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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Imam ‘Ali’s First Treatise On The Islamic Ethics And Education My Son, I recommend you to God-wariness ========================================== "فإني اوصيك بتقوى الله" The word " taqwa " or "God-wariness" and its derivatives have been used in the Qur’an, Nahj al-Balaghah and other books on tradition, and have a special place in the sermons delivered by the Great Prophet (S) and the Infallible Ones (as) and other men of God.

This word stems from an internal power based on God’s purest belief. If anybody wishes to go God’s genuine ways and if he opposes showing animosity towards these principles, he should possess this worthy attribute. Furthermore, this power is both an impetus for performing one’s duties and a protection against wrong-doing. Of course, factors such as education, conscience, criminal laws, and social modesty may stop a person from doing wrong things, but these are neither general, nor reliable.

The Imam (as) elsewhere has said, "اِنَّ مَن فَارَقَ التَقوى أُغرِيَ بِالّلذّاتِ وَالشَهواتِ وَوَقَعَ في تَيهِ السَّيئَاتِ وَلَزِمَه كَثِيرُ التَبِعاتِ" "Indeed, a person who abandons God-wariness becomes desirous of pleasures and lusts, and enters into the wilderness of evil deeds, and will suffer many evil consequences of his actions”. [^1] Among the leaders of religion, perhaps Imam ‘Ali (as) has spoken on God-wariness and its role more than any other leaders.

In sermon 188 in Nahj al-Balaghah, Imam has enumerated more than 100 attributes for the godwary. At the end of the sermon, Hammam, who was among the listeners, lamented severely, becoming unconscious and passing away immediately.

The Imam (as) at one place calls God-wariness a fortified tower[^2], at another occasion he has called it the best treasure of prosperity[^3] and at another point calls it the best provision for the Hereafter[^4] and at another occasion he calls it a panacea for every defect of the body[^5]. Besides these, God-wariness has two other important effects: i) Anybody possessing God-wariness will have a sort of insight by which he will understand the secrets behind the creation.

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