Taqwa

Those who practice taqwa — in the words of Ibn Abbas, "believers who avoid shirk with Allah and who work in His obedience"[3] — are called muttaqin (Arabic: المُتَّقِين al-muttaqin).

[4] According to the Oxford Dictionary of Islam, the word taqwa and its derivatives appear "more than 250 times" in the Qur'an.

[5] This is the Book in which there is no doubt, (it is) guidance for the muttaqin (those who adopt taqwa i.e. obey Allah).The imperative form of taqwa is found in the phrase Ittaqullah ("fear God" or "be aware of Allah"), which is in a number of verses.

And whoever is miserly and careless or istighnaah and disbelieves in good things and disbelieves, I make him an easy way to the things of hardship.According to Sura al-Anfal Q.8:29, to Muttaqin, God will give them furqan or conscientious intellect by which they can differentiate between right and wrong.

Abu Umamah Radiyallahu 'Anhu said that I heard the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, give a speech at the farewell Hajj, "Do fear Allah, pray your five times (obligatory) prayers, fast the month of Ramadan, pay Zakat on your wealth and Obey your leaders and rulers (if their command is not contrary to the Shariah), then you will enter the Paradise of your Lord.

I seek refuge in You from incapacity, laziness, cowardice, miserliness, old age and the punishment of the grave.

I seek refuge in You from unprofitable knowledge and from a fearless heart; from an unsatisfied soul and from a supplication that is not answered."

He said, The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say, "Allahumma Inni Asalukal Huda-Wattuka-Wal 'Afa-Fa Wal Gina-" (Meaning - O Allah!

The most hated speech to Allaah is when a man says to another man, ‘Fear Allaah!’ and he replies, ‘Worry about your own self!’ “The word “Taqwã” is derived from the verb waqã (Arabic: وقى), which literally means to preserve, protect, safeguard, shield, etc.

"[10] Some descriptions of the term from Islamic sources include: According to Tafsir ibn Kathir, the root meaning of taqwa is to avoid what one dislikes.

It was reported that Umar bin Khattab asked Ubayy ibn Ka'b about Taqwa.

"[14] In at least one popular work of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), the "Book of Taqwa", (i.e. the section on taqwa) deals with "knowledge of what is Haraam (forbidden), Makruh (discouraged) and doubtful" in an assortment of matters beyond "the pillars of Islam".

The final rank is that of the prophets who avoid attributing acts to anyone other than God — "in other words, their fear comes to them from Him and is [directed] to Him.

God-fearing piety is seen as great religious devotion because it allows for "unhesitating obedience for the order's superior."

Taqwa then leads to a lack of questioning authority, for the disciple submits to those with greater power than him.