Author: Sabour Al-Kandari

And just like that, we’re 7 days into Ramadan already. Let that sink in for a bit, a whole week in the blink of an eye. It’s scary how fast our time passes from us.

But as with all things, my brothers and sisters, reminder benefits the believer. When life moves as fast as it does, always remember to stop – full stop. Take a breather, take a few minutes of silent contemplation, remember where you came from and remember what you’re here for. And once you re-calibrate your heart and mind, charge back at world full speed.

Allah subhana wata’ala says in the Qur’an:

وَذَكِّرۡ فَإِنَّ ٱلذِّكۡرَىٰ تَنفَعُ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

And remind, for truly reminder benefits the believers.
[51:55]

So remember the words of Allah about our fasting:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيۡڪُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِڪُمۡ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَتَّقُونَ

O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be of those with Taqwa.
[2:183]

Taqwa. Fear of Allah, piety, remembrance of our Creator and consciousness of Him – wherever we may be. A beautiful quality to have, and a beautiful state of mind to be in.

Allah subhana wata’ala mentions Taqwa and its people in numerous places:

ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيۡبَ‌ۛ فِيهِ‌ۛ هُدً۬ى لِّلۡمُتَّقِينَ (٢) ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقۡنَـٰهُمۡ يُنفِقُونَ

This Book has no doubt in it – a guidance for the People of Taqwa. Those who believe in the Unseen, and are steadfast in Salah (prayer), and spend out of what We have provided them.
[2:2-3]

وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ‌ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٲنِ‌ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ‌ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡعِقَابِ

Help each other in Birr (righteousness) and Taqwa (piety), and do not help each other in sin and aggression. Fear Allah, surely, Allah is severe in punishment.
[5:2]

وَسَارِعُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ مَغۡفِرَةٍ۬ مِّن رَّبِّڪُمۡ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرۡضُهَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتُ وَٱلۡأَرۡضُ أُعِدَّتۡ لِلۡمُتَّقِينَ (١٣٣) ٱلَّذِينَ يُنفِقُونَ فِى ٱلسَّرَّآءِ وَٱلضَّرَّآءِ وَٱلۡڪَـٰظِمِينَ ٱلۡغَيۡظَ وَٱلۡعَافِينَ عَنِ ٱلنَّاسِ‌ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ (١٣٤

Race with one another towards Forgiveness from your Lord and towards a Paradise the width of which spans the heavens and the earth. It has been prepared for the People of Taqwa. The ones who spend (for Allah’s sake) in prosperity and adversity, and those who control anger and forgive people. And Allah loves those who are good in their deeds.
[3:133-134]

 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us the concept of Taqwa and reminded us of it:

عن أبي ذر الغفاري رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم :
اتق الله حيثما كنت. وأتبع السيئة الحسنة تمحها، وخالق الناس بخلق حسن
رواه الترمذي

Abu Dhar Jundub bin Junadah and Abu Abdul Rahman Mu’adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“Fear Allah wherever you may be; follow up an evil deed with a good one which will wipe (the former) out, and behave well towards people.”
(Narrated by Tirmidhi who graded it hasan.)

And he (peace be upon him) reminded us of Taqwa in the context of our community relations:

عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال :
” المسلم أخو المسلم لا يخونه ولا يكذبه ولا يخذله ، كل المسلم على المسلم حرام عرضه وماله ودمه ، التقوى ها هنا ، بحسب امرئ من الشر أن يحتقر أخاه ”
رواه مسلم

It was reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim; he does not betray him, lie to him or forsake him. The whole of the Muslim is sacred to his fellow Muslim – his honour, his wealth and his blood. Taqwa (piety) is here. It is sufficient evil for a man to despise his brother.”
(Narrated by Muslim, no. 4650)

And our righteous predecessors in faith, those who were amongst the earliest generations to the Revelation helped us understand Taqwa:

A man once asked Abû Hurayrah – Allâh be pleased with him, ‘What is al-taqwâ?” He replied, “Have you ever taken a path filled with thorns?” The man replied, “I have.” Abû Hurayrah asked him, “What did you do?” He replied, “When I saw a thorn I would dodge it or pass over it or behind it.” Abû Hurayrah said, “That is al-taqwâ.”
Al-Baihaqî, Al-Zuhd Al-Kabîr p351.

It is reported that Abû Al-Dardâ – Allâh be pleased with him – said:
You will never be pious (a person of taqwâ) until you become knowledgeable, and you will never be beautiful with your knowledge  until you act [by it].
Ibn Ábd Al-Barr, Jâmi’ Bayân Al-’Ilm wa Fadlihîarticle 1239.

It is reported from Maymûn b. Mahrân – Allah be please with him – that he said:
A person cannot be a taqîy (pious man of taqwâ) until he takes account of himself like he would with his business partner; and until he knows where he gets his clothing and food and drink.
Wakî’ b. Al-Jarrâh, Al-Zuhd Vol.1 p270.

 

The late Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) commented beautifully about the references to Taqwa:

At first, whoever ponders over the relevant reference to Taqwa in the Book of Allah (the Glorious Qur’an) and the Sunnah (whatever is reported from the Prophet) of His Prophet (peace be upon him) knows for sure that it is the main reason behind every good in both life and the Hereafter (…) Misfortunes, afflictions, ordeals, and punishments are only caused by negligence of or failing to observe Taqwa and not practicing it as a whole or in part. Taqwa is the cause of happiness, salvation, relief of hardship, dignity, and success in life and the Hereafter.
Source

 

And so, with these few references amongst the many, recharge and rejuvenate. And remember the magnificence, the power, and the honour of this station we seek.

 

إِنَّ أَڪۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَٮٰكُمۡ‌ۚ

Surely the noblest of you, in Allah’s sight, is the one with the most Taqwa.
[49:13]

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ

Truly, Allah loves the People of Taqwa.
[9:4]