Taqwa is divided into two categories.

The Shaykh: And taqwa (mindfulness of Allah) is explained with two meanings: one is lighter than the other. The meaning of "lighter than the other" means "less in meaning," and the other is more and more comprehensive in meaning. Taqwa of Allah in the lesser meaning is, after faith in Him (Blessed and Exalted is He), as it came in the Book and the Sunnah: "Acting upon what was commanded and refraining from everything from which He prohibited and warned." This is taqwa in its lesser meaning. But it sometimes comes to mean a reality such that taqwa includes the realization and application of everything that came in the Shari'ah, whether it is from the obligatory duties or the recommended practices, in which case he does these things, or whether it is from the forbidden or disliked things, in which case he stays away from these things. This is the broader and more comprehensive meaning. ; meaning: everyone who limits himself to performing what Allah made obligatory and staying away from what Allah forbade, making lawful what Allah made lawful and making forbidden what Allah made forbidden, will enter Paradise. In the manner of that Bedouin who came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and it is possible that he is the one in the previous example. That Bedouin came to the Messenger (peace be upon him) asking him about what Allah made obligatory upon him, so he said: "Five prayers in the day and night." He said: "Is there anything else upon me?" He said: "No, except that you do voluntary acts." He asked him about fasting, so he said: "You fast the month of Ramadan." He said: "Is there anything else upon me?" He said: "No, except that you do voluntary acts." And so he asked him about what Allah made obligatory, and he clarified it to him, so he followed up asking: "Is there anything else upon me?" He said: "No, except that you do voluntary acts," meaning you do extra acts of worship that were not made obligatory upon you. When he finished with that, he said: "By Allah, O Messenger of Allah, I will not add to them nor subtract from them." He (peace be upon him) said: , meaning this one who pledged to the Messenger (peace be upon him) that he would come with the obligatory duties, not adding to them, not doing voluntary acts or extra worship, and at the same time not subtracting from them, because if he subtracted from them, it would mean he disobeyed his Lord. So he (peace be upon him) said to him, or said regarding him to those around him: . This taqwa is in its narrowest meanings, after which there is no taqwa, and it will bring its owner into Paradise. But there is a taqwa broader than that, which includes, in terms of positive aspects, coming with what Allah prescribed of the recommended practices and voluntary acts, and includes staying away from what Allah disliked of the disliked matters, even if they were not from the forbidden matters. This taqwa is wider and more comprehensive than that.