[Insight] 13 Methods of Adopting Taqwa

An article showing 13 ways in which a person can adopt Taqwa into his life. Taqwa is being mindful of Allah and has been described as creating a barrier between yourself and sins. This barrier will protect oneself from falling into sin and causing the censure of Almighty Allah. A beneficial and inspiring read.

Recite Quran

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Without a doubt, the Quran even when recited without knowing its deep implications, has an impact on those who read it. A hadith recorded by Imam Bukhari [256 AH] and Imam Muslim [261 AH]  describes an individual who recites Quran as a citron. The wording of the hadith is:

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى الْأَشْعَرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مثل الْمُؤمن الَّذِي يقْرَأ الْقُرْآن كَمثل الْأُتْرُجَّةِ رِيحُهَا طِيبٌ وَطَعْمُهَا طَيِّبٌ وَمَثَلُ الْمُؤْمِنِ الَّذِي لَا يقْرَأ الْقُرْآن كَمثل التمرة لَا ريح لَهَا وطعمها حلوومثل الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ كَمَثَلِ الْحَنْظَلَةِ لَيْسَ لَهَا رِيحٌ وَطَعْمُهَا مُرٌّ وَمَثَلُ الْمُنَافِقِ الَّذِي يقْرَأ الْقُرْآن مثل الريحانة رِيحهَا طيب وَطَعْمُهَا مَرٌّ» . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: «الْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ كَالْأُتْرُجَّةِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُ الَّذِي لَا يَقْرَأُ الْقُرْآنَ وَيَعْمَلُ بِهِ كَالتَّمْرَةِ»

Abū Mūsa al-Ash’ari reported God’s messenger as saying, “A be­liever who recites the Qur’ān is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is sweet, a believer who does not recite the Qur’ān is like a date which has no fragrance but has a sweet state, a hypocrite who does not recite the Qur’ān is like the colocynth which has no fragrance and has a better taste, and the hypocrite who recites the Qur’ān is like basil whose fragrance is sweet but whose taste is bitter.” A version has, “A believer who recites the Qur’ān and acts according to it is like a citron, and a believer who does not recite the Qur’ān but acts according to it is like a date.”

Understand the Quran

The next step is to understand the meanings of the Quran. Preferably will be to learn the Arabic language, as this will enable one to grasp the Quran directly, without a medium. Alternatively one can consult reliable translations and commentaries of the Quran, in the english language.

The meanings of the Quran impact its reader, due to its profound and powerful messages. For example the following powerful verse from Surah Baqarah:

وَٱتَّقُوا۟ يَوْمًۭا تُرْجَعُونَ فِيهِ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ ۖ ثُمَّ تُوَفَّىٰ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ مَّا كَسَبَتْ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ ٢٨١

Be mindful of the Day when you will ˹all˺ be returned to Allah, then every soul will be paid in full for what it has done, and none will be wronged. [2:281]

Additionally, the following verse which recalls us to remember the countless favours of Allah:

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٣

Then which of your Lord’s favours will you ˹humans and jinn˺ both deny? [55:13]

Make time for the remembrance of Allah [Dhikr]

Allocating daily some time for the remembrance of Allah, indeed has its benefits. Since the goal of dhikr is to remember Allah, doing so will instill piety in a person. Allah states:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ ذِكْرًۭا كَثِيرًۭا ٤١

O believers! Always remember Allah often [33:41]

 Perfect The Prayers

His prayers will also be a means of protection from sinful acts, as acknowledged in the Quran:

ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ ٤٥

Recite (O Prophet) what is revealed to you of the Book, and establish Salāh . Surely Salāh restrains one from shameful and evil acts. Indeed remembrance of Allah is the greatest of all things. Allah knows what you do. [29:45]

Observe Siyam

Observing fasts other than the obligatory is also a very good method of adopting Taqwa. This method is proven from the Quran. Allah states:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣

O believers! Fasting is prescribed for you—as it was for those before you—so perhaps you will become mindful ˹of Allah˺. [2:183]

Seek Good Company 

Another method proved from the Quran and Sunnah is to keep good company. Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ ٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَكُونُوا۟ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ ١١٩

O  believers! Be mindful of Allah and be with the truthful. [9:119]

A hadith further elucidates this with a insightful parable:

عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ‏ إِنَّمَا مَثَلُ الْجَلِيسِ الصَّالِحِ وَالْجَلِيسِ السَّوْءِ كَحَامِلِ الْمِسْكِ وَنَافِخِ الْكِيرِ فَحَامِلُ الْمِسْكِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْذِيَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَبْتَاعَ مِنْهُ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْهُ رِيحًا طَيِّبَةً وَنَافِخُ الْكِيرِ إِمَّا أَنْ يُحْرِقَ ثِيَابَكَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَجِدَ رِيحًا خَبِيثَةً

Abu Musa reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the parable of good company and a bad company is only that of a seller of musk and a blacksmith. The seller of musk will give you some perfume, you will buy some, or you will notice a good smell. As for the blacksmith, he will burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell.” [Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5534, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2628]

Sit in gatherings of knowledge

Related to the previous method, sitting in gatherings of knowledge surely has its virtues. A hadith declares:

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَا يَقْعُدُ قَوْمٌ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ إِلَّا حَفَّتْهُمْ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَغَشِيَتْهُمْ الرَّحْمَةُ وَنَزَلَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ السَّكِينَةُ وَذَكَرَهُمْ اللَّهُ فِيمَنْ عِنْدَهُ

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “No people gather to remember Allah Almighty but that the angels surround them, cover them with mercy, send tranquility upon them, and mention them to Allah among those near to Him.” [Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2700]

Undoubtedly, those around us have some influence on us. Being in the circles of knowledge where the Angels descend, the words of Allah and his beloved Messenger [Allah bless him] are recited, surely has an excellent effect.

Read Islamic literature

وَقُل رَّبِّ زِدْنِى عِلْمًۭا ١١٤

And pray, “My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” [20:114]

Reading has many benefits, and everyone should dedicate some portion of time to reading. Through reading one’s knowledge will increase and this will become a means of him drawing closer to Allah. Hence, increasing his Taqwa and being conscious of Allah.

A hadith in this regard states:

طَلَبُ الْعِلْمِ فَرِيضَةٌ عَلَى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim.

Source: Sunan Ibn Mājah 224, Grade: Sahih 

Be Grateful

وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ٧

And ˹remember˺ when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more. [14:7]

Being grateful is also an efficient way of remembering Allah. As a person is grateful for the blessings of Allah, this will lead his heart to remember Allah at many occasions.

The highest form of gratitude is a person’s actions in accordance with the pleasure of Allah, and this is the purpose of Taqwa.

Form an Intention

Forming an Intention is the beginning of change. Once a genuine Intention of reform is formed, a person will be more cautious of his actions and statements. The famous hadith of intention should always be kept in mind:

عَنْ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَبِي حَفْصٍ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: ” إنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ، وَإِنَّمَا لِكُلِّ امْرِئٍ مَا نَوَى، فَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ إلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ فَهِجْرَتُهُ إلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ، وَمَنْ كَانَتْ هِجْرَتُهُ لِدُنْيَا يُصِيبُهَا أَوْ امْرَأَةٍ يَنْكِحُهَا فَهِجْرَتُهُ إلَى مَا هَاجَرَ إلَيْهِ”

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Actions are (judged) by motives (niyyah), so each man will have what he intended. Thus, he whose migration (hijrah) was to Allah and His Messenger, his migration is to Allah and His Messenger; but he whose migration was for some worldly thing he might gain, or for a wife he might marry, his migration is to that for which he migrated.” [Bukhari & Muslim]

Invoke Allah Alone

Making Dua to Allah helps to establish a connection with Allah. Once a person makes a habit of invoking Allah for his needs, this will help to build his relationship with Allah. This will lead to him being more conscious of Allah, in his day to day life. The following Dua is very beneficial:

اللهم إني أسئلك الهدى والتقى والعفاف والغنى

[Sahih Muslim]

Ascribe all achievements to Allah

The prohibition of pride is crystal clear from the Quran and Ahadith. A Hadith recorded by Imam Tirmidhi indicates to its severity:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ لاَ يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ مِنْ كِبْرٍ وَلاَ يَدْخُلُ النَّارَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ ‏”‏

Abdullah [Allah bless him[ narrated that the Messenger of Allah [Allah bless him] said:

“Whoever has a mustard seed’s weight of pride (arrogance) in his heart, shall not be admitted into Paradise. And whoever has a mustard seed’s weight of faith in his heart, shall not be admitted into the Fire.” [Tirmidhi: [61] 1998]

Although there is nothing wrong with feeling satisfied with one’s achievements, one should still ascribe these achievements to the grace of Allah. The Prophet Shu’aib [Allah bless him] words regarding this are recorded in the Quran:

وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ ٨٨

My success comes only through Allah. In Him I trust and to Him I turn. [11:88]

So every effort to remove pride from the heart should be made, as this will damage a person’s faith, therefore will affect his Taqwa.

Remember Death

Death. There is something that we will all go through. Allah allow us to leave this world, in a state in which he is happy with us. It has been described in the hadith as the destroyer of pleasures:

عَنْ أَنَسٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَرَّ بِجَمَاعَةٍ يَضْحَكُونَ وَيَلْعَبُونَ فَقَالَ أَكْثِرُوا ذِكْرَ هَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ يَعْنِي الْمَوْتَ

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, passed by a group who were laughing and playing. The Prophet said, “Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death.”

Remembering death makes a person more cautious of his actions and statements, hence he will be more mindful of Allah.

Methods of adopting Taqwa

• Recite Quran
• Understand the Quran
• Make Dhikr
• Offer the prayers perfectly
• Fast
• Good company
• Sit in gatherings of knowledge
• Read Islamic Literature
• Be Grateful
• Form an intention
• Make Dua
• Ascribe all achievements to Allah
• Remember Death