Taqwa is the awareness of Allah that makes a person careful: careful to do what pleases Him and to stay away from what angers Him. It is not fear alone, and it is not a feeling only. It shows in choices: the extra second before you speak, the deal you refuse, the prayer you get up for. A person of taqwa is a muttaqi, plural muttaqun.
The word
Taqwa comes from wiqayah, a shield or protection. To have taqwa of something is to put a barrier between yourself and its harm. To have taqwa of Allah is to put obedience between yourself and His punishment. A well-known saying, often quoted in tafsir books, compares it to walking a path full of thorns with your clothes gathered up, watching every step. We could not confirm a strong chain for it, so take it as wise words, not a hadith.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ ﴿١٣﴾
Yaaa ayyuhan naasu innaa khalaqnaakum min zakarinw wa unsaa wa ja'alnaakum shu'oobanw wa qabaaa'ila lita'aarafoo inna akramakum 'indal laahi atqaakum innal laaha 'Aleemun khabeer
O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.
Quran 49:13 · Sahih International · Read in Surah Al-Hujurat
Taqwa in the Quran
Taqwa runs through the whole Quran. It opens by calling itself "guidance for those conscious of Allah" (2:2). Fasting is prescribed "that you may become righteous" (la'allakum tattaqun, 2:183). On Hajj: "take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allah" (2:197). And its reward:
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍۢ وَأَشْهِدُوا۟ ذَوَىْ عَدْلٍۢ مِّنكُمْ وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلشَّهَٰدَةَ لِلَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ يُوعَظُ بِهِۦ مَن كَانَ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ ۚ وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا ﴿٢﴾ وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا ﴿٣﴾
Fa izaa balaghna ajalahunna fa amsikoohunna bima'roofin aw faariqoohunna bima'roofinw wa ashhidoo zawai 'adlim minkum wa aqeemush shahaadata lillaah; zaalikum yoo'azu bihee man kaana yu'minu billaahi wal yawmil aakhir; wa many yattaqil laaha yaj'al lahoo makhrajaa Wa yarzuqhu min haisu laa yahtasib; wa many yatawakkal 'alal laahi fahuwa husbuh; innal laaha baalighu amrih; qad ja'alal laahu likulli shai'in qadraa
(2) And when they have [nearly] fulfilled their term, either retain them according to acceptable terms or part with them according to acceptable terms. And bring to witness two just men from among you and establish the testimony for [the acceptance of] Allah. That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (3) And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
Quran 65:2-3 · Sahih International · Read in Surah At-Talaq
Taqwa in the hadith
التَّقْوَى هَاهُنَا
"Taqwa is here," and he pointed to his chest three times.
Sahih Muslim 2564, from Abu Hurayrah
اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ، وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا، وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ
"Have taqwa of Allah wherever you are, follow a bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out, and treat people with good character."
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1987, from Abu Dharr and Muadh ibn Jabal, graded hasan
Taqwa lives in the heart, but the second hadith shows its fruit: private obedience, quick repentance and good manners with people.
Levels of taqwa
Scholars describe taqwa in rising levels. The first is guarding yourself from shirk, which saves a person from eternal punishment. The second is keeping away from the major sins and doing the obligations. The third, the taqwa of the righteous, is leaving even doubtful things out of caution. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Leave what makes you doubt for what does not make you doubt" (Jami at-Tirmidhi 2518, from al-Hasan ibn Ali, graded hasan sahih). Allah asks for as much as we can give: "So fear Allah as much as you are able" (64:16).
Taqwa and tawakkul
The promise of 65:2-3 joins the two: whoever has taqwa, Allah gives a way out, and whoever relies on Allah, He is enough for them. Taqwa is doing your part by obeying; tawakkul is leaving the result to Him. Neither replaces effort, and neither works without the other.
How to build taqwa
- Guard the five daily prayers on time; they are the core of taqwa in action.
- Fast, including the sunnah fasts. Fasting trains you to leave even the halal for Allah's sake.
- Before a decision, ask: would I do this if I could see Allah watching? (That is the bridge to ihsan.)
- Keep away from doubtful matters, as the Prophet ﷺ taught, to protect your religion.
- Keep good company, and make istighfar daily.
How the word is used today
Muslims say someone "has taqwa" when they are careful about halal and haram and sincere in worship. "Taqwa" is the theme of many khutbahs, because every Friday sermon traditionally opens with the command to fear Allah. Taqwa is also a common name.
Related terms
- Quran 49:13, 2:2, 2:183, 2:197, 65:2-3 and 64:16, translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih Muslim 2564.
- Jami at-Tirmidhi 1987 and 2518.
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 2:2, on the saying about the path of thorns.