Significance of Taqwa (Piety) in the Qur'an

Posted by islamic web  |  at  10:23 PM

When we look at the various practices and teachings of Islam with regards to acts of worship, we find most of them, if not all, guiding people towards this state of Taqwa. For example, with regards to fasting,

قال الله سبحانه وتعالي:

Allah is saying, "O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was for those before you in order that you may be of those who have Taqwa."

This concept of Taqwa, wherein one seeks to protect oneself from the wrath of Allah by doing the things, which are pleasing to Him, one can only do so if one is conscious of Allah. This is why the term Taqwa is also expressed in English as God-consciousness. And when we look with regards to salah, we find Allah saying, "Establish the prayer for my remembrance."

So salah, and virtually all aspects of `ibaadah, serve to keep us in a state of consciousness of Allah in that when a person is conscious of Him, aware that He is watching, then that person would not seek to do the things which would not be pleasing to Allah. It is when we forget Allah that Satan finds the opening, he is able to approach us, suggest evil and we fall into evil.