Taqwa- Relationship with Allah.
Lets begin the second week with relationships. And the most important relationship for us should be the one with ALLAH.:-)
Now the question arises WHY?
The word relationships means mutual feelings, dealings, connections or feelings that exist between 2 parties
Relationships are the network that connects people together and builds a society.
There are lots of relationships in a person’s life at any given time and their importance varies according to the age , stage and state of a person.
But, the relationship a person shares with his /her mother rarely takes a back seat. At every point in a person’s life; happiest or saddest , they want their mother, they wish for them , they seek them.
That’s because they gave us birth .
Now think.
Our khaliq , our creator is ALLAH. HE created us , raised us, took care of us , protected us, encouraged us, and said “I’ll always be there for u as long as u remember me.”
Just like our mothers did , HE guides us on the right path and scolds us for going on the wrong path and forgives us when we realize and want to turn back..whenever we decide to turn back in our lives.
Refer Surah baqarah 2;49- 2:52
And on top of that HE gives us Jannah and eternal life in it.
That’s why our relationship with Allah needs to be the most important one for us. Our honesty and sincerity in our feelings towards HIM will decide the degree of honesty and sincerity in our feelings towards HIS creations.
That is why we need to analyze and understand it.
Taqwa determines our relationship with ALLAH.
A very beautiful and simple way of describing it would be according to Tafsir ibn Kathir ; the root meaning of taqwa is to avoid what one dislikes. It was reported that Umar bin Khattab asked Ubay ibn Kaab about Taqwa. Ubay said, "Have you ever walked on a path that has thorns on it?" Umar said, "Yes." Ubay asked, "What did you do then?" to which Umar replied, "I rolled up my sleeves and struggled." Ubay said, "That is taqwa, to protect oneself from sin through life’s dangerous journey so that one can successfully complete the journey unscathed by sin."
Just as a mother is happiest with the child who always stays out of trouble and listens to her to her at all times. ALLAH is happiest with that person who has Taqwa. Just a million times happier than a mother could ever be with her child, because ALLAH divided mercy into 100 parts and kept 99 parts of it with HIM
Taqwa is mentioned at least 200 times in the Quran itself.
Allah says in surah Imran ayat 14 that we get distracted by the delights of this world and start trying to gather as much of them as possible , but these are only to be enjoyed in this world which is temporary.” Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (To return to).”
So now the question arises “how to be a person who has Taqwa?”
The general concept of a person having Taqwa is one who is praying and fasting and donating and always doing spiritual talks. Unfortunately that’s not how can one measure Taqwa. Such a person as mentioned above despite doing all the “good”things be a miser,might be a liar, might be taking interest and so on.
Again here the point to be considered is that knowledge and understanding of the deen is important. Because with them do we come to know what has been prohibited by ALLAH and what has not been.
A simple way to describe a person having Taqwa would be to summarize the attributes of the mominoon.
· He never lies.
· He never cheats
· He always spends in time of prosperity and in times of poverty. Sadaqa. He how can let go of his most loved and prized possession for the love of ALLAH.
| | Those who spend (freely), whether in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain anger, and pardon (all) men;- for Allah loves those who do good |
· He who swallows his anger, displeasure with people , circumstances consistently in spite of getting upset or hurt with people or circumstances. He never engages in heated discussions and never fights. Always try to make peace with people.
· He always fogives people who have offended him in any manner, for ALLAH”S sake,because he knows that seeking ALLAH’s forgiveness is better than seeking revenge for the offense done to him.
| | The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah: for (Allah) loveth not those who do wrong |
· He runs to seek ALLAH’s forgiveness as soon as he realizes that he has committed a sin.
| | And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except Allah?- and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. |
· And even if the shaitan tries to lead them astray by putting feelings of embarrassment for distancing them from ALLAH they still rush to HIM
| | <> Hold to forgiveness; command what is right; But turn away from the ignorant. | <>
| | <> If a suggestion from Satan assail thy (mind), seek refuge with Allah; for He heareth and knoweth (all things). | <>
| 3:17 | <> Those who show patience, Firmness and self-control; who are true (in word and deed); who worship devoutly; who spend (in the way of Allah); and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning. | <>
Volume 9, Book 93, Number 472:
Narrated 'Aisha:
The Prophet sent (an army unit) under the command of a man who used to lead his companions in the prayers and would finish his recitation with (the Sura 112): 'Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allah, the One." ' (112.1) When they returned (from the battle), they mentioned that to the Prophet. He said (to them), "Ask him why he does so." They asked him and he said, "I do so because it mentions the qualities of the Beneficent and I love to recite it (in my prayer)." The Prophet; said (to them), "Tell him that Allah loves him"
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
A man heard another man reciting (in the prayers): 'Say (O Muhammad): "He is Allah, the One." (112.1) And he recited it repeatedly. When it was morning, he went to the Prophet and informed him about that as if he considered that the recitation of that Sura by itself was not enough. Allah's Apostle said, "By Him in Whose Hand my life is, it is equal to one-third of the Quran."
Narrated Jarir bin 'Abdullah:
Allah's Apostle said, "Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind."
| | Fair in the eyes of men is the love of things they covet: Women and sons; Heaped-up hoards of gold and silver; horses branded (for blood and excellence); and (wealth of) cattle and well-tilled land. Such are the possessions of this world's life; but in nearness to Allah is the best of the goals (To return to). |
| Zuyyina lilnnasi hubbualshshahawati mina alnnisa-i waalbaneenawaalqanateeri almuqantarati mina alththahabiwaalfiddati waalkhayli almusawwamati waal-anAAamiwaalharthi thalika mataAAu alhayatialddunya waAllahu AAindahu husnualmaabi |
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| | (Namely), those who say: "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire;"- |
| Allatheena yaqooloona rabbanainnana amanna faighfir lana thunoobanawaqina AAathaba alnnari |
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| 3:8 | "Our Lord!" (they say), "Let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast guided us, but grant us mercy from Thine own Presence; for Thou art the Grantor of bounties without measure. |
| Rabbana la tuzigh quloobanabaAAda ith hadaytana wahab lana min ladunkarahmatan innaka anta alwahhabu |
