Predecessors - Early Muslims, particularly the companions and early scholars who practiced Islam with deep knowledge and understanding.
Posterity - Future generations, or those who come after the early Muslims, instructed to follow the same Islamic teachings.
Reward - In Islamic terms, a blessing or good outcome given by Allah for a good action or obedience.
Punishment - Consequences from Allah for disobedience or sinful actions.
Insight (Noor) - Inner light or understanding that guides a person toward truth and away from wrong, believed to come from Allah.
Oblivious - Not aware or mindful, particularly of one’s responsibilities to Allah or of sins.
Transgressors - People who cross the boundaries set by Allah, indulging in prohibited or harmful actions.
Hereafter - The life after death, where everyone will be judged by Allah based on their actions in this world.
Fasting - Abstaining from food, drink, and certain behaviors, often observed by Muslims during the month of Ramadan for spiritual growth.
Voluntary Acts - Extra acts of worship or good deeds that are not obligatory but are encouraged for Muslims to earn more reward.
Thorn-Infested Path - A metaphor for a life with many challenges or temptations; being cautious on this path represents taqwa.