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.