التقوى - is a deep and penetrating consciousness of Allah that safeguards us from disobeying Allah. It is the love and respect of Allah which a believer feels in his/her heart and this emotion motivates him/her to do good and avoid sin.
Whilst reciting the Qur'an, I came across the verses about Jews and Christians in Surah al Mai'ad (Chapter 5) in which Allah says that they say that they are the children and the beloved of Allah. So Allah asks them, "Then why does He punish you for your sins?" [5:18] SubhanAllah, Muslims are also deluded with the idea of being favourite of Allah. In fact every Muslim sect (no matter how polytheist in it's theology and deviant in i'ts actions) claims to be the chosen people of Allah. Even those Muslims in the secularist camp are proud of themselves. The view their beauty pageants and dance competitions with great delight, thinking they have made progress and moved the women forward. If all of this is true, then why does Allah punish us? Why did we lose the World Cup for example? Why every other year there is a major earthquake in Pakistan (2005 - 7.8 m; 2008 - 6.4; 2011 - 7.2 m)? Not to mention the frequent landslides and droughts.
Anyway, this is something to just think about so don't get offended. Allah said to the Jews and Christians, "you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination." [5:18] So we really have no special status with Allah. We are His creation and property. He owns us and everything we have. He brought into existence and He will call us back to Him one day. This is التقوى, to be awake and aware of Allah's greatness in our individual realities. Look around you, this computer screen, your eyes, the table on which you keep your laptop, the light in your room, the carpet in your house, the building in which you live, the road that you take to work or school, the sky, the sun, this complete universe and beyond is Allah's creation and mercy.
What is the benefit of being متقي (person of Taqwa)? Well التقوى is proof that we love Allah and that He is our priority in life. التقوى shows that we live our lives with the consciousness, respect, love and fear of Allah. التقوى encourages to perform only those actions which Allah loves and renounce every thought and behaviour which He detests.
Notice how people who have التقوى will always be extraordinarily righteous. Allah gives the example of Yusha bin Nun (Joshua), "Said two men from those who feared [to disobey] upon whom Allāh had bestowed favor, "Enter upon them through the gate, for when you have entered it, you will be predominant. And upon Allāh rely, if you should be believers." [5:23] His التقوى led him to trust Allah and face the قوما جبارين (tyrants) of his time. Because of his التقوى , Allah chose him and gave him courage to lead his people to victory and safety. التقوى is this invisible force that propels you forward. It gives you strength to persevere the hardest challenges. Even when you find yourself alone, التقوى will help you endure.
Between Habeel and Qabeel, the brother with التقوى was beloved to Allah and the brother without it, had no value. Habeel had التقوى so he was able to abstain from sin and encourage his brother to do the samed. But since Qabeel had no consciousness of Allah, he didn't heed the warning and sinned. التقوى gives you a criteria of right and wrong. It drives you to do and sound off an alarm when you are near Allah's disobedience. التقوى is beloved to Allah and this is what He expects from us.
Target of the day: think about Allah and be consciousness of Him. How did the remembrance of Allah change your thoughts, mood or behaviour? Did you do anything differently?? Why or why not? How does it make you feel?
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