The Eight Talk THE FIRST ASPECT - TAQWA
OR PIETY
Taqwa the first aspect of Ista-aaza
The summary of our discussion is that taqwa
or piety is the first, and foremost, aspect of Ista-aaza.
Therefore, this foremost aspect or pillar must be very
strong and formidable so that the super-structure built
on it too is strong.
The word taqwa is derived from the word waqayat
which means guarding and protecting. In the juridical
sense, abstention from acting against awamir wa
nawahi ( commandments and prohibitions) is termed
taqwa.
It is necessary that taqwa should entrench
itself to such a degree that the very thought of committing
sins becomes abhorrent to us. For example, even if all
the friends join together to encourage a man of piety
to gossip or backbite against another person, he must
desist from doing it. This is termed malikat e taqwa
wherein a tendency develops in a person that he is able
to resist the onslaught of Satan.