Sunday, July 21, 2013

7:26 - And the clothing of Taqwa, that is Best.


يَا بَنِي آدَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَارِي سَوْآتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
 
“O Children of Adam! We have bestowed clothings upon you to cover yourselves and as an adornment;
and the clothing of taqwa, that is BEST.
Such are among the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs) of Allah, that they may remember.”
(Surah Al-A’raf 7:26)

This ayat give profound lessons on the function of taqwa in our lives. The primary purpose of clothing / raiment (the word “libas” in this verse) is to cover ourselves; and in the context of this verse, specifically our private parts (ref: Tafsir ibn Kathir).

Just like how clothing protects and covers our private parts, likewise, taqwa – that drive to perform good deeds and refrain from evil – will prevent us from performing evil deeds & thus exposing the true nature of our evil desires. It is that taqwa that remembers the Day of Recompense, when no atom’s weight of good or evil will be obscured from our sight (99:7-8). ‘Abdul Rahman ibn Zaid ibn Aslam said, “When one has taqwa of Allah, (through this), Allah covers his errors. Hence the ‘clothing’ of taqwa”.

And if we take the general meaning of “libas” – as garment/clothing, then its functions are even more diverse – it is to provide comfort for us, it beautifies us, it defines our identity. Such is taqwa – when we’ve exerted the effort to improve it, it serves these functions to our soul.

So let us remind ourselves on the holistic goals of fasting as mentioned in surah Al-Baqarah 2:183 – to build TAQWA. Focus your fasting & other ibadah this Ramadhan to develop the consciousness of Allah, the enthusiasm and drive to do good deeds, that deliberate “shield” to consciously avoid sins.

May Allah make us amongst those who emerge out of Ramadhan with the most beautiful and comfortable of garments, which will identify us as the 'muttaqun' (the people of taqwa) in His Sights. 

Ameen!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yes indeed,, Barakallaahu fiika