1. Taqwa Taught by Br Wajdi Akkari Commentary of Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen
Lesson 16

2. Notes
Umar ibn Khattab (R.A) once asked Ibn Ka’ab (R.A) the definition of taqwa. In reply Ibn Ka’ab asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Umar replied in the affirmative and Ka’ab continued, “How do you do so?” Umar said that he would carefully walk through after first having collected all loose and flowing clothing in his hands so nothing gets caught in the thorns hence injuring him. Ka’ab said, “This is the definition of taqwa, to protect oneself from sin through life’s dangerous journey so that one can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin.”
Place a barrier between yourself and Allah's punishment – by doing everything Allah commanded and refraining from things He has prohibited

3. Verses Allah, the Exalted, says:
"O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared". (3:102)
"So, keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can...'' (64:16)
This second Verse explains the meaning of the first one.
"O you who believe! Keep your duty to Allah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth". (33:70)
"... And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine...'' (65:2,3)
"If you obey and fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e., a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you; and Allah is the Owner of the great bounty". (8:29)

4. Hadith
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: It was asked, "O Messenger of Allah! Who is the most honourable amongst mankind?'' He (ﷺ) said, "The most honourable of them is one who is the most pious of them.'' They said, "We are not asking about this". He said, "Then, the most honourable of men was Yusuf (Joseph), the Prophet of Allah, the son of Allah's Prophet, who was the son of the Prophet of Allah, who was the son of the Khalil of Allah (i.e., Ibrahim (ﷺ))' They said, "We are not asking you about this.'' He enquired, "Are you then asking me about the classes of the Arabs? The best of them in the Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance are the best of them in Islam, provided they comprehend the religious knowledge".
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
For example; Umar RA – Muslims could not pray by the Kabah till he accepted Islam
Khalid ibn Waleed and others

5. Hadith
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The life of the world is sweet and green. Allah makes you generations succeeding one another so that He may try you in respect of your actions. So beware of the beguilements of the world and those of women. The first trial of Banu Israel was through women".
[Muslim]
Women started to dress in an unbefitting way leading to deviance
If something is green and sweet, eyes see it first, then soul wants it. If one feels this way, he's bound to go for it

6. Hadith
`Abdullah bin Mas`ud (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to say: "Allahumma inni as'alukal-huda wat-tuqa wal-`afafa wal-ghina (O Allah! I ask You for guidance, piety, chastity and self-sufficiency)".
[Muslim]
Best duaa are from the Sunnah