Abdul Muqit Chowdury :
Taqwa (Allah fearing), the great virtue can bring revolutionary change in the character of a person. It is stressed in the Holy Quran in the following way : “O men, We have created you from a male and a female, and have made
you into races and tribes that you may (thereby) know one another. Indeed, the most honourable of you in the Sight of Allah is (One who is) the most righteous of you. Surely, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.” (49:13)
Taqwa begets righteousness and justice including all moral activities. A person, if guided and conducted by the principle of Taqwa, he/she cannot do evil deeds according to his /her whims and caprices.
This is a battle in the self. Fearing of Allah prepares oneself in such an uncompromising mentality that he/she bears a zeal to win over the evil instincts. This is ‘Zihad-fin-nafs’ – a battle within oneself. The month of Ramzan – the month-long practice of fasting has brought to us the continuous battle against the worst enemy -the Satan’s provocations for breaking fasting or doing bad deeds which are forbidden by Allah Ta’ala and His Messenger Hazrat Muhammad (SM). Fasting Muslims should have that mental preparation for struggle against the evils and the strong will of Iman (Faith) to win the battle. This ensures for him/her a character, which does not bow down to evil instincts. Righteousness and justice lead him in the path of ‘Seerat-ul-Mustakim’.
Taqwa has been mentioned in the holy Quran repeatedly. Allah has asked the mankind to be guided by Taqwa and to abide by the injunctions laid by the holy Quran and Sunnah abstaining from prohibited deeds, i.e. misdeeds. The force of Taqwa enables a person to refrain from evil and be just in the activities and dealings. He/she upholds justice at the cost of worldly loss, which becomes an eternal blessing for him/her in the world hereafter. The Holy Quran reveals,”…….Deal justly ; that is nearer to pity, and observe your duty to Allah. Surely Allah is well aware of what you do.” (5:8).
