When taqwa is mentioned, it would be interpreted as fear of God. This is not so as taqwa does not mean fear. Taqwa towards God does not mean fear of God. Fear of God is one of the attributes of mahmudah which is embodied into the attributes of taqwa, but it is not considered as taqwa. Fear in Arabic language is khauf or khasha.

Taqwa originated from the term waqa-yaqi-wiqoyah which means to preserve. The proof statement is in the verse of the Quran as follows: Meaning: “O you who have attained to faith! Ward off from yourselves and those who are close to you, that fire (of the Hereafter).”(At Tahrim: 6)



God has stipulated in the Quran with the kalimah ittaqu or yattaqi. Additional words to the basic kalimah waqa would alter the meaning. At this instance, ittaqullah means ‘one must take Allah as the One who cares/guards/protects’. God must be taken as the Protector’. God taken as the Fortress or stronghold. Once under God’s protection, within His Fortress or stronghold, negative or dangerous elements would not penetrate or break through. In other words, God is the wall, protection against evil.
The endeavours rendering Allah as the One who cares or protects or be the fortress are by implementing His commands both physically and spiritually. In other words, His commands are meant for developing the attributes of mahmudah. To accumulate and nurture the attributes of mahmudah are the endeavours rendering Allah as the One who cares or protects. To develop the attributes of mahmudah are the efforts towards taqwa.

Taqwa or wiqoyah have been misinterpreted and its intentions have been limited. It’s actually global and comprehensive, like a storage or warehouse for mahmudah (good attributes) consisting of all the attributes of mahmudah. It includes patience, acceptance (redha) , generosity, being loving and caring, charitable with forgiveness vice versa and many other good attributes. The entire mahmudah attributes are considered as taqwa. Thus taqwa meant a great deal. It provides security in this world and the Hereafter.
As such if we say ittaqullah, it would mean; ‘you must take Allah as the One who care for you’. Many of the Islamic terms have been misinterpreted and misused causing the loss of their bliss or barakah. When Islamic terms are in use, somehow there are no associated feelings or sense. For example the term ‘khalwat’ is an honourable word meant as one in a state of solitude with God. It is part of the practices of sufism. However, its interpretation has deviated from the original, now it is meant as the close proximity between man and woman who are not muhram. The same with the term ittaqullah. Every week on Fridays, the term is being called aloud at the mimbar of the mosque, but majority of the congregation (jamaah) could not sense anything. The blessedness or barakah of the term has gone as it has been misinterpreted.

To be someone with taqwa means to be one under God’s protection and care and staying within God’s fortress or stronghold. One is protected, immuned or untouched from external invasions.Someone with taqwa could be considered as one wearing the armour of steel or bulletproof jacket.

Taqwa is the spiritual attire. It is the rituals for the soul. Taqwa is an inner matter involving the rituals of the heart. When sincerely practised and performed, the attributes of mahmudah such as sincerity, just, truthfulness, loving and caring, gentleness, generous, tawadhuk, humbleness, tolerant, humanitarian, patience, redha, tawakal, giving priority to others, forgiveness, trustworthy, consistent, hard working, open heartedness, cooperative, sympathy, compassion and others, will submerge.

The person with taqwa is an extraordinary person as he has the attributes of malaikat. He is a godly person receiving assistance and protection from God with guaranteed security in this world and the Hereafter.