ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Taqwa Part 1 Taqwa in Nahj al-Balaghah The word “taqwa” is emphasized in the compilation of sermons and sayings of Imam Ali (a) collectively known as Nahj al-Balaghah , and it has always been used to mean the habit of strengthening and taming the evil-prompting soul with its unquenchable desires.

In this book, Imam Ali (a) is quoted to have said: إن تقوی الله حمت‏ اولياء الله محارمه و الزمت قلوبهم مخافته حتی اسهرت لياليهم و اظمأت هواجرهم Certainly fear of Allah has saved the lovers of Allah from the unlawful and has given His dread to their hearts till their nights are passed in wakefulness and their noons in thirst.5 In this passage, Imam Ali (a) clearly explains the meaning of “taqwa” as a spiritual state which saves people from committing sins and considers fear of God as one of its results.

Thus, taqwa does not mean "to fear" but one of the consequences of it is that it makes the hearts wary of Allah. As stated in the beginning, ittaqu’llah does not mean the command to “fear God”. In another hadith, Imam ‘Ali (a) says: ذمتی بما أقول رهينه و انا به‏ زعيم. ان من صرحت له العبر عما بين يديه من المثلات حجزته التقوی عن‏ تقحم الشبهات .

الا و ان الخطايا خيل شمس حمل عليها اهلها و خلعت لجمها فتقحمت بهم فی النار الا و ان التقوی مطايا ذلل حمل عليها اهلها و اعطوا ازمتها فاوردتهم الجنه The responsibility for what I say is guaranteed and I am answerable for it.

He to whom experiences have clearly shown the past exemplary punishments (given by Allah to peoples) is prevented by piety from falling into doubts… Beware that sins are like unruly horses on whom their riders have been placed and their reins have been let loose so that they would jump with them in Hell.

Beware that piety is like trained horses on which the riders have been placed with the reins in their hands so that they would take the riders to Heaven.6 In this sermon, the definition of taqwa is to control or to dominate the soul. A person who is not strong enough to disobey his desires and surrenders his control to his soul is likened to an unskilled rider on an unruly horse who lacks willpower.

The prerequisite of taqwa and self-control is increasing one’s willpower and having a spiritual and rational personality, like a wise horseman who skilfully rides his horse, and his horse, in turn, quickly obeys him.