Two Matters by Which Taqwa Is Realized
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Taqwa is frequently commanded in the Noble Qur'an, and likewise in the Sunnah. So what is the taqwa that is frequently mentioned in the Book of Allah and on the tongue of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? It is a great word,It means: protection from the punishment of Allah. So by what is the protection from the punishment of Allah?Protection from the punishment of Allah is by two matters: The first matter: complying with the commands of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by saying, when a person hears the command of Allah: [al-Baqarah: 285], for this is the statement of the believers.
Allah the Exalted said: [al-Nur: 51], so let there be no hesitation in your heart.
Do not say: Why was I commanded to do such and such?Say: [al-Baqarah: 285].
Do not say: What is the difference between such and such? That is, why does Allah command such and such and not command such and such? For example, regarding the meat of camels, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to perform wudu from eating it. Therefore, eating camel meat invalidates the wudu according to the stronger opinion among the scholars' views,So do not say: Why does He command us to perform wudu from eating camel meat, and not command us to perform wudu from eating beef, even though both are called badanah? Do not say this. The menstruating woman is commanded to make up the fast but not commanded to make up the prayer,Do not say: Why is she commanded to make up the fast and not the prayer? By way of doubt,But say: [al-Baqarah: 285].
The second matter by which taqwa is realized: avoiding what Allah has forbidden,When Allah forbids something, we say: [al-Baqarah: 285] and we avoided.
Do not say: Why? And consider the statement of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) regarding intoxicants, gambling, and the division of spoils by lots, where He said: [al-Ma'idah: 90] [al-Ma'idah: 91].
Look how! [al-Ma'idah: 91] meaning: So after this detail and clarification, will you stop or not?And this interrogative is in the meaning of a command, meaning: So stop. And for this reason, the Companions said: We have stopped, we have stopped.
So taqwa is realized by what? By two matters.
The first: Complying with the command of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) without hesitation,And the second: avoiding the prohibition of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) without hesitation.
Say: ((We heard and we obeyed)) [al-Baqarah: 285], so this is the statement of the believers.
We heard and we obeyed.
سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَاAllah the Exalted said:
The only statement of the [true] believers when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say, "We hear and we obey."
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَنْ يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَاDo not say: Why was I commanded to do such and such?Say:
We heard and we obeyed.
سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَاDo not say: What is the difference between such and such? That is, why does Allah command such and such and not command such and such? For example, regarding the meat of camels, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded us to perform wudu from eating it. Therefore, eating camel meat invalidates the wudu according to the stronger opinion among the scholars' views,So do not say: Why does He command us to perform wudu from eating camel meat, and not command us to perform wudu from eating beef, even though both are called badanah? Do not say this. The menstruating woman is commanded to make up the fast but not commanded to make up the prayer,Do not say: Why is she commanded to make up the fast and not the prayer? By way of doubt,But say:
We heard and we obeyed.
سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَاThe second matter by which taqwa is realized: avoiding what Allah has forbidden,When Allah forbids something, we say:
We heard and we obeyed.
سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَاDo not say: Why? And consider the statement of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) regarding intoxicants, gambling, and the division of spoils by lots, where He said:
O you who have believed, indeed, intoxicants, gambling, [sacrificing on] stone alters [to other than Allah], and divining arrows are but defilement from the work of Satan, so avoid it that you may be successful.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنْصَابُ وَالْأَزْلامُ رِجْسٌ مِنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَSatan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?
إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ يُوقِعَ بَيْنَكُمُ الْعَدَاوَةَ وَالْبَغْضَاءَ فِي الْخَمْرِ وَالْمَيْسِرِ وَيَصُدَّكُمْ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَعَنِ الصَّلاةِ فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُنْتَهُونَLook how!
So will you not desist?
فَهَلْ أَنْتُمْ مُنْتَهُونَSo taqwa is realized by what? By two matters.
The first: Complying with the command of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) without hesitation,And the second: avoiding the prohibition of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) without hesitation.
Say: ((We heard and we obeyed)) [al-Baqarah: 285], so this is the statement of the believers.