posted on May 18, 2011 13:32
The Reality of Taqwa, its Scope and 10 of its Causes
By Imam Suhaib Webb
An Abridgment of Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Mayara’s Writings
Its Definition
Taqwa means to abandon religious prohibitions and observe religious injunctions. It is defined by Shari’ah as, “A person’s protection from what will harm him in the Hereafter.”
Its Scope
Abandoning the prohibitions and observing the injunctions implies an inner and outer reality. Thus, its
application falls under four types:
1. Abandoning the outer prohibitions (like leaving prayers or smoking weed)
2. Abandoning the inner prohibitions (like envy or despairing His mercy)
3. Observing the outer injunctions (like prayer and being good to one’s neighbors)
4. Observing the inner injunctions (like the love of God and fearing Him)
Gaining Balance
Based on what was mentioned previously, it could be said of a person who observes religious acts, butharbors arrogance in his heart, that his taqwa is unbalanced. The same could also apply to a person who has no malice in h is heart towards others, but fails to observe certain ritual acts.
It is also possible that a person’s heart is balanced, but his outer worship is not. For example, he attends rally after rally, meeting after meeting and class after class, but fails to observe the dawn prayer regularly. This common disease is a sign of an imbalance in a person’s taqwa. The same could also apply to a person who 
observes the ritual acts of worship, but fails to take part in his share of community work. Ponder this, because its possibilities are mind boggling.
The Causes of Taqwa are 10:
1. Fear of worldly punishment
2. Fear of punishment in the Hereafter
3. Hope for rewards in this life
4. Hope for rewards in the Hereafter
5. Fear of being audited in the Hereafter
6. Realization that God sees you
7. Being thankful for His blessings with obedience
8. Knowledge
9. Extolling His magnificence
10. Sincerely loving Him
We ask Allah to make us from the people of taqwa.