God-Almighty said: Verily righteousness and prosperity belong to pious people.

God-Almighty said: Verily righteousness and prosperity belong to pious people.” [^4] In some of the traditions, piety has been introduced as the most important factor for self-perfection and purification as well as the most effective medicine for curing the psychic diseases. The Commander of the Faithful Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) said: قال على عليه السلام: فان تقوى الله دوادا قلوبكم وصبر عمى افئدتكم وشفا مرض اجسادكم وصلاح فساد صدوركم وطهور دنس انفسكم وجلا غشا ابصاركم. امن فزع جاشكم وضيا سواد ظلمتكم.

“Piety is the only cure for wickedness of your heart. It is the Divine Light to expel darkness of your heart. It is a remedy for your ailing mind. It is the only way of improvement for your corrupt soul. It purifies your conscience. It brings back sight to the eyes blinded by ignorance of truth.” [^5] Piety, Objective Behind the Divine Commands In Islam the piety has been introduced as a genuine moral virtue and the real aim for explanation of (Divine) Commandments.

Following are some of the examples God-Almighty said in Holy Qur’an: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ “Oh mankind! Worship your Lord, who hath created you and those before you, so that you may ward off (evil). (2:21) And said: كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ “O you believe!

Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil). (2:183) And said: لَن يَنَالَ اللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَاؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ التَّقْوَىٰ مِنكُمْ “Their flesh and their blood reach not God, but the devotion from you reacheth him. (22:37) And said: وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ “So make provisions for yourself (Hereafter ); for the best provision is to ward off evil.

(2:197) Therefore, it could be seen that the aim behind explaining some of these commandments or worships is actually to encourage people to acquire piety by performing those particular acts of worships.

Piety in Islam have been attached so much importance that it has been introduced as the sole criteria for the acceptance of other deeds, so much so that the deed without piety shall be worthless and will not be accepted: The Holy Qur’an said: إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ “God accepteth only from those who ward off evil. (5:27) The Holy Prophet (S) said to Abu Dharr: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وعليه: يا اباذر!

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