The Meaning of Allah’s Saying: “For a People Who Are Mindful of Him” and the Definition of Taqwa
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The Shaykh : Then He, Mighty and Majestic, said: meaning they are mindful of Allah. I will summarize for you the meaning of taqwa in two words: it is—meaning taqwa—guarding against what brings punishment and torment, guarding against what brings torment and punishment. What is your opinion of a man who does not pray in congregation? Is he mindful of Allah or not? Yes? No. Because he exposed himself to punishment. What is your opinion of a man who commits unlawful sexual intercourse, may Allah protect us from that? Is he mindful of Allah? No, because he did not guard against punishment. So taqwa is that a person takes precautions against the punishment and torment of Allah. And by what is it achieved? It is achieved by doing the commands and avoiding the prohibitions. One must do the commands and avoid the prohibitions. So whoever neglects the commands, his taqwa is compromised. And whoever violates any of the forbidden things, his taqwa is compromised. But praise be to Allah, the door is open for what? For repentance. Repent to Allah, and when you repent to Allah, Mighty and Majestic, He will accept your repentance if the repentance is sincere, even if the sin is great and large. Listen, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: [Al-Furqan 25:68] meaning they do not associate partners with Allah [Al-Furqan 25:68-70] except for the one who repents. Repented from what? From shirk (associating partners with Allah), killing the soul, and unlawful sexual intercourse. These are among the greatest of the forbidden things: transgression against the rights of Allah, transgression against the rights of Allah’s servants by killing, and transgression against the honor of people by unlawful sexual intercourse. And despite the greatness of these sins, if a person repents and does a righteous deed, then Allah said: [Al-Furqan 25:70]. Read the verse, my brother. Look at this. Read the verse.
The student: He does not hear the end of the verse.
The Shaykh : Read it. Stand up, do you not memorize it? There is no power and no strength except with Allah. Fine.[Al-Furqan 25:68-70]
For a people who are mindful of Him
لقوم يتقونAnd those who do not invoke with Allah another deity
والذين لا يدعون مع الله إلها آخرor kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated - (70) Except for those who repent
ولا يقتلون النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق ولا يزنون ومن يفعل ذلك يلق أثاما يضاعف له العذاب يوم القيامة ويخلد فيه مهانا إلا من تابFor them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good
فأولئك يبدل الله سيئاتهم حسناتThe student: He does not hear the end of the verse.
The Shaykh : Read it. Stand up, do you not memorize it? There is no power and no strength except with Allah. Fine.