Taqwa
الٓمٓ ١
Alif. Lām. Mīm.
ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًۭى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ ٢
ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَـٰهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ٣
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ ٤
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ عَلَىٰ هُدًۭى مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُفْلِحُونَ ٥
2:1 Alif, Lam, Mim. (These are the names of three letters from the Arabic alphabet, probably indicating that this inimitable Revelation, the Qur'an, is made of this Arabic alphabet. Only Allah Knows their meaning here)
2:2 That is the Book, there is no suspicion about it, a guidance to the pious
2:3 Who believe in the Unseen, and keep up the prayer, and expend of what We have provided them
2:4 And who believe in what has been sent down to you, and what has been sent down (even) before you, and they constantly have certitude in the Hereafter
2:5 Those are upon guidance from their, and those are they who are the prosperers
[Al-Quran, Surah alBaqarah, ayaat 1-5, Translation: Muhammad Mahmoud Ghali]
The triliteral root wāw qāf yā (و ق ي) occurs 258 times in The Quran in eight derived forms. Mostly, the derived forms are translated as fear, consciousness, righteousness, ... except in three derived forms where it is clear that it is a form of protection, a defence, a shield:
So, a muttaqi is one who is earnestly seeking the protection of Allah عزوجل , and therefore keeping his/her duty towards Allah عزوجل , as per the guidance provided in the scriptures He has revealed through His Prophets and Messengers.
It is not for a bashr to speak with Allah except from behind a veil (Q42:51).
The Quran mentions that Adam hid himself from Allah عزوجل , after he lost his clothing. It goes on to state that even though clothing has been provided to the sons of Adam عليه السلام, yet the Libas-e-Taqwa was the best, and that it is from the Signs of Allah (وَلِبَاسُ التَّقۡوٰى ۙ ذٰ لِكَ خَيۡرٌ ؕ ذٰ لِكَ مِنۡ اٰيٰتِ اللّٰهِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَذَّكَّرُوۡنَ ... Q7:26).
When Moses (Musa عليه السلام) requested to see Allah ﷻ , he was told that you certainly cannot see Me, and when Allah ﷻ revealed His Glory to the mountain, the mountain disintegrated, and Moses (Musa عليه السلام) fell unconscious (... قَالَ رَبِّ اَرِنِىۡۤ اَنۡظُرۡ اِلَيۡكَ ؕ قَالَ لَنۡ تَرٰٮنِىۡ وَلٰـكِنِ انْظُرۡ اِلَى الۡجَـبَلِ فَاِنِ اسۡتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهٗ فَسَوۡفَ تَرٰٮنِىۡ ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلّٰى رَبُّهٗ لِلۡجَبَلِ جَعَلَهٗ دَكًّا وَّخَرَّ مُوۡسٰى صَعِقًا ۚ ... Q7:143).
Allah ﷻ is the Noor of the skies and earth. Noor is probably the highest kind of electromagnetic radiation, as discussed in another post. There are all sorts of electromagnetic radiations, and various intensities of energy.
Fire emits radiation, but itself it is a thermal energy, a plasma of sub atomic particles at very high energies. Fire burns. The Quran repeatedly warns of The Fires of Hereafter, and invites people to become pious, if they wish to be saved from endlessly burning in The Fire.
Surah an-Nahl (The Honey Bee) presents the example of protective clothing:
وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّمَّا خَلَقَ ظِلَـٰلًۭا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ أَكْنَـٰنًۭا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ سَرَٰبِيلَ تَقِيكُمُ ٱلْحَرَّ وَسَرَٰبِيلَ تَقِيكُم بَأْسَكُمْ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يُتِمُّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْلِمُونَ ٨١
And Allah has provided you shade out of what He created, and has given you shelter in the mountains. He has also provided you with clothes protecting you from the heat ˹and cold˺, and armour shielding you in battle. This is how He perfects His favour upon you, so perhaps you will ˹fully˺ submit ˹to Him˺.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
And Allāh has made for you, from that which He has created, shadows [i.e., shade] and has made for you from the mountains, shelters and has made for you garments which protect you from the heat and garments [i.e., coats of mail] which protect you from your [enemy in] battle. Thus does He complete His favor upon you that you might submit [to Him].
— Saheeh International
[Al-Quran, Surah anNahl, ayat 81]
In the Space Age, we are familiar with the protective suits worn by astronauts to protect them from radiation-exposure. Closer to home, fire fighters wear fire-resistant clothing. Ideally, we want to be protected from exposure.
The Quran is an early-warning system. It warns us of an endless, painful, debilitating penalty prepared for the criminals. It repeatedly emphasises the need for Taqwa of Allah عزوجل , whose protection is the only protection that will be available on the Day of Judgement.
Those who are held back for their crimes will have to endure the Fires of Hell (contained within Earth, as discussed in another post), and those who are allowed to ascend towards the Gardens of Eternity will need their protective natural clothing, shielding them from harmful radiations, so that they are safe and no longer in danger.
We need to become pious.
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Related posts:
Gamma Rays, Visible Light & The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Fuel of Hell: Humans and Stones
The Natural Clothing links page as discussed in various posts
Last updated on: March 10, 2025
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