Earlier in my blog 'Sins of the Heart, one of the anti-viruses for healing the heart/soul is 'Taqwa'. When I was a young child, I thought that anything 'Islamic' was for the old people, that is in preparation for the Hereafter. Of course I was 'Dead Wrong'.
You can find the definition of Taqwa in Islam, taken from the Islamic dictionary online:
Taqwa is a concept in Islam that is interpreted by some Islamic Scholars as God consciousness. It has many further understandings and interpretations. Taqwa may mean piousness, fear of Allah, love for Allah, and self restraint.
For a start Taqwa is to refrain oneself from doing things that dipleases Allah and do the things that He The Al-Mighty requires us to do. Everything in life has two sides or two paths to choose from, good or bad. Just do the good things and leave the bad, starting from the smallest things, everyday in our lives. Similar to the English proverb, 'Win the small battles and you will win the War'. Or is it the other way around. This way you don't have to make New Year resolutions like - I wanna be good this year, especially now that the New Year is approaching. To my young children, think simply, you are a Muslim (Islam Pillar 1 upheld), if before:
- you missed prayers, now you don't ( Hablumminallah, you accomplish Islam Pillar 2)
- you missed fasting in Ramadhan, now you don't ( you accomplish Islam Pillar 3)
- you missed paying zakat, now you do not forget (you accomplish Islam Pillar 4)
- you have not performed Hajj, now make the effort to perform Hajj when you are ready (trying to accomplish Islam Pillar 5)
- you used to talk back to your mom, now talk to her (Be good to your Mom-do not make her cry)
- you get angry if mom doesn't agree with you, now calm down and make her understand what you mean (Curb your anger);
- you are jealous of your friend's success, now share his/her achievements instead (Avoid hasad/ill feelings);
- you have to earn to get what you want, now work hard to earn it (Patience in practice);
- you don't care for other people, now do ( Hablumminannas)
If you do:
- your prayers and abstain from doing bad things (you belive in Iman Pillar 1)
- all things that Rasullullah s.a.w. ask of you or emulate his and all other Rasul and Nabi's behaviour (you belive in Iman Pillar 2)
- bad things and know that the angels will write them in your books, likewise the good ( you believe in Iman Pillar 3)
- you missed reading Quran, now read and understand more ( you accomplish Iman Pillar 4)
- good things and believe that the rewards will be in the Hereafter (you believe in Iman Pillar 5)
- live your life to the 'fullest' and knowing that whatever sustenance is from God (you believe in Iman Pillar 6)
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