How To Increase In Taqwa

By Dr. Bintu Muhammad Mofio, Fatima Abba Tamim & Ibrahim S. Nasir

Taqwa is translated from Arabic to English as “piety”, “right conduct”, “righteousness”, “self-restrain”, “God-consciousness”, to “ward-off evil” and “Pious duty.”

Taqwah is all about Truthfulness, Love, Trustworthiness, Gratitude, and patience, resistance from sins, satisfaction, hope, fear, and asceticism (Zuhud), it is also deal justly, Provision, simplicity, and humbleness. The literal meaning of Taqwa is to abstain or refrain from committing a wrong, and this feeling leads to one towards virtue and righteousness.

There are two fundamental things that can increase one in Taqwa which are discussed below:

1. Truthfulness

Truthfulness/sincerity is defined as the basis of all actions of the heart. The term (sidq) covers various aspects, such as: in one’s speech, actions, then in one’s intention in desires, in one’s promises and fulfilling them, in one’s determinations, one’s action where his outward and inward are the same as humbleness in prayer, and fulfilling the different aspect of the religion. This entails being truthful in ones fear, hope, asceticism, pleasure, trust, love and the rest of the actions of the heart.

In a Hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (SAW) said: “Be truthful, for truthfulness leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to paradise. And a man keeps on telling the truth until he becomes a truthful person. Falsehood leads to Al-Fajur (i.e. wickedness, evil-doing) and al-fajur (wickedness) lead to the (hellfire) and a man may keep on telling lies till he is written before Allah, liar”.

Read Also: Meaning Of Taqwa and How to Practice It

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was asked about the deed which will be foremost to lead a man to Jannah. He replied, “Fear of Allah and the good conduct.” The he was about indulgence which will admit a man to Hell (fire) and he answered, “The tongue and the genitals.”

This is also a very comprehensive Hadith. Fear of Allah really links up man to Him, and more refinement prevents him from falling short of his duties to people.

To be sure, adherence to this two-fold practice will cause the entry a lot of people to Jannah. Most times man has long, sharp and dangerous tongue and this causes him to pour out heretic utterances and indulge in backbiting, slandering and abusive and nonsensical talk. All this activity leads to Hellfire.

As for genitals, an unwary and unrestrained attitude incites one to indulge in immoral pursuits. In both these cases countless people will be lead into Hellfire. For this reason, it is imperative for everybody to develop Taqwa (consciousness of Allah) and refined behaviors and shun the wickedness of tongue and genitals so that his in the Hereafter may not be ruined.

Abu Umamah Al-Bahili (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said: “I guarantee a house in Jannah for one who gives up arguing, even if he is in the right; and I guarantee a home in the middle of Jannah for one who abandons lying even for the sake of fun; and I guarantee a house in the highest part of Jannah for one who has good manners.” (Sunnah Abu Dawood).

Withdrawal from one’s right in order to end a dispute is a manly act of great merit. Likewise, the Hadith tells us that a man should avoid telling lie even in a light vein. If he gives great importance to the rules of the Shari’ah (Islamic law) and the Commandments of Allah (SWT) and His Prophet (Pbuh), he will definitely refrain from telling a lie even in a chat session or just for the sake of a joke.

Usually, people don’t mind if one tells a lie in a jocular mood, rather some will perhaps approve it. Yet, Allah disapproves of even the harmless or trivial form of falsehood and commands His slaves to keep away from it.

From all considerations, however, moral excellence carries immense weight, because no wrong or evil thing can be shunned without it. In other words, moral excellence surpasses all forms of goodness.

2. Patience

This is to stop complaining other than Allah from pain of the trials, and to complain to him alone. The prophet (SAW) said: “whoever remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and no one is ever given anything better and more generous than patience” (Bukhari and Muslim).

Verily patience is the best conduct in the affairs of mankind. Anyone endowed with patience is indeed blessed with the most love of all gifts.

Nawwas bin Sam’an (May Allah be please with him) reported: I asked Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) about virtue and sin, and he said, “Virtue is noble behavior, and sin is that which creates doubt and you do not like people to know about it.” (Muslim).

An important principle enshrined in this Hadith says that courtesy is a virtue, because a refined mind cultivates good habits, performs good deeds, and shuns all that is bad and corrupt. Also, a simple and understandable principle is laid down about sin. Man feels the pricking of conscience over every bad deed and is also afraid of the reproach of fault-finders, provided he has not reached the lowest point of

‘Abdullah bin ‘Amir bin Al’as (RA) reported: Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) did not indulge in loose talk nor did he like to listen to it. He used to say, “The best of you is the best among you in conduct.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

This Hadith, apart from describing the refined behavior and sublime morality of Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), said that a person with the highest moral sense is in fact the best among people.

Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The dearest and nearest among you to me on the Day of Resurrection will be one who is the best of you in manners; and the most abhorrent among you to me and the farthest of you from me will be the pompous, the garrulous, an Al-Mutafaihiqun.” The Companions asked him: “O Messenger of Allah! We know about the pompous and the garrulous, but we do not know who Al-Mutafaihiqun are.” He replied: “The arrogant people.” (At-Tirmidhi).

Taqwa is all about transmission of values not information, it is to enrich ourselves with values such as humility, tolerance, patience, perseverance, simplicity, self control, desisting from committing sins, the search for the absolute truth, non-violence and accepting the importance of self-realization. Self trust is the first secret of success as the Arabs say: ‘Ath-thiqatu bin-nafsi Hiya siirin-nijaahi’

Rabbi alhimnee rushdee wa qinee (or wa a’idhnee) sharri nafsee,

(O Allah inspire me with direction and save me from the evil of my own soul) ‘Allahumma a inne ala dhikrika wa shukrika wa husnee ibaadika’.

Basic of Taqwa

The basic tenets of Islam are so natural, so rational and so appealing that an honest seeker of truth immediately accepts it totally and fully. Islam does not have borders, demarcations or classes. It does not have narrow parochialism, provincialism or sectarianism.

The entire human race is descended from one father Adam irrespective of race, color or natural boundaries, Islam is unusual and its nationality is international. The first and foremost quality of Islam is its simplicity and comprehensiveness. It gives guidance to man regarding politics, form of government, economic system and even in the social relationships of man with man.

Islam satisfies the deep thinking people, the philosophers, the scientists and scholars as well as it satisfies the simple-minded daily wage earners. It captures the heart to intellectuals, men of learning and the hearts of ordinary people. Muslims should be true Muslims by conviction, deeds and behaviors.

The basic of Taqwa is found in both revealed texts of Islam. The accumulation of taqwa is so significant that it is made criteria for judging who the best Muslim is. Some impressive verses of the Qur’an and Hadith which discuss this formidable theme include:

“And whoever has Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way for him to get out, and He will make him from where he never could imagine” Q(65:2-3).

Hazrat Abdullahi ibn Masuud (RA) relates that The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to pray to Allah (SWT) that: “I solicit guidance, piety, chastity and abundance from thee” (Sahih Muslim).

Practical Aspects Of Taqwa

The practical aspects of taqwa as follows:

1. Taqwa is when you miss a single prayer, you feel uneasy the whole day.

2. When you speak a lie your instinct feels bad.

3. It is the guilt that follows when you hurt someone knowingly and unknowingly.

4. It is the share and regret that follows a sin you did knowing fully well about its stand in the sight of Allah.

5. Taqwa is when you cannot sleep the whole night after disobeying or disrespecting your parents.

6. Taqwa is the cry in the depths of night fearing none but the one above the Arshi (Earth)

7. Taqwa is the guts and the will to please Allah even the whole world is hell-bent on displeasing Allah (SWT)

8. Taqwa is to wear the Hijab and keep the beard for the aim of pleasing our creator only.

9. Taqwa is to stay happy and keep smiling after knowing this world is a prison for believers.

10. Taqwa is a good manners a character that loving and fearing Allah instills in us.