Khwaja Mohammad Zubair :
Islam aims to create an ideal society based on good for all. Taqwa is the soul of fasting. Men of Taqwa are called Muttaqin. They believe, fear Allah and look to what He has ordained in carrying out His actions to avoid His displeasure and sadness. These people are involved and active in his/her life with the Ummah (the Muslim community), concerned with the affairs of humanity, whilst at the same time praying, fasting, spending in Allah’s cause, having good morals, are forgiving and just. All these descriptions can be attributed to a person who has Taqwa and will be assured and successful in the Hereafter.
Hence, for the moral development and correct behaviour of a good Muslim it is necessary that he/she strictly analyse and establishes his /her Taqwa, but never claims to be a possessor of it.
It would not be a misstatement of fact if it is said that Taqwa epitomises the entire teachings of the Prophet of Islam. A study of the Holy Quran will show that every aspect of its teachings is directed towards the creation of this spiritual condition of God-fearing in every action of the believers. According to the Holy Quran, Taqwa should be the ultimate result of all forms of worship. The Holy Quran says: “People! Worship your Rab (Creator and Sustainer) Who created you and those before you, so that you may guard against evil.” (2:21)
Again, the same virtue is emphasised as the objective of fasting: “O believers! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed for those who were before you, so that you may avoid evil” (2:183)
The Hazz is also enjoined with the same objective : ‘Thus it is, and who so honour the symbols of Allah, then that indeed is from the piety of heart.” (22:32)
Animal sacrifices is also offered with this very aim :
“Neither their meat nor their blood reaches Allah, but your piety reaches Him … ” (22:37)
According to the Holy Quran, the practice of basic moralities lead to the same goal : … and to forego (for men) is nearer to piety … ” (2:237)
In Surah Ale Imran, Taqwa is bracketed with steadfastness and patience, and in Surah Baqarah with making peace among mankind. Even in conducting wars, when moral values are generally overlooked, Muslims have to abide by the dictates of Taqwa. This condition of heart transforms both the thinking and the action of man.
The Holy Quran repeatedly asks us to observe Taqwa, to abide by the decisions of the Holy Prophet (Sm), to act up to the injunctions of the Shariah, and to refrain from prohibited acts, and to attain glory. A Muslim surrenders before Allah and does what he is ordered to do and refrain from what he is told to keep away from. Taqwa, the fear of Allah, is the only force that can restrain man from evil and wickedness. It is this fear of Allah that keeps the heart of a believer awake and enables him to distinguish right from wrong.
Besides, Taqwa is the only virtue that brings honour to a believer, man or woman, in the Islamic society. The Holy Quran says : “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)
Justice and Taqwa are two principles that emerge as necessary corollaries from the doctrines of Oneness of Allah, which according to the Holy Quran and the tradition, is the basic article of faith, whereas the discipline and the dos and the don’ts of the canon law are merely its outward expression, or means to the attainment of divinely ordained ends of man in its collective as well as individual existence. In Islam, being just is considered to be a necessary condition or being pious and God-fearing, the basic characteristics of a Muslim. The Holy Quran says : ” … Deal justly; that is nearer to pity, and observe your duty to Allah. Surely Allah is well aware of what you do” (5:8)
The Holy Quran aims to create an ideal society based on Taqwa for the good of the entire humanity. Allah says: “You are the best community created for the good of mankind.” The fear of Allah, the root of all wisdom, find expression in the individual’s awareness of the impact that his/her actions or failure to act will at the various stages of levels of his/her social connections and relationship have on others. It is admitted that the primary concern of Islam is to develop the personality of the individual as a God fearing man, and equip him/her with the talent to live in peace with himself/hersely and peace with others.
