As God is Compassionate and Benevolent to His servants and...

As God is Compassionate and Benevolent to His servants and does not like them to be exposed to those sins, He has considered Taqwa against sins as something obligatory and has enjoined it repeatedly. The Verse 219 in the Quranic chapter (al-Baqarah :the Cow (2)), is an example.

Allah has said: “And when it is said to them: guard against what is before you and what is behind you, that mercy may be had on you.” [^10] Elsewhere God has said: “Surely those who guard (against evil), when a visitation from Satan afflicts them, they become mindful, then lo!

They see.” [^11] Being asked about the meaning of the verse, Imam Sadiq (AS) said: “It is a sin that one intends to commit, but he will give it up when he remembers God.”[^12] There is a verse in the Holy Quran about a hypocrite called al-Akhnas ath-Thaqafi. He was a good-looking and eloquent man.

One day, he came to the Messenger of Allah (SAW) to announce his allegiance, but God informed the Holy Prophet (SAW) of his hypocrisy: “And among men is he whose speech about the life of this world causes you to wonder, and he calls on Allah to witness as to what is in his heart, yet he is the most violent of adversaries. And when he turns back, he runs along in the land that he may cause mischief in it and destroy the tilth and the stock, and Allah does not love mischief-making.

And when it is said to him: guard against (the punishment of) Allah; pride carries him off to sin; therefore, hell is sufficient for him, and certainly it is an evil resting place.” [^13] In relation to the Hajj, God has said: “…and help one another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression; surely Allah is severe in requiting (evil).” [^14] As for usury, God says: “And guard yourselves against the fire which has been prepared for the unbelievers.” [^15] God has mentioned the word “Taqwa” wherever He has enjoined or forbidden something.

As in the Quran, Taqwa has been recommended in traditions when something has been enjoined or prohibited.