What Is Taqwa? God-Consciousness

Taqwa (Arabic: تقوى) is pronounced TAQ-waa. A person with taqwa is called muttaqi.

Meaning

Taqwa comes from a root meaning “to guard” or “to shield”. It describes a believer who guards himself or herself from wrongdoing because of awareness of God. English translations use words like “piety”, “righteousness” or “fear of God”, but none quite captures it. It is less like fear of a harsh master and more like the care of someone who loves and reveres God and does not want to disappoint Him.

A classic image explains it: taqwa is like walking carefully along a path full of thorns, lifting your clothes so they are not caught. You see the dangers, and you move with care.

Why it matters

The Qur’an makes taqwa, not race, wealth or family, the true measure of human worth:

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍۢ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَٰكُمْ شُعُوبًۭا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌۭ ﴿١٣﴾

O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.

This verse is one of the foundations of equality in Islam. No one can see another person’s taqwa — it lives in the heart and is known fully only to God — so Muslims are taught not to look down on anyone.

The month of fasting, Ramadan, is described in the Qur’an as a training ground for taqwa (Qur’an 2:183).

Example

“Taqwa is when you’re honest even though no one would ever find out.”

To see how this verse shapes Islam’s view of equality, read Racism and Equality in Islam.