Islamic Morals [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Lesson: 40 Self-restraint and Piety

Abstinence, self-restraint (Wara) and piety (Taqwa) are among those most
important virtues about which we see many verses and narrations.

Definition
of Taqwa

Taqwa is that
pure state of the human heart that controls man's deeds and creates harmony
between the internal forces and external acts of man. It connects man with Allah
and lifts up the curtains between the material world and the super natural.

Defining Taqwa,
Raaghib says: Wiqaya is to protect a thing from anything that wants to harm
it and Taqwa means to keep the soul safe from danger. What is meant by this
that, sometimes, as per the law of using words grammar, sabab (cause) is used
in place of Moosa bbab causer and sometimes the vice versa. Khauf is used for
Taqwa and Taqwa for Khauf. In the terminology of Shariat religion Taqwa means
to protect the heart from whatever drags man toward a sin. It should be understood
that religious and Divine Taqwa means man must save himself from what the religion
or principle of a Muslims way of life, has called sin or deviation or impiety
or unclean and should never indulge in it.

This safeguarding
or protection is possible in two ways:

1. Man, with a view to protect himself from sins and impurities and in order
to run away from such things, keeps himself at a safe distance from the environment
of sin, makes efforts to keep himself healthy and hence away from the atmosphere
of illness and from the microbes which spread diseases.

2. Man installs in
his heart such power whereby he get spiritual and moral protection. For instance,
if he falls or happens to be in an environment that supplies means for sinning
and disobedience, that power protects his soul from that disease, as if he had
vaccinated himself.

Here we discuss
that second kind of Piety which is also understood from various verses of the
Holy Quran:

Verses

1. And make provision, for surely the provision is the guarding of oneself,
and be careful of your duty to Me, O men of understanding.

2. Yea, whoever
fulfils his promise and guards against evil -then surely Allah loves those who
guard against evil.

3. O you who
believe! be careful of your duty to Allah with the care which is due to Him,
and do not die unless you are Muslims.

Some of the
great commentators, while explaining this ayat have said: that the demand of
Taqwa is the highest and loftiest grade of piety that includes refraining from
all kinds of sin and disobedience and deviation from truth. Hence, while explaining
Haqq-e-tuqaatuhu, Imam Sadiq (a.s.) says: Piety is that you obey Allah constantly
and never disobey and never indulge in a sin, always remember Him and never
forget Him and be thankful to Him for His bounties and never remain ungrateful
to Him.

And this verse
does not differ from the above verse Fattaqullah mas ta tatum Be pious to the
extent you can, because, after all, this order, like all other orders, is related
with the ability of man.

O you who
believe! Be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice, and let not
hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably; act equitably, that is nearer
to piety, and he careful of your duty to Allah; surely Allah is Aware of what
you do.

Narrations

It is reported
that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: Their cryings should not deceive you, because,
really piety is in the hearts.

Amirul Momineen
(a.s.) has said: Piety is the top of morals.

It is mentioned
in the will of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) for Ali (a.s.): O Ali! The one who
does not have three things has nothing: 1- Piety that prevents him from sinning,
2-Good behaviour that results in nice relations with people and 3- Tolerance
which removes the ignorance or the ignorant.

We learn from
these ayat and similar other narrations that Taqwa and abstinence are virtues
of the soul, not merely refraining from sin and disobedience, though that too
is desirable in its limits. But piety is beyond it and the virtues mentioned
in case of the pious do not include the first kind.

Difference
between Taqwa and Wara

The late Allamah
Majlisi (r.a.) says: Perhaps what Taqwa means is to refrain from sinning and
the meaning of wara is to leave even the doubtful. Under this description and
below this definition the position of wara is higher than that of Taqwa and
it can be said that taw has some stages which we shall discuss in the following
talks, God willing.