How to Achieve Taqwaa
By Sheikh Saleem al Hilaalee
[From al-Hudaa Magazine]

The concept of taqwaa is always linked to ibaadah in the Qu'raan. 'Ibaadah can be defined as: to do what Allaah Ta'alaa has commanded and to avoid what He has prohibited. 'Ibaadah has also been defined as a concept that includes all actions that Allaah Ta'alaa loves and approves of, whether they are actions of the heart, the tongue or the limbs. So taqwaa is linked with doing what is correct and avoiding that which is wrong. Taqwaa is the fruit of doing the actions of 'Ibaadah. In other words, if one does what Allaah Ta'alaa has commanded him to do, and abstains from that which he has been forbidden, he will achieve taqwaa. Allaah Ta'alaa mentions in His Book ( that means ):
 
" O you who believe ! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become muttaqoon ( those who have taqwaa or piety )." [ al-Qur'aan al-Kareem al-Baqaraah 2:183 ].
 
In this aayah and in many others, Allaah Ta'alaa has shown us that taqwaa is the result or fruit of doing actions of ibaadah.
 
The meaning of Taqwaa
 
Now that we have clarified how to achieve taqwaa, we define what the concept of taqwaa means. Taqwaa means: to cleanse or purify the heart and the soul. This fact is proven by some ayaat in Suorat ush-Shams in which Allaah Ta'alaa says (what means)
 
" By the sun and its brightness, by the moon as it follows it, by the day as it shows its brightness, by the night as it conceals it, by the heaven and its wondrous make, by the earth and all its expanse, and by the soul and He Who perfected it in proportion, then He showed it what is wrong for it and what is right for it - indeed he succeeds who purifies it, and he fails who corrupts it." [ al-Qur'aan al-Kareem ash-Shams 91:1-10 ].
 
Allaah Ta'alaa begins this soorah by taking seven oaths. Whenever Allaah Ta'alaa begins a soorah or an ayaah with an oath, He (T) does so to bear witness to the fact that whatever follows this oath is very important and essential for us to understand. Therefore, we should pay very close attention to what is being said, and reflect upon its meanings. To cleans one's heart and to purify the soul, one must perform righteous actions that Allaah Ta'alaa has enjoined upon us, and our destruction lies in doing the actions that Allah has forbidden. As Allaah Ta'alaa is the Guardian and Protector of the Soul, we should do every good deed hoping for Allaah's Mercy and fearing His Punishment, having full reliance and trust in Him (T).
 
Purification of the Soul
 
Among the missions of the Prophet (SAWS) Allaah Ta'alaa sent him with the command to purify the souls of the Muslims in particular, and of mankind in general. Allaah Ta'alaa says (what means)
 
" He it is who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His ayaat, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and the Hikmah, while before they had been in error." [ al-Qur'aan al-Kareem al-Jumu'ah 62:2 ].
 
In this ayaah the word Hikmah is often translated as wisdom. Imaam ash-Shafi'ee, one of the greatest scholars of Islaam, said that when Allah mentions Hikmah in the Qur'aan it refers to the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAWS). In addition to this ayaah, we see that the Prophet (SAWS), was sent with three tasks:
 
1.) To teach the Qur'aan.
 
2.) To teach the Sunnah.
 
3.) To show the means of purifying the soul. This purification is obtained by doing the proper acts of 'ibaadah and by avoiding sins and disobedience.
 
Conditions for Attaining Taqwaa
 
How does a person know that his acts of 'ibaadah are helping him to achieve taqwaa ? To develop taqwaa, one must fulfill the following conditions:-
 
1.) Ikhlaas, sincere intention that the act is performed purely for the pleasure of Allaah Ta'alaa, out of love for Him, while hoping for His reward and mercy, as well as fearing His anger and punishment if He is disobeyed.
 
2.) To do the deed in accordance with the authentic Sunnah. To have the necessary knowledge of the 'ibaadah that is being performed. To know how the Prophet (SAWS)...performed the action and proper times for the performance of that action.
 
Concerning Ikhlaas, it must be present both before and after performing the deed, with no riyaa or sum'ah ( doing things to be seen or heard by people ). For instance, after doing a good deed, someone tells others, " Look at all the good I have been doing ", or " I'm such a marvelous person because I do such and such".
 
This formula, if used to achieve taqwaa, is scientific, in that if you follow it, while fulfilling all of its conditions and their rights, you will achieve taqwaa in shaa Allaah Ta'alaa.