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A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.

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Taqwa (God-consciousness).

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Taqwa is an action of the heart.

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It is a unique Islamic term.

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Perhaps it has no

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equivalent in other languages or

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other legal traditions.

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It is derived from the concept of protection.

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Its fundamental meaning

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is for a person to place

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between themselves and the wrath of Allah

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and His punishment, a shield.

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Yet, despite this,

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it carries within it meanings

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and lofty, profound concepts.

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It is a sensitivity

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of the conscience and a transparency

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of feeling,

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a constant awe,

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and perpetual vigilance,

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and a wariness of the thorns of the path—

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the path of life, which

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is beset by the thorns

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of desires and lusts,

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and the thorns of false hope

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in those who possess no power to answer,

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and false fear

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of those who possess no power to cause harm

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or bring benefit,

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along with other such thorns

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of life and its trials.

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For this reason, the expressions of the salaf varied

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in defining

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taqwa and describing it.

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Among the most famous things said about it

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is that it is fearing the Majestic,

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acting according to the Revelation,

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being content with little,

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and preparing

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for the day of departure.

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This is narrated from Ali Ibn Abi Talib,

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may Allah be pleased with him.

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Talq Ibn Habib said:

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"Taqwa is

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to act in obedience to Allah

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upon a light from Allah,

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hoping for the reward of Allah;

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and to abandon disobedience to Allah

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upon a light from Allah,

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fearing the punishment of Allah."

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Umar Ibn al-Khattab,

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may Allah be pleased with him,

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asked Ubayy Ibn Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him,

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about what taqwa is.

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Ubayy replied,

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"O Commander of the Believers,

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have you ever traveled a path

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that had thorns?"

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He said, "Yes."

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He asked, "What did you do?"

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Umar said,

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"I tucked up my garment,

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watched where I placed my feet,

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and stepped forward carefully,

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or held back,

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for fear of being pricked by a thorn."

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Ubayy Ibn Ka'b said,

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"That is taqwa."

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Ibn al-Mu'tazz adopted this meaning

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and composed these lines:

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"Forsake sins, both the small

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and the great; that is taqwa.

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Act like one walking

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upon a thorny path, wary of

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what he sees.

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Do not belittle small sins,

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for mountains are made of pebbles."

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O Allah, grant us

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Your taqwa and help us

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to work for Your pleasure.

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A summary of the concepts of

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the Ahl al-Sunnah.