A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
Taqwa (God-consciousness).
Taqwa is an action of the heart.
It is a unique Islamic term.
Perhaps it has no
equivalent in other languages or
other legal traditions.
It is derived from the concept of protection.
Its fundamental meaning
is for a person to place
between themselves and the wrath of Allah
and His punishment, a shield.
Yet, despite this,
it carries within it meanings
and lofty, profound concepts.
It is a sensitivity
of the conscience and a transparency
of feeling,
a constant awe,
and perpetual vigilance,
and a wariness of the thorns of the path—
the path of life, which
is beset by the thorns
of desires and lusts,
and the thorns of false hope
in those who possess no power to answer,
and false fear
of those who possess no power to cause harm
or bring benefit,
along with other such thorns
of life and its trials.
For this reason, the expressions of the salaf varied
in defining
taqwa and describing it.
Among the most famous things said about it
is that it is fearing the Majestic,
acting according to the Revelation,
being content with little,
and preparing
for the day of departure.
This is narrated from Ali Ibn Abi Talib,
may Allah be pleased with him.
Talq Ibn Habib said:
"Taqwa is
to act in obedience to Allah
upon a light from Allah,
hoping for the reward of Allah;
and to abandon disobedience to Allah
upon a light from Allah,
fearing the punishment of Allah."
Umar Ibn al-Khattab,
may Allah be pleased with him,
asked Ubayy Ibn Ka'b, may Allah be pleased with him,
about what taqwa is.
Ubayy replied,
"O Commander of the Believers,
have you ever traveled a path
that had thorns?"
He said, "Yes."
He asked, "What did you do?"
Umar said,
"I tucked up my garment,
watched where I placed my feet,
and stepped forward carefully,
or held back,
for fear of being pricked by a thorn."
Ubayy Ibn Ka'b said,
"That is taqwa."
Ibn al-Mu'tazz adopted this meaning
and composed these lines:
"Forsake sins, both the small
and the great; that is taqwa.
Act like one walking
upon a thorny path, wary of
what he sees.
Do not belittle small sins,
for mountains are made of pebbles."
O Allah, grant us
Your taqwa and help us
to work for Your pleasure.
A summary of the concepts of
the Ahl al-Sunnah.