Course Instructor & Clusterhead 28. Social System of Islam (Ethical Values) Course Instructor & Clusterhead Islamic Studies: CDR(R) Ahsan-ul-Haq

TAQWAH DEFINATION: The literal meaning of Taqwah is fear, safeguard and in Islamic terminology fear of God. The bases of all good deeds is this fear of Allah because every action of man is received from will. BASE OF TAQWA: Intention is the base of every deed. The Holy Prophet(SAW) says: “The weights of your deeds depend upon your intentions.” Fear of Allah is foundation of every good deed and this base encourages the faithful to avoid from the bad deeds. Without Taqwa all our deeds are meaningless. And worth less because it is essential demand of faith that every action should be guided by the fear of Allah.

CENTRE OF TAQWAH: The Real centre of Taqwah is the heart, it is the heart which includes other parts of the body towards some deeds, or keep them busy in some actions. Holy Prophet (SAW) has said, “Be careful! There is a piece of flesh in the body, if it is well the whole body is well but if it is not then the whole body will not be well and that is Heart.” Following verses of Holy Quran explain about the fear of Allah (Taqwa): “Surely there is no lord except Me, so get fear of Me.” “The people who have fear of Allah, Allah will provide them earning and make a way for them from such a corner which is beyond their imagination.” “Allah is friend of those who have fear of Allah.”

Taqwa is the foundation of every good deed and it encourages a person to do good deeds and abstains from bad deeds. About the scope of Taqwa, Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “Every king has a pasture and the pasture of Allah is those limitations by which He has created a difference between the lawful and unlawful.” The following verses of Holy Quran explain the importance of Taqwa:

“Oh believers! Get fear of Allah and speak words straight to the point, He will adjust for you your works and will forgive your sins.” “If the people of township have belief and fear of Allah, surely We had opened blessings for them from the sky and from the Earth.” The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “Oh Allah! I ask you guidance for the Taqwa.”

DEGREES OF TAQWA: There are three degrees of Taqwa; lower, middle and highest. Lower degree – means a Muslim is only saving himself from major sins. The Holy Quran says: “But those who believe and doing good deeds” Middle degree – means a Muslim is saving himself from both kinds of sins; major and minor. The Holy Quran says:

“He who has piety has great honor in the eyes of Allah.” Highest degree – a Muslim is not only saving himself from the major and minor sins but also from the place of doubt where the sin is present. The Holy Quran says: “Allah is friend of those who have Taqwa.”

SUPPORTING RIGHTS AND QUALITIES WHICH INCREASE TAQWAH: To fulfill the rights of Allah, rights of parents, rights of children , rights of relatives, rights of weak and poor, rights of slaves, rights of orphans, rights of sick people, rights of guests, Justice , forgiveness, truthfulness, kindness, tolerance, speech with good words, humility, generosity, patience, trust of Allah etc. BAD QUALITIES WHICH DECREASE TAQWAH: Greed, backbiting, cruelness, wasteful, falsehood, miserliness, Dishonesty, cheating, fraud, misappropriation etc