The Essence of the Holy Qur’an

Taqwa: The Best Provision
“Take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is taqwa. Fear Me, o you who understand.”
(Al Quran, Baqarah, 2/197.)

Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Taqwa is to live in the know of one’s material and spiritual responsibilities as a servant of Allah (swt). It is to obey His commandments and earn His approval. It is to turn away from those acts to earn His disapproval, and seek refuge in the shade of His mercy. It is to follow in the Prophet Muhammad’s (saw) footsteps, whom the Almighty Allah (swt) sent to us as the perfect role model and the unique guide.
Only through taqwa is it possible for people to be honored with the divine mercy and protection. The Almighty Allah (swt) states, “O believers! Fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims in submission to Him.” Proper taqwa takes people to always feel as if they are in the presence of Allah (swt), to not show a lack of respect for Him, and to obey Him with deep love. Taqwa, in this sense, is to be concerned about doing acts to earn Allah’s (swt) wrath and appearing with a face down before Him. It is to make preparations in this world for the life in the Hereafter, as commanded by the verse, “O believers! Fear Allah. Let every soul look to what it has put forth for tomorrow.”
Taqwa is the only measure to determine our value in the sight of Allah (swt). This is because the superiority according to Islam does not depend on one’s property, status and authority, profession, race, or gender. This is pointed out clearly in the verse, “The most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” The most virtuous of people are the ones who are honoured with faith, have the clothing of taqwa on, a perfectly clean heart and a record of good deeds. These are the people with whom Allah (swt) is together. Their friend He is. For them are prepared the Paradise and all the unique blessings in it.
Jobayer Al Mahmud