Belief & Creed (Aqeedah)

Understanding Taqwa (God‑Consciousness)

Understanding Taqwa (God‑Consciousness)

Overview of Taqwa

Taqwa (تقوى) is an Arabic term often translated as God-consciousness or piety. It comes from the root word waqā (وقى), meaning to protect, shield, or preserve. Spiritually, taqwa acts as a shield, guarding one's heart and soul from sin and Allah’s displeasure by maintaining constant awareness of His presence.

(Analogy Alert) Imagine the movie The Matrix, where Neo, after awakening, can see reality as it truly is—beyond the illusions that deceive others. With this clear vision, he effortlessly navigates dangers, evades enemies, and ultimately triumphs because he sees the underlying truths guiding his every move. Similarly, taqwa empowers a believer with spiritual clarity. It allows one to perceive life’s true nature, distinguishing clearly between right and wrong, beneficial and harmful, guided always by the consciousness of Allah's watchful presence.

In Islam, taqwa is not just encouraged; it is the very foundation of faith. The Qur'an emphasizes this virtue repeatedly—over 100 times—highlighting its central role in a believer's life. A classical Islamic scholar encapsulated taqwa beautifully by saying it is to fulfill all of Allah’s commands and abstain from His prohibitions, ensuring that “your Lord never sees you where He has forbidden you to be, nor misses you where He has commanded you to be.” Thus, someone with taqwa continuously lives with the understanding that Allah sees every action, driving them to choose good and avoid wrongdoing out of profound love and reverence.

Quranic Verses about Taqwa

The Qur’an highlights the importance of taqwa in many verses. Below is a list of key Quranic verses related to taqwa, each followed by a brief explanation:

Hadith (Prophetic Sayings) on Taqwa

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also spoke many times about taqwa, teaching that it is central to a Muslim’s character and success. The following authentic hadiths highlight what the Prophet ﷺ taught about taqwa, each with a brief explanation:

Signs of Taqwa in a Person

Since taqwa is an internal quality of the heart, only Allah knows exactly who has the most taqwa. However, taqwa will manifest itself in a person’s behavior and attitude. Here are some signs that a Muslim has taqwa (God-consciousness):

These signs are not meant to be a checklist to judge others, but rather to inspire ourselves. We can reflect on these qualities to gauge our own level of taqwa and identify where we can improve. For instance, if we find we are only careful about Islam when others are watching, or we frequently indulge in doubtful things, that shows we need to strengthen our God-consciousness.

Levels of Taqwa

Not everyone has the same degree of God-consciousness. Islamic scholars have described different levels of taqwa, from a very basic level of faith to the highest levels of piety. One classical breakdown, given by Imam Ibn Juzayy al-Kalbi (a Maliki scholar), identifies five degrees of taqwa :

  1. Avoiding Disbelief (Shirk) – Basic Islam: This is the most fundamental level of taqwa: to guard oneself from kufr (disbelief) and shirk (associating partners with God). It means maintaining pure faith in Allah alone. Even a sinner who still believes in Allah and the Prophet is above the person with no faith. This level of taqwa is essentially what makes one a Muslim. Ibn Juzayy calls this “the station of submission” – at least fulfilling the basics of Islam (testifying faith, etc.).

  2. Avoiding Major Sins – Repentance: The next level is to fulfill all the basic obligations of Islam and abstain from the major sins (the grave wrong actions such as adultery, theft, drinking alcohol, usury, disobeying parents, etc.). A person at this level of taqwa might slip occasionally, but they sincerely repent (ask forgiveness) when they do and do not persist in big sins. They are striving to lead a morally upright life. Ibn Juzayy associates this with taubah (repentance) – the person is cautious to turn back to Allah if they err.

  3. Avoiding Minor Sins and Doubtful Matters – Scrupulousness: A higher level of taqwa is when a believer not only avoids the major sins, but is also careful to avoid minor sins and things that are makrūh (discouraged). They stay away from dubious matters that may not be clearly haram but could possibly lead to sin or earn Allah’s dislike . This level is sometimes called waraʿ (scrupulous piety). For example, if there is a doubt about some money being earned through improper means, they will distance themselves from it entirely, even if it’s not strictly illegal – just to keep their conscience clear. They are building a protective buffer between themselves and anything unpleasing to Allah.

  4. Avoiding Excess in Permissible Things – Zuhd (Detachment): This level involves abstaining from some halal (permissible) things out of fear they might lead one’s heart away from Allah. It’s a voluntary level of restraint. For instance, a person might limit perfectly lawful luxuries or entertainments, because indulging too much in them could make one heedless or too attached to worldly pleasures. This is called zuhd, or asceticism. Ibn Juzayy notes that some people fulfill all obligations and avoid all forbidden things, “however, shayṭān (the devil) keeps them busy with permissible amusements until they miss out on doing extra good deeds.” So, this level of taqwa is to be cautious even with neutral things – to use one’s time and resources for recommended acts and worship, rather than just permissible distractions.

  5. Guarding the Heart from All Else but Allah – Ihsān (Spiritual Excellence): This is the highest degree of taqwa, exemplified by prophets and the truly righteous. At this level, a person’s heart is so filled with the love and awe of Allah that there is no space for worldly temptations or distractions. They avoid anything that would distance them from Allah. Even some things that are perfectly halal might be avoided if it occupies the heart too much. The person constantly seeks Allah’s pleasure in every thought and action. This station is sometimes described as mushāhada (as if one worships Allah seeing Him) – it’s the level of ihsan where one worships Allah “as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, you know that He sees you.” At this level, every moment of life is lived in profound God-consciousness. Of course, this is a very rare level and essentially the state of the prophets and the most pious saints.

Another way scholars like Imam al-Ghazālī described levels of taqwa (in simpler terms) is: (1) Islam: basic obedience and avoiding disbelief, (2) Iman: avoiding major sins and doing required deeds – a higher faith-inspired piety, and (3) Ihsan: avoiding even trivial sins and ungodly thoughts – always remembering Allah in the heart. We can see that these correspond roughly to the five levels above when combined.

It’s important to note that taqwa is dynamic. It can increase or decrease based on one’s actions and dedication. The Qur’an urges believers “to strive for the highest taqwa”, and many duʿās (prayers) of the Prophet ask for improvement in taqwa. No matter what level of taqwa we currently have, there is always room to strengthen it. We should not be complacent with just the minimum. At the same time, we shouldn’t despair if we are not at the highest level – Allah rewards each person according to their sincere effort and their context. The goal is to be on a journey of increasing taqwa, day by day.

Rewards of Taqwa in Islamic Texts

Both the Qur’an and Hadith describe numerous blessings and rewards that Allah has prepared for those who have taqwa. Allah loves and honors the people of taqwa and promises them benefits in this life and the next. Here is a summary of the rewards of taqwa as mentioned in Islamic texts:

In summary, taqwa unlocks countless blessings. It brings Allah’s love, guidance, and help in this life; it grants peace of mind and wisdom; and it leads to forgiveness, honor, and eternal Paradise in the next life. No wonder the Prophet ﷺ said that nothing is dearer to Allah than taqwa, and the Qur’an continuously encourages us to have taqwa – all goodness in this life and the hereafter comes with it .

Developing and Maintaining Taqwa in Daily Life

Taqwa is not developed overnight; it’s a lifelong practice of constantly turning back to Allah. However, the Prophet ﷺ and scholars have given practical advice on how a Muslim can nurture and increase their taqwa. Here are some practical steps and habits to develop and maintain taqwa in everyday life:

Developing taqwa is a gradual process. It’s okay to take it step by step. For example, one might start by focusing on praying on time (a step toward taqwa), then gradually add extra prayers or cut out certain bad habits, and so on. What’s important is consistency and sincerity. Over time, these practices become easier and part of one’s character. Maintaining taqwa also means continually checking oneself, as mentioned, because iman (faith) can rise and fall. If you find your God-consciousness dimming (we all have ups and downs), revisit these steps – renew your intention, make du’ā for taqwa, increase remembrance, and seek support in the community. With Allah’s help, these efforts will keep the flame of taqwa alive in your heart.

Key Reflections When Remembering Allah

Part of staying conscious of Allah (having taqwa) is remembering Him (dhikr) and keeping certain thoughts in mind regularly. Early scholars have listed some key points to reflect upon that produce and strengthen taqwa in one’s heart. Whenever we remember Allah – in prayer, du’ā, or quiet contemplation – thinking about the following things can deepen our God-consciousness:

These reflections were mentioned by scholars like Ibn al-Jawzī and Ibn Juzayy as the “ten matters” that produce taqwa in one’s heart . In practice, one does not think of all ten every single time, but regularly engaging with them in your mind will cultivate a balanced fear, hope, and love of Allah – which is the recipe of taqwa. For example, during prayer you might focus on Allah’s greatness and your shame for past sins, while during a hardship you focus on hope in Allah’s reward and help. Together, these sentiments keep a believer on the straight path.

Tip: A practical way to remember these is: at the end of each day, in your personal du’ā or reflection, quickly run through a few of them – “O Allah, I fear Your displeasure, I hope for Your mercy, I thank You for your blessings like my family and health, I know You see my secrets, I revere Your majesty, and I love You and Your Messenger”. Using such language in conversation with Allah ingrains the consciousness (taqwa) deeply.

Historical and Scholarly Perspectives on Taqwa

Early Islamic Understanding

From the very early days of Islam, taqwa has been seen as the defining quality of a true believer. The famous companion Ibn ʿAbbās explained muttaqīn (people of taqwa) as “believers who avoid shirk (associating partners with Allah) and who work in His obedience.” In other words, the first generation of Muslims understood taqwa as avoiding anything that would compromise their faith (like idolatry or major sins) and actively obeying Allah in their lives. Another companion, Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, once asked Ubayy ibn Kaʿb (a learned companion) to describe taqwa. Ubayy responded with an analogy: “Have you ever walked on a path with thorns?” Umar said yes. Ubayy then asked, “What did you do?” Umar replied that he would roll up his clothes and be very careful where he stepped. Ubayy said, “That is taqwa.” This story illustrates that taqwa is like walking through a thorny path – it requires caution and alertness. A person with taqwa navigates life carefully, avoiding the “thorns” of sins and bad deeds to protect their faith.

Classical Scholarship

All schools of thought in Islam (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafiʿi, Hanbali) have overwhelmingly emphasized taqwa as a core principle of the religion. There is no real disagreement among them about its importance or meaning, though they might describe it in different words. Classical scholars often defined taqwa with a combination of fear, love, and hope in Allah that leads one to obey Him. For example, Imam Abu Ḥāmid al-Ghazālī (a great Shafiʿi scholar) described three levels of taqwa: basic fear and awe of Allah, obedience to Allah’s commands, and finally purifying the heart from all sins – which is the essence of taqwa. He summed it up by saying “to guard oneself against the anger of God and His punishment by fulfilling His commandments and abstaining from what He has prohibited.” Many other classical scholars gave similar definitions: “Taqwa is to obey Allah’s orders, stay away from His prohibitions, and be conscious of Him at all times, both outwardly and inwardly.”

Because taqwa is so central, earlier Muslim jurists and teachers made efforts to teach people how to live with taqwa in daily matters. In at least one Hanafi manual of jurisprudence, there was even a dedicated “Book of Taqwa” – a section dealing with awareness of halal and haram in day-to-day life . It went beyond the pillars of Islam and discussed avoiding doubtful or disliked things (not just clear prohibitions) as part of being God-conscious. This shows that traditionally, Muslims were encouraged not only to fulfill obligatory worship (prayer, fasting, etc.) but also to guard themselves from minor sins and questionable things out of caution and piety.

Sufi (Spiritual) Perspectives

In Islamic spirituality (Sufism), taqwa is seen as an inner state of the heart and they often speak about degrees of taqwa. For instance, the 10th-century Sufi master Al-Qushayrī wrote that taqwa has three parts: trusting God completely regarding what one doesn’t have, being content with what one does have, and being patient in what one has lost . Sufi scholars emphasize deep reliance on Allah and purity of heart as signs of taqwa. Some described different ranks of taqwa among people : The first level is the “taqwa of the common people,” which is simply to avoid shirk (to worship only Allah). The second level is the taqwa of the spiritually elect, which means to avoid all sins and disobedience. The highest level is the taqwa of the prophets and truly righteous, which is to avoid anything that might distract one’s heart from Allah. In other words, the prophets and saints are so conscious of Allah that they attribute every action and blessing to Him alone, constantly seeking His pleasure. While ordinary believers work on not doing bad deeds, those of the highest taqwa work on cleansing their hearts of even worldly attachments. Despite describing these lofty levels, Sufi teachings still affirm that taqwa begins with the basics: fulfilling obligations and shunning prohibitions.

Major Schools of Thought

All four major madhāhib (schools – Hanafi, Maliki, Shafiʿi, Hanbali) agree on the essential meaning of taqwa. It is a universal Quranic concept, so you won’t find contradictory definitions of taqwa in mainstream scholarship. However, scholars from different backgrounds sometimes emphasized various aspects of taqwa. For example, Maliki scholars like Imam Ibn Juzayy and Hanbali scholars like Ibn al-Qayyim elaborated on levels of taqwa (as we will see in the next section) and encouraged Muslims to rise from basic compliance to a more refined piety . Hanafi scholars such as Qāḍī Thānā’ullah Panipati stressed learning the boundaries of halal and haram so that a person of taqwa can “avoid the discouraged and doubtful matters”, not just the clearly forbidden ones . Shafiʿi scholars like Al-Ghazālī focused on the inner dimensions, teaching that outward piety should lead to inward purity (sometimes phrased as “the beginning of guidance is outward taqwa and the end of guidance is inward taqwa (ihsan)” ). Despite these different points of emphasis, all agreed that taqwa means guarding oneself from sin out of fear and love of Allah. A classical saying often quoted is: “Have taqwa of Allah wherever you are,” which encapsulates the universal advice to Muslims to be mindful of God in every situation.

Modern Reflections on Taqwa

Modern scholars continue to highlight taqwa as the key to a righteous life. Contemporary writers often define taqwa in plain language as being mindful of God in everything one does. For instance, one scholar writes: “Taqwa is a state of the heart that keeps one conscious of God’s presence. It requires constant self-evaluation, filtering one’s intentions and actions through one’s level of God-consciousness.” Modern educational institutes describe taqwa as “a shield” that protects a believer from wrongdoing and motivates them to do what pleases Allah . In our times, when temptations and distractions are many, scholars emphasize the need for renewing taqwa daily – through prayer, remembrance of Allah, and knowledge – as a way to stay spiritually safe. The message remains essentially the same as in the past: taqwa is the essence of being a good Muslim, and cultivating it is a lifelong process that requires awareness and effort . There are even entire books and lectures by modern scholars, such as “Taqwa: The Path to Success” by Shaykh Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn, focusing on how to attain taqwa and the benefits it brings .

To learn more and reinforce one’s understanding of taqwa, here are some mainstream, highly-rated books (in English) focused on this topic: