THE CONCEPT OF TAQWA AND HOW TO ACHIEVE PIETY

Assalaamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakaatuh. 🖌

I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah alone, with no partners or associates. I also bear witness that Muhammad (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His slave and Messenger. He sent him (Salla Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) to us as a favour and bounty from Himself.

Inshaa Allah, we will be talking about,

              THE CONCEPT OF TAQWA AND HOW TO ACHIEVE PIETY.

I advise and remind you and myself, O brothers and sisters in Islam , to be conscious and fearful of Allah, for might and honor lies in fearing of Allah and  the people of Taqwa, or( piety and righteousness), are the people of joy and pride. Piety, O Brothers and Sisters, is a great treasure and beloved to us. It is the treasure of the Dunyah, (this life) and of the life to come.

For Allah Says:

“Take provisions for your journey, but the best provision is Taqwa, or piety and righteousness” (Al-Baqarah: 197).

Alhamdullillah, the word TAQWAA could mean (virtue, righteousness ,fear, piety ) so In Shaa Allah ,we will be considering the words interchangeably.🖊

FIRST DIMENSION📙📓📙

All people are the descendants of one man and one woman, believer and kaafir, black and white, Arab and non-Arab, rich and poor, noble and lowly.

Islam does not pay attention to differences in colour, race or lineage. All people come from Adam, and Adam was created from dust. In Islam, differentiation between people is based on faith and piety (taqwaa or Al-birr) , by doing that which Allaah has enjoined and avoiding that which Allaah has prohibited. Allaah says:

 

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honorable of you with Allaah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa [i.e. he is one of the Muttaqoon (the pious)]. Verily, Allaah is All-Knowing, All Aware” [al-Hujuraat 49:13]

Fear of Allah, may He be exalted, is obligatory for everyone, and no one can be guaranteed safety from Allah’s punishment except by fearing Him. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says: “so fear them not, but fear Me, if you are (true) believers” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:175].🖊

 

Islam regards all people as equal as far as rights and duties are concerned People are equal before the law (sharee’ah), as Allaah says:

 

“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” [al-Nahl 16:97]🖊

 

Faith, truthfulness and piety all lead to Paradise, which is the right of the one who acquires these attributes, even if he is one of the weakest or lowliest of people. Allaah says:

 

“And whosoever believes in Allaah and performs righteous good deeds, He will admit him into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) to dwell therein forever. Allaah has indeed granted for him an excellent provision” [al-Talaaq 65:11]

Kufr, arrogance and oppression all lead to Hell, even if the one who does these things is one of the richest or noblest of people. Allaah says:

“But those who disbelieved (in the Oneness of Allaah – Islamic Monotheism) and denied Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), they will be the dwellers of the Fire, to dwell therein forever. And worst indeed is that destination” [al-Taghaabun 64:10]🖊

May Allah guide us all. Ameen

The advisors of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) included Muslim men of all tribes, races and colors.  They believed in Allaah and strove for His sake, until Allaah and His Messenger were pleased with them. They were the true believers.

 

“Their reward with their Lord is ‘Adn (Eden) Paradise (Gardens of Eternity), underneath which rivers flow. They will abide therein forever, Allah will be pleased with them, and they with Him. That is for him who fears his Lord” [al-Bayyinah 98:8)🖊

 

SECOND DIMENSION

The Muslims need one another with regard to both worldly and religious affairs, hence cooperation among Muslims is something important that Allaah has enjoined and He has made cooperation the basis for religious and worldly well-being. The Muslims – if they achieve this cooperation – are described as a strong, integrated structure, and as a single body. All of that confirms that cooperation and mutual support among them is something essential.

That includes many aspects in the lives of Muslims, which are summed up in the words birr (righteousness) and taqwa (piety), as Allaah says “Help you one another in AlBirr and AtTaqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment” [al-Maa’idah 5:2].

These are two words that sum up all the attributes of goodness, such as belief, conduct, rulings and so on.

RIGHTEOUSNESS OR AL-BIRR

Righteousness according to various dictionaries it means morally good or following religious or moral laws in a justifiable manner. In Arabic it is called as Al-Birr.It is very common for to hear (and even use) such words of praise: That person is a very righteous person. Or…Such and such person is not a righteous person at all. Who are actual Righteous persons (i.e. Al-Birr)?  🖍

 

What is actual Righteousness OR AlBirr ?❓❓

In perspective of the Quran

Quran gives the clear definition of righteousness in detail. Allah said: “It is not Al- Birr (righteousness) that you turn your faces towards east and / or west (in prayers); but Al-Birr (righteous) is one who;

 

1. Believes in

 

a) Allah

 

b) The Last Day

 

c) The Angels

 

d) The Book (Qur’an)

 

e) The Prophets.🖊

 

2. Gives his / her wealth, inspite of love for it,

 

a) To the kinsfolk

 

b) To the orphans

 

c) To Al-Masakeen (the poor people)

 

d) To the wayfarer (musafir)

 

e) To those who ask

 

f) To set the slaves free.🖊

 

3. Performs As-Salat

 

4. Gives Zakat

 

 

 

5. Fulfill their covenant when they make it (meaning: to keep promises)

 

 6. Are patient in extreme poverty & ailment and at the times of fighting (battles).

Such are the people of truth and they are Al-Muttaqun(Pious)”.  Qur’an Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 177

 

The first thing is to have Eeman(Belief) on Allah and 4 other things mentioned there; the second thing is to spend wealth. Spending wealth has been placed before performing Salat. In fact, performing Salat is preceded by spending wealth and succeeded by paying Zakat. It shows how much weightage Allah gives to spending in the cause of Allah.

 

Allah mentions in the Quran : “By no means shall you attain Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, Allah’s reward), unless you spend of that which you love; and whatever of good you spend, Allah knows it well.”Quran Surah Aal-Imran, 3:92 🖊

May count us among the above mentioned believers. Ameen In the light of Hadith📒📒

It was narrated that Anas said:"When this ayath was revealed -'By no means shall you attain Al Birr (piety, righteousness (Quran 3:92)--here it means Allah's reward, i.e. Paradise), unless you spend (in Allah's cause) of that which you love'- Abu Talha said: 'Our Lord will ask us about our wealth. I adjure you, O Messenger of Allah! I am giving my land to Allah.' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Make it for your relatives, Hassan bin Thabit and Ubayy bin Ka'b.'"   Sahih al-Bukhari Vol.4:2758 and Sunan an-Nasa'i Vol.4 :3602 [2]

 

How can one attain this status ?(Piety)

Scholars view

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him), said

 

Our advice to this young man who is heading in the right direction (of BIRR), in-sha-Allah, are

1.     He should always ask Allah to keep him steadfast and on the right path (PRAYERFULL).

 

2.     He should read the Qur'an a great deal and ponder its meanings, because this Qur'an has a great impact on the heart, if one reads it carefully and ponders it.

 

3.     He should strive to do acts of worship regularly, without getting bored or feeling lazy, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) sought refuge with Allah from incapability and laziness.

 

4.     He should strive to keep company with good people and avoid keeping company with bad people.🖊🖊🖊

 

5.     He should advise himself when his nafs is influencing him and should say to himself: The distance is far and the path is long, let him advise himself to be steadfast, because Paradise is surrounded with difficult things and Hell is surrounded with whims and desires.

 

6.     He should keep away from bad friends, even if they were his friends before, because bad friends will influence him. Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “The likeness of a bad companion is that of the one who works the bellows: either he will burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell from him.” Liqa’aat al-Baab al-Maftooh, 1/153 [3]

 

REMEMBER :The people of Taqwa /Albirr - piety and righteousness are the people of high rank in the Hereafter as well as in this life.

For Allah says which translates as: “That home of the Hereafter (i.e. Paradise), We shall assign to those who do not rebel against the truth with pride and oppression in the land nor do mischief by committing crimes. And the good end is for the Muttaqeen: [i.e. pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kind of sins and evil deeds which he has forbidden), and love Allah much (performs all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]” (Al-Qasas: 83).          

My Allah count us among them. Ameen Thuma Ameen

Let's consider this

Did he who slept with a full stomach whilst the people around him were hungry truly fulfill the meaning of piety when he could have given them food and satisfied them? Did he fulfill the meaning of piety when he saw a believer in a miserable state and could have helped him, but chose not to do so? May Allah save us.

 AMEEN THUMMA AMEEN

In conclusion, I urge myself and you all to search amongst your relatives and neighbors for the poor and needy amongst them. Search also for the strangers amongst your brothers, be good to them and make them happy - ask them to share your provisions. Remember the hunger and thirst of your poor fellow Muslims, remember the tears of the miserable ones and the situation of those who have no dwellings, remember too the loneliness of those who are away from their families.

As Allah said

“It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, and each and every act of obedience to Allaah) that you turn your faces towards east and (or) west (in prayers); but Al-Birr is (the quality of) the one who believes in Allaah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, the Prophets and gives his wealth, in spite of love for it, to the kinsfolk, to the orphans, and to Al-Masaakeen (the poor), and to the wayfarer, and to those who ask, and to set slaves free, performs As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and gives the Zakat, and who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment (disease) and at the time of fighting (during the battles). Such are the people of the truth and they are AlMuttaqoon (the pious)”

 

For righteousness means having fear for Allah and doing what is right and eschewing what is wrong because of Allah alone and having piety among ourselves.

 

May Allah forgive me mine short comings. Ameen Thuma Ameen

 

Wa salaamu alaikum warahmatullah wabarakaatuh.