How to explain Taqwa to a child

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﷽

Following is a beautiful share from a dear friend, may Allah bless her family. Posting here to preserve it as a reminder for myself and others إِن شَاءَ اللّٰه 

 Though the title says 'How to explain Taqwa to a child', as I was reading the points mentioned below, my heart was sinking over each one of them because I thought I was guilty of all of them at some point in time in my life. I would even argue it is not just for children. Unfortunately, even some naive Muslims like myself don't really get what Taqwa is and hence anybody can ponder and reflect on it to see where we stand at an individual level with Taqwa of Allah...

 Explain to your children how Taqwa is the major part of our religion and how to instill it in our lives...

 *What is Taqwa?*

*Taqwa* is NOT only about manners...
*Taqwa* is NOT about looking Islamic...
*Taqwa* is NOT about sporting a beard or wearing a Hijab...
*Taqwa* is NOT about the appearance...

*BUT*
  • *Taqwa* is when you miss a prayer, you feel uneasy the whole day...
  • *Taqwa* is when you speak a lie, you feel bad...
  • *Taqwa* is the guilt that follows when you hurt someone knowingly or unknowingly...
  • *Taqwa* is the shame and regret that follows a sin you committed knowing fully how it stands in the sight of Allah...
  • *Taqwa* is when you cannot sleep after disobeying or disrespecting your parents...
  • *Taqwa* is to cry in the depths of the night fearing none but the one above the Arsh...
  • *Taqwa* is the fear that refrains us from sinning when nobody familiar is around...
  • *Taqwa* is the guts and the will to please Allah, even when the whole world is hell-bent on displeasing Him...
  • *Taqwa* is to wear that beard and Hijab for the sole reason of pleasing our Creator and to keep it on as per Sunnah...
  • *Taqwa* is to stay happy and smiling, knowing that this world is a prison for believers...
  • *Taqwa* is the good manners and character we practice for the sake of Allah...
  • *Taqwa* is the struggle to better ourselves according to Islam, with each passing day...
  • *Taqwa* is not just about rising in deen, but about falling, rising again, and never letting go!
  • *Taqwa* is all about what is IN OUR HEARTS.

And if our hearts are filled with proper *Taqwa*, then actions automatically follow...

You are not forced to share...
But as Allah Subhanahu Taala says:
Remind, for the reminder, benefits the believers ✨




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