Ten Inspiring traditions on Taqwa

 إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُتَّقينَ (4)

“…surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty).” [Surah At-Taubah, 4]

When Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) was asked to elaborate on the meaning of the word, ‘Taqwa’ he (a.s) replied, “Submit to the command {of Allah (s.w.t.)} and do not go near the prohibited.”

It means that one should endeavor to fulfill all the commands of Allah (s.w.t.) and abstain from the prohibited things.

In this article we present 10 inspiring traditions on Taqwa

1.    Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) –

من‏ أصبح‏ و همّه‏ التّقوى‏ ثمّ أصاب فيما بين ذلك ذنبا غفر اللَّه له‏

"Whoever starts his day with piety in mind, but happens to commit a sin, will be forgiven by God."(Nahjul Fasaha, Tradition no 2954)

2.    Imam al-Rida (a.s) said,

قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُوسَى الرِّضَا ع‏ لَا دِينَ‏ لِمَنْ‏ لَا وَرَعَ‏ [لَهُ‏]

"He who has no piety has no religion." [Kamal al-Din, Vol 2, p. 371, no. 5]

3.    Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a) said,

 قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‏ .... أَفْضَلُ‏ دِينِكُمُ‏ الْوَرَع‏

“The best of your religion is piety.” [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 67, p. 304, no. 18]

4.    Imam Ali (a.s) said,

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‏ مَنْ أَحَبَّنَا فَلْيَعْمَلْ‏ بِعَمَلِنَا وَ لْيَسْتَعِنْ بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّهُ أَفْضَلُ مَا يُسْتَعَانُ بِهِ فِي أَمْرِ الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

“He who loves us should do as we do, and seek refuge in piety; for it is the best assistance in matters of this world and the Hereafter.” [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 67, p. 306, no. 30]

5.    While returning from Siffin, Imam Ali (a.s) passed along the cemetery of Kufa. Addressing the graves he said: “O you, who are lying in horrible and deserted houses. O you, who are shut up in the dark graves, who are alone in their abodes, strangers to the places assigned to them; you have gone ahead and preceded us, while we are also following your steps and shall shortly join you. Do you know what has happened after you? Your houses and property was taken up by others, your widows have remarried, this is what we can tell you of this world. Can you give us some news about things around you?”

 فَقَالَ أَمَا [وَ اللَّهِ‏] لَوْ أُذِنَ لَهُمْ فِي الْكَلَامِ لَأَخْبَرُوكُمْ أَنَ‏ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوى‏

Saying this, Imam Ali (a.s) turned to his companions and said, “If they are permitted to speak they will inform you that the best provision for the next world is piety and virtue”.[NahjulBalagha, Sayings no.130]

6.    Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said,

قَالَ الصَّادِقُ ع‏ عَلَيْكُمْ  بِالْوَرَعِ فَإِنَّهُ الدِّينُ الَّذِي نُلَازِمُهُ وَ نَدِينُ اللَّهَ بِهِ وَ نُرِيدُهُ مِمَّنْ يُوَالِينَا ...

 ‘‘You must have piety; for it is the religion that we adhere to, and with which we devote ourselves to Allah, and we wish it from those who accept our guardianship.”[Amali al-Tusi, p. 281, tradition no. 544]

7.    Imam Ali (a.s) said,

 قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ عَلِيّاً ع ....وَ لَا خَيْرَ فِي نُسُكٍ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ‏

 “There is no good in devotion that is devoid of piety.” [al-Mahasin, v. 1, p. 5, no.   9]

8.    Imam al-Baqir (a.s) said,

 حَنَانُ بْنُ سَدِيرٍ عَنْ أَبِي سَارَةَ الْغَزَّالِ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع قَالَ: قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ ابْنَ آدَمَ اجْتَنِبْ مَا حَرَّمْتُ عَلَيْكَ تَكُنْ مِنْ أَوْرَعِ النَّاسِ.

 “Allah Almighty has said, ‘O son of Adam, refrain from what I have forbidden to you and you will be the most pious of people.” [al-Kafi, v. 2, p. 77, no. 7]

9.    Imam al-Sadiq (a.s) said :

 ...عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ:..فَقَالَ أُوصِيكَ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَ الْوَرَعِ وَ الِاجْتِهَادِ وَ اعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا يَنْفَعُ اجْتِهَادٌ لَا وَرَعَ فِيهِ‏

“I advise you to be wary of your duty to Allah, to have piety and to strive, and know that striving is not beneficial if there is no piety..” [Bihar al-Anwar, v. 70, p. 296, no. 1]

10.   ‘Imam Ali (a.s) said, “The smartest from among you is the most pious of you.”[Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 2839]

Some Short Sayings from Imam Ali (a.s) on piety:

a.    Piety is the lamp of success.

b.    Be pious and you will become pure.

c.    One who lacks piety, his heart is dead.

d.    Whoever shuns lustful desires has safeguarded his soul.

e.    Piety reforms the faith, protects the soul and adorns magnanimity.

f.     The cornerstone of piety is lowering one’s gaze.

g.    Keeping away from evil deeds is better than earning [reward through] good deeds.

h.    Two things cannot be matched in weight by any [other] action: virtuous piety and kindness towards the believers.

{Ghorar al-Hikam}

These traditions are greate motivators and can help us remain pious dispite whisperings of shaitaan. These are the best weapons against his whisperings. May Allah give us the taufeeq to practise and remain pious. May Allah give us the taufeeq to prepare ourself for the reappearance of Imam (a.s.), since piety would be one of the conditions of being an helper of Imam (a.s.)