Taqwa is steadfast in Salah

How To Increase Taqwa

Taqwa is a core Quranic value. Taqwa is usually understood as piety or righteousness. It is one of the guiding principles of the life of a believer. Tapping into your inner taqwa can be one of the most empowering and liberating things you have ever done for yourself. Taqwa is a quality that originates from the heart. It is spiritual and may very well expose itself in a pious person through his good actions and manners. Taqwa is ‘conscious power’. The conscious use of your God-given strength. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ

“O mankind! worship your Lord, the One Who created you and those from before you, so that you may become righteous.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:21)

Taqwa is a quality whose virtues are astounding. It will help you rise from the ashes even after you’ve hit rock bottom. It will provide comfort and peace which no person or materialistic thing can ever provide, but only if you choose to open it, read it and ponder what Allah has to say to you. It can be the greatest source of guidance to help you wade through Dunya and Akhira. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ

“O you who believe! Consciously revere Allah and let look every soul what it has sent forth for tomorrow, and consciously revere Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Aware of what you do.” (Surah Al-Hashr 59:18)

Taqwa means a lot more than just piousness: it is the combination of our beliefs, self-awareness, and attitudes. Taqwa is the state of hyper-vigilance against falling into sin in negligence. It is the idea that a believer is always on guard and is perpetually alert of not committing any action that would earn the displeasure of the Almighty.

Here are some practical steps to attain Taqwa:

  1. Taqwa  follow up a bad deed with a good one
  2. Taqwa may lead to the realm of the forbidden
  3. Taqwa means a lot more than just piousness
  4. Taqwa  activate derive the pleasure of Allah
  5. Taqwa practising towards worship of Allah
  6. Taqwa to distinguish truth from falsehood
  7. Taqwa alert to the carnal pleasures 
  8. Taqwa is satisfaction in all affairs
  9. Taqwa ascribe all material
  10. Taqwa is steadfast in Salah
  11. Taqwa is the soul of fasting
  12. Taqwa is better than anyone else
  13. Taqwa is the result of all worship
  14. Taqwa never consider yourself higher
  15. Taqwa is the long for Allah’s pleasure
  16. Taqwa renew the fountains of your iman
  17. Reminding yourself of Allah`s Presence
  18. Ability to distinguish truth from falsehood
  19. Be alert to whatever may divert you from Allah
  20. Make a sincere intention to improve your taqwa

Taqwa means consciousness, awe or fear of Allah, which inspires a person to be on guard against wrong action and eager for actions that please Allah and stay away from those actions which displease and anger him. Humbleness is that your deed should not become too great in your eyes. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا تَنَاجَيْتُمْ فَلَا تَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ وَمَعْصِيَتِ الرَّسُولِ وَتَنَاجَوْا بِالْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ الَّذِي إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ

“O you who believe! When you hold secret counsel then (do) not hold secret counsel for sin and aggression and disobedience (to) the Messenger, but hold secret counsel for righteousness and piety. And consciously revere Allah, the One Who, to Him, you will be gathered.” (Surah Al-Mujadilah 58:9)

Taqwa is a quality whose virtues are astounding. Before every action we should think to ourselves is this action going to derive any benefit to us or is it going to cause us more harm than good. Taqwa inhabits the heart and it is only within the capability of Allah to know what the hearts conceal. Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا إِذَا مَسَّهُمْ طَائِفٌ مِّنَ الشَّيْطَانِ تَذَكَّرُوا فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْصِرُونَ

“Indeed, those who consciously revere (Allah) when touches them an evil thought from the Shaitaan, they remember (Allah) and then they (are) those who see (aright).” (Surah Al-A`raf 7:201)

Taqwa acts as a channel through which Muslims relate to each other in society and also a way to connect their actions. Taqwa acts as a barrier between Muslims and the anger and discontent of Allah (SWT). Taqwa is the key to happiness and success in this life and the hereafter too. Be pious and receive rewards from Allah.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:

  • “Surely Allah loves Muttaqin.” (Quran, 3:76)
  • “Those who believe and do good deeds.”(Yunus 10:9)
  • “Have taqwa of Allah for you to succeed.” (Quran, 3: 200)
  • “Then We will save those who have had taqwa.” (Quran, 19:72)
  • “And whoever fears Allah, He will make an end.” (Quran, 65: 2)
  • “Allah only accepts from those who have taqwa (fear of Allah).” (Surat al-Maida: 27)
  • “O you who believe! Consciously revere Allah and speak a word right.” (Al-Ahzab 33:70)
  • “Fear Allah and be devoted to Him as He should be feared and devoted to.” (Al-Imran 3:101)

Taqwa means building up your ability to take control of your life. When you have a high level of conscious power, you can do anything. We simply need to think up a goal, commit to it, and make it happen. No wimping out of fear, no giving in to laziness – those factors won’t affect you when you up enough taqwa.

Steps for us to increase in and gain Taqwa: 

  • Recite the Qur’an with its meanings: Nothing can beat the power of the Quran. We should read the Quran with its meanings and try to understand what Allah is telling us in the Quran.
  • Remember Allah: keep your tongue moist with the glorification and remembrance of Allah As much as possible. The more we remember him the more he will remember us. Ponder over the greatness and creations of Allah.
  • Busy yourself with good works: The more you busy yourself making the best of your time the less time you will have to even contemplate doing haraam.
  • Be with good company: This is very important because we are who our friends are. If we involve ourselves with the wrong crowd then whether we like it or not their bad influence will rub off on us and we will end up thinking like them and doing the sins that they do.
  • Learn religious knowledge: Be alert to anything that may lead you towards sin. Shaytan is always wanting to lead us astray and he may pounce on us when we are not aware so we must always have an awareness of his evil tricks.
  • Be humble: Humbleness is for one who is important and significant and he fears to gain notoriety or to become too great among people. Humbleness is that one should humble himself with his companions.
  • Do everything to please Allah: Everything you do in your life does it just so that you can please Allah. This will ensure that you think before you do any action so that you can do everything to please Allah and keep away from anything that displeases him.
  • Focus on the main purpose of our lives: We should keep reminding ourselves of the purpose of our life and why we are here. Throughout our daily lives especially in our busy days, we forget our main purpose and therefore end up doing a lot of sin and wasting time.
  • Renew the fountains of your Iman: Let us be alert to the carnal pleasures that may lead to the realm of the forbidden and always be aware that Allah is watching us.
  • Remember much the destroyer of pleasures: Before doing any action think of your main purpose in this life and then think is what I am going to do or even think of doing compatible with the main purpose of life.
  • Never consider yourself better than anyone: We should also think that anything which will not be of benefit to us is a waste of time and therefore we will always be searching for ways to please Allah and to add to our good deeds.
  • A healthy mind filters your thoughts: We should seek out pious friends who fear Allah and who have the qualities of humility, charity, compassion, modesty, and knowledge.
  • Stay away from major and minor sins: We must fear Allah and submit to him and obey his commands lest we are taken whilst we are indulging in sin.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“O you who believe! Consciously revere Allah and believe in His Messenger; He will give you a double portion of His Mercy and He will make for you a light, you will walk with it, and He will forgive you. And Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Al-Hadid 57:28)

Taqwa is the greatest and the best investment, which a true believer can make. Taqwa is the greatest and the best investment, which a true believer can make. May Allah make us of the most fearful of him and the pious and may he bring us closer to him and guide us to the straight path. May he save us from the torment of the grave and the fire of hell. Ameen