The Triangle of Virtue: Fasting, Taqwa, and The Qur’an

Anxiety and nervousness are inevitable symptoms indicating the imminence of Ramadan.
People seem to have the same feeling of butterflies in their stomach whenever Ramadan draws
near. We usually become more alert and extremely careful as Ramadan gets closer and closer

Why do we have this anxiety? What is it and what really happens to us? Is this a positive
feeling? Are we betraying our faithfulness to Allah when we experience such weird feelings?
Even though we know that this is Ramadan, a month of Mercy and worship?
There is always a sense of concern and restlessness that swarms all over our minds and hearts
whenever we think of the commencement of Ramadan. Not because of the anticipation of
moon-fighting, but for another fundamental reason – the reason why fasting Ramadan was
prescribed to us in the first place.
We are probably experiencing the Ramadan syndrome or the essence of fasting Ramadan,
Taqwa – ‘righteousness’ and fearing Allah.

It can confidently be said that this is the main objective of fasting in general which we are all
required to observe throughout the whole blessed month of Ramadan and onward.
Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala says:

‫ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﺁَﻡَﻥُوﺎ ﻙُﺕِﺏَ ﻉَﻝَﻱْﻙُﻡُ اﻠﺺِّﻱَاﻢُ ﻙَﻡَﺍ ﻙُﺕِﺏَ ﻉَﻝَﻯ‬
183) َ‫اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﻡِﻥْ ﻕَﺏْﻝِﻙُﻡْ ﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻙُﻡْ ﺕَﺕَّﻕُوﻦ‬

“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye
may become righteous (achieve Taqwa).” AlBaqara 2:183.
Taqwa is also one of the main objectives of the revelation of the Qur’an. Allah subhanahu wa
ta’aala says:

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The Triangle of Virtue: Fasting, Taqwa, and The Qur’an

28) َ‫ﻕُﺭْﺁَﻥًﺍ ﻉَﺭَﺏِﻱًّﺍ ﻍَﻱْﺭَ ﺫِﻱ ﻉِﻭَﺝٍ ﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻩُﻡْ ﻱَﺕَّﻕُوﻦ‬

“(It is) a Qur’an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may become
righteous (achieve Taqwa).” Az-zumar 39:28.
And here we see that the Qur’an was revealed in Ramadan:

ٍ‫ﺵَﻩْﺭُ ﺭَﻡَﺽَاﻦَ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺃُﻥْﺯِﻝَ ﻑِﻳﻪِ اﻞْﻕُﺭْﺁَﻥُ ﻩُﺩًﻯ ﻝِﻟﻦَّاﺲِ ﻭَﺏَﻱِّﻥَاﺖ‬

ُ‫ﻡِﻥَ اﻞْﻩُﺩَﻯ ﻭَاﻞْﻑُﺭْﻕَاﻦِ ﻑَﻡَﻥْ ﺵَﻩِﺩَ ﻡِﻥْﻙُﻡُ اﻠﺶَّﻩْﺭَ ﻑَﻝْﻱَﺹُﻡْﻩ‬
ُ‫ﻭَﻡَﻥْ ﻙَاﻦَ ﻡَﺭِﻳﺾًﺍ ﺃَﻭْ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﺱَﻑَﺭٍ ﻑَﻉِﺩَّﺓٌ ﻡِﻥْ ﺃَﻱَّاﻢٍ ﺃُﺥَﺭَ ﻱُﺭِﻳﺪ‬
‫اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺏِﻙُﻡُ اﻞْﻱُﺱْﺭَ ﻭَﻝَﺍ ﻱُﺭِﻳﺪُ ﺏِﻙُﻡُ اﻞْﻉُﺱْﺭَ ﻭَﻝِﺕُﻙْﻡِﻝُوﺎ‬
ْ‫اﻞْﻉِﺩَّﺓَ ﻭَﻝِﺕُﻙَﺏِّﺭُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﻡَﺍ ﻩَﺩَاﻚُﻡْ ﻭَﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻙُﻡ‬
(185) َ‫ﺕَﺵْﻙُﺭُوﻦ‬

“Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear
(signs) for guidance and a criterion (between right and wrong)…” AlBaqarah 2:185
The observation of Taqwa is also a method of acquiring this criterion. Allah subhanahu wa
ta’aala says:

ْ‫ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﺁَﻡَﻥُوﺎ ﺇِﻥْ ﺕَﺕَّﻕُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻱَﺝْﻉَﻝْ ﻝَﻙُﻡ‬

‫ﻑُﺭْﻕَاﻦًﺍ ﻭَﻱُﻙَﻑِّﺭْ ﻉَﻥْﻙُﻡْ ﺱَﻱِّﺉَاﺖِﻙُﻡْ ﻭَﻱَﻍْﻑِﺭْ ﻝَﻙُﻡْ ﻭَاﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺫُﻭ‬
29) ِ‫اﻞْﻑَﺽْﻝِ اﻞْﻉَﻅِﻳﻢ‬

“O ye who believe! if ye fear Allah, He will grant you a Criterion (to judge between right and
wrong)…” AlAnfaal 8:29.

Fasting Ramadan, the observation of Taqwa (fearing Allah) in Ramadan, and the revelation of
the Qur’an in Ramadan all together form a coherent relationship. They all happen to be in
Ramadan. The three form a triangle of virtue; and hence the aspiration to obtain one cannot
happen perfectly without the other two.
Ramadan cannot be successful without fasting, and fasting cannot be perfect without reciting
the Qur’an. Taqwa is also hard to arrive at if we are to set the Qur’an or fasting aside. It’s a very
powerful relationship.
To clarify this we shall discuss these relationships independently, starting with the main
objective of fasting the month of Ramadan, Taqwa.
Part I: Fasting Ramadan and Taqwa
Ramadan comes every year and people know that. Ironically, regardless of how much they time
they spend in preparation for it, they still come short and get the same feeling of nervousness

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as if they are fasting Ramadan for the first time in their life. And once Ramadan starts, they feel
more relaxed.
Allah subahanahu wa ta’aala said:

55) َ‫ﻭَﺫَﻙِّﺭْ ﻑَﺇِﻥَّ اﻠﺬِّﻙْﺭَﻯ ﺕَﻥْﻑَﻉُ اﻞْﻡُﺅْﻡِﻥِﻳﻦ‬

“But remind (them), for indeed the reminder benefits the believer.” AlDhariyaat 51:55.
Some people are always alert and in full consciousness of their sense of servitude to Allah.
Therefore, they regularly maintain the five daily prayers. Some need a weekly reminder and
therefore feel their sense of servitude every Friday. Many unfortunately forget a lot, and an
annual reminder is what is needed to bring them back to their sense of servitude to Allah. Other
people however, take this reminder once in their life time. They only remember when they grow
old enough to start thinking of going to Hajj as a declaration of Tawbah.

Ramadan is the blessed month, the annual reminder, the time for many people to reconcile with
their Lord, and for people around to learn how to act as Muslims should. They always try their
best to do well and hope to continue that way. It is a subtle inner struggle with our unsatisfactory
self-worth in terms of the status of our Imaan and the level of our worship. Therefore, during the
month of Ramadan the feeling of guilt arises, the spiritual drive gets higher, and the need for a
commitment and a devotional lifestyle become demanding and more appealing than ever.

People in Ramadan get into the frenzy of Ibaadah in all of its aspects, physical, spiritual,
financial, social…etc, in a manner that is not like any other season of the year. Ramadan
creates a festivity of worship, where people enjoy giving, sacrificing, and devoting their time,
day and night, for the sole purpose of Ibaadah.
This sudden change in attitude and course of conduct comes from inside-outside. Something
affects the heart that sometimes makes even the most notorious people feel compelled to slow
down on their evil and reflect as if they were touched by an angel.

Maybe there was no angelical touch at all, but for sure a spiritual touch changed their hearts.
That is the compelling feeling of Taqwa, the sincere fearing of Allah and the desire to humble
themselves to their Lord, which comes with this blessed month of fasting.

When the Messenger of Allah located the place of Taqwa he pointed to his heart and said:

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“Taqwa is over here” thrice, as in the hadith of Abu Hurayrah reported in Muslim.

He, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, further clarified in a Hadith from Al-Nu’man bin Basheer:
“Indeed there is in the body a piece of flesh which if it is sound then the whole body is sound
and if it is corrupt then the whole body is corrupt. Indeed it is the heart” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
From this we understand that the soundness of the heart means the soundness of Taqwa, the
true experience of fearing Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala. And as a result of that a soundness of
Amal or deeds should reflect on the actions and conduct of that individual.

When people start feeling humble during the month of Ramadan it is because the elements of
Taqwa are creeping into their hearts secretly. That’s why Ramadan was named the month of
Taqwa, and that’s why achieving Taqwa was made one of the main objectives of the fasting of
Ramadan, “that ye may achieve Taqwa.” In another ayah within the context of fasting the month
of Ramadan we read:

187) َ‫ﻙَﺫَﻝِﻙَ ﻱُﺏَﻱِّﻥُ اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺁَﻱَاﺖِﻩِ ﻝِﻟﻦَّاﺲِ ﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻩُﻡْ ﻱَﺕَّﻕُوﻦ‬

“Thus doth Allah make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn Taqwa (become righteous).”
AlBaqarah 2:187.
What do we need Taqwa for?

We all need Taqwa to guarantee the acceptance of our deeds. Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala
says:

27) َ‫ﻕَاﻞَ ﺇِﻥَّﻡَﺍ ﻱَﺕَﻕَﺏَّﻝُ اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﻡِﻥَ اﻞْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬

“Allah doth only accept from those who are righteous (Muttaqeen).” AlMa’edah 5:27
We need Taqwa because the good end in the Hereafter is again for the Muttaqeen, those who
humble themselves in this world and those who are righteous.

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‫ﺕِﻝْﻙَ اﻠﺪَّاﺮُ اﻞْﺁَﺥِﺭَﺓُ ﻥَﺝْﻉَﻝُﻩَﺍ ﻝِﻝَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﻝَﺍ ﻱُﺭِﻳﺪُوﻦَ ﻉُﻝُﻭًّﺍ ﻑِﻱ‬

83) َ‫اﻞْﺃَﺭْﺽِ ﻭَﻝَﺍ ﻑَﺱَاﺪًﺍ ﻭَاﻞْﻉَاﻖِﺏَﺓُ ﻝِﻝْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬

“That home of the Hereafter we shall give to those who intend not high- handedness or mischief
on earth: and the end is (best) for the Righteous (Muttaqeen)” AlQasas 28:83.
We need Taqwa because we are all travelers, on our way to the Hereafter and we need the
provision to help us reach our destination safely. The best provision a person can carry on this
journey to the Hereafter is Taqwa.

َ‫اﻞْﺡَﺝُّ ﺃَﺵْﻩُﺭٌ ﻡَﻉْﻝُوﻢَاﺖٌ ﻑَﻡَﻥْ ﻑَﺭَﺽَ ﻑِﻳﻪِﻥَّ اﻞْﺡَﺝَّ ﻑَﻝَﺍ ﺭَﻑَﺙ‬

ُ‫ﻭَﻝَﺍ ﻑُﺱُوﻖَ ﻭَﻝَﺍ ﺝِﺩَاﻞَ ﻑِﻱ اﻞْﺡَﺝِّ ﻭَﻡَﺍ ﺕَﻑْﻉَﻝُوﺎ ﻡِﻥْ ﺥَﻱْﺭٍ ﻱَﻉْﻝَﻡْﻩ‬
‫اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﻭَﺕَﺯَﻭَّﺩُوﺎ ﻑَﺇِﻥَّ ﺥَﻱْﺭَ اﻠﺰَّاﺪِ اﻠﺖَّﻕْﻭَﻯ ﻭَاﺖَّﻕُوﻦِ ﻱَﺍ ﺃُوﻞِﻱ‬
(197) ِ‫اﻞْﺃَﻝْﺏَاﺐ‬

“…and take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of provisions is Taqwa
(righteousness). So fear me, O ye that are wise.” AlBaqara 2:197
If you have Taqwa you will never feel lonely, because Allah is with you. Ibn Awn rahimahullah
escorted a man on his way out on a long journey and told him: “Adhere to Taqwa (fearing) of
Allah. For the Muttaqee (the righteous one) is never alone.”

And when Ali bin Abi Talib was asked to define Taqwa he said:
“Taqwa is to fear the Most Exalted One, work upon His revelation, become content and ascetic
and always prepare for the departure from this life.”

Omar ibn Al-Khattab once asked Ubay ibn Ka’ab: How would you describe Taqwa? In reply
Ubay asked, “Have you ever had to traverse a thorny path?” Omar replied in the affirmative and
Ubay then continued, “How do you do so?” Omar said that he would carefully walk through after
first having collected all loose and flowing clothing in his hands so nothing gets caught in the
thorn. Ubay said: “This is the definition of Taqwa.”
Taqwa is all about being careful and being conscious of our actions, to make sure they are
sound and right. Taqwa is about being conscious of Allah all the time, the area where people
vary and are distinguished. Allah subahanahu wa ta’aala says:

ْ‫ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻠﻦَّاﺲُ ﺇِﻥَّﺍ ﺥَﻝَﻕْﻥَاﻚُﻡْ ﻡِﻥْ ﺫَﻙَﺭٍ ﻭَﺃُﻥْﺙَﻯ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝْﻥَاﻚُﻡ‬

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ِ‫ﺵُﻉُوﺐًﺍ ﻭَﻕَﺏَاﺊِﻝَ ﻝِﺕَﻉَاﺮَﻑُوﺎ ﺇِﻥَّ ﺃَﻙْﺭَﻡَﻙُﻡْ ﻉِﻥْﺩَ اﻠﻞَّﻩ‬

(13) ٌ‫ﺃَﺕْﻕَاﻚُﻡْ ﺇِﻥَّ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻉَﻝِﻳﻢٌ ﺥَﺏِﻳﺮ‬

“…Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he/she who is) the most righteous of
you…” AlHujuraat 49:13.

Now, if Ramadan is all about Taqwa, and Taqwa is located in the heart, then indeed the true
and most successful fasting would be the fasting of the heart, no more, no less.
Fasting means abstinence, and in the physical realm it’s the abstinence from eating, drinking,
and sexual relations from dawn until sunset. The limit has been set for that. But the true
abstinence is the one that has no limits, the abstinence of the heart from all that which might
inflict and reflect wrong in our actions, statements and deeds.

Ibn Qayyim rahimahullah reflects on this saying that: “The example of the heart is the example
of the king and the limbs are the recruited army. Hence they all go by the orders of their king. If
the king was righteous he would order righteousness and if he was corrupt he would order
corruption.” Aljawab AlKaafi.
Indeed, Taqwa is a degree of sincerity one cannot claim easily. It cannot simply be obtained by
the mere presence of Ramadan; there is a lot on the part of every individual in order to get to
that degree. Nevertheless, Ramadan at least provides and facilitates a tremendous opportunity
to arrive at such level, if the rules of Ramadan were observed righteously.
Part II: The Qur’an and Taqwa

There is no doubt that the Qur’an is the book of Allah, His eternal word and divine miracle.
Muslims know that and believe it with all their hearts. They know it was sent down to
Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, in order to guide humanity to the straight path which
leads to success in this life and in the Hereafter.

‫اﻠﺮ ﻙِﺕَاﺐٌ ﺃَﻥْﺯَﻝْﻥَاﻪُ ﺇِﻝَﻱْﻙَ ﻝِﺕُﺥْﺭِﺝَ اﻠﻦَّاﺲَ ﻡِﻥَ اﻠﻆُّﻝُﻡَاﺖِ ﺇِﻝَﻯ‬

1) ِ‫اﻠﻦُّوﺮِ ﺏِﺇِﺫْﻥِ ﺭَﺏِّﻩِﻡْ ﺇِﻝَﻯ ﺹِﺭَاﻂِ اﻞْﻉَﺯِﻳﺰِ اﻞْﺡَﻡِﻳﺪ‬

“A. L. R. a Book which we have revealed unto thee, In order that Thou might lead humanity from
the depths of darkness into light – by the leave of their Lord – to the way of (Him), the Exalted In
power, worthy of all praise!”

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Allah, subahanahu wa ta’aala, has set the criterion of reward for the Day of Judgment. Taqwa
and righteousness will be the key to the heavenly bliss so long as the principle of Tawheed is
intact.

ْ‫ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻠﻦَّاﺲُ ﺇِﻥَّﺍ ﺥَﻝَﻕْﻥَاﻚُﻡْ ﻡِﻥْ ﺫَﻙَﺭٍ ﻭَﺃُﻥْﺙَﻯ ﻭَﺝَﻉَﻝْﻥَاﻚُﻡ‬

ِ‫ﺵُﻉُوﺐًﺍ ﻭَﻕَﺏَاﺊِﻝَ ﻝِﺕَﻉَاﺮَﻑُوﺎ ﺇِﻥَّ ﺃَﻙْﺭَﻡَﻙُﻡْ ﻉِﻥْﺩَ اﻠﻞَّﻩ‬
(13) ٌ‫ﺃَﺕْﻕَاﻚُﻡْ ﺇِﻥَّ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻉَﻝِﻳﻢٌ ﺥَﺏِﻳﺮ‬
“…Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he/she who is) the most righteous of
you…” AlHujuraat 49:13

Therefore, it is not surprising that the concept of Taqwa and righteousness is mentioned
constantly and continuously in all the divine revelations.
Allah says:

‫ﻭَﻝِﻝَّﻩِ ﻡَﺍ ﻑِﻱ اﻠﺲَّﻡَاﻮَاﺖِ ﻭَﻡَﺍ ﻑِﻱ اﻞْﺃَﺭْﺽِ ﻭَﻝَﻕَﺩْ ﻭَﺹَّﻱْﻥَﺍ‬

َ‫اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﺃُوﺖُوﺎ اﻞْﻙِﺕَاﺐَ ﻡِﻥْ ﻕَﺏْﻝِﻙُﻡْ ﻭَﺇِﻱَّاﻚُﻡْ ﺃَﻥِ اﺖَّﻕُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩ‬
ِ‫ﻭَﺇِﻥْ ﺕَﻙْﻑُﺭُوﺎ ﻑَﺇِﻥَّ ﻝِﻝَّﻩِ ﻡَﺍ ﻑِﻱ اﻠﺲَّﻡَاﻮَاﺖِ ﻭَﻡَﺍ ﻑِﻱ اﻞْﺃَﺭْﺽ‬
(131) ‫ﻭَﻙَاﻦَ اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﻍَﻥِﻱًّﺍ ﺡَﻡِﻳﺪًﺍ‬

“For Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. And truly We have enjoined on those
who were given the Scriptures before you, and you yourselves, that you shall all be
God-fearing…” An-nisaa’ 4:131.
The early scriptures were ultimately sent down to serve the purpose of developing God-fearing
individuals, and nourishing the concept of Taqwa amongst the followers of the Messengers of
Allah.
Concerning the Torah; Allah says:

‫ﻭَﻝَﻕَﺩْ ﺁَﺕَﻱْﻥَﺍ ﻡُوﺲَﻯ ﻭَﻩَاﺮُوﻦَ اﻞْﻑُﺭْﻕَاﻦَ ﻭَﺽِﻱَاءً ﻭَﺫِﻙْﺭًﺍ‬

48) َ‫ﻝِﻝْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬

“In the past we granted to Moses and Aaron the Criterion (for judgment), and a light and a
‘revealed’ reminder for the God-fearing –AlMuttaqeen.” AlAnbiyaa’ 21:48
Then down came the Injeel –Gospel- of ‘Isa with the same message. Allah says:

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َ‫ﻭَﻕَﻑَّﻱْﻥَﺍ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﺁَﺙَاﺮِﻩِﻡْ ﺏِﻉِﻳﺲَﻯ اﺐْﻥِ ﻡَﺭْﻱَﻡَ ﻡُﺹَﺩِّﻕًﺍ ﻝِﻡَﺍ ﺏَﻱْﻥ‬

ٌ‫ﻱَﺩَﻱْﻩِ ﻡِﻥَ اﻠﺖَّﻭْﺭَاﺔِ ﻭَﺁَﺕَﻱْﻥَاﻪُ اﻞْﺇِﻥْﺝِﻳﻞَ ﻑِﻳﻪِ ﻩُﺩًﻯ ﻭَﻥُوﺮ‬
ً‫ﻭَﻡُﺹَﺩِّﻕًﺍ ﻝِﻡَﺍ ﺏَﻱْﻥَ ﻱَﺩَﻱْﻩِ ﻡِﻥَ اﻠﺖَّﻭْﺭَاﺔِ ﻭَﻩُﺩًﻯ ﻭَﻡَﻭْﻉِﻅَﺓ‬
(46) َ‫ﻝِﻝْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬

“And in their footsteps We sent ‘Isa the son of Maryam, confirming the Law that had come
before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light, and confirmation of the
Law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah.”
AlMaa’eda 5:46
The Qur’an came down lastly to confirm the previous revelations and to reaffirm the religious
guidance they once provided to their followers.

ِ‫ﻭَﺃَﻥْﺯَﻝْﻥَﺍ ﺇِﻝَﻱْﻙَ اﻞْﻙِﺕَاﺐَ ﺏِاﻞْﺡَﻕِّ ﻡُﺹَﺩِّﻕًﺍ ﻝِﻡَﺍ ﺏَﻱْﻥَ ﻱَﺩَﻱْﻩ‬

َ‫ﻡِﻥَ اﻞْﻙِﺕَاﺐِ ﻭَﻡُﻩَﻱْﻡِﻥًﺍ ﻉَﻝَﻱْﻩِ ﻑَاﺢْﻙُﻡْ ﺏَﻱْﻥَﻩُﻡْ ﺏِﻡَﺍ ﺃَﻥْﺯَﻝ‬
(48) َ ‫اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﻭَﻝَﺍ ﺕَﺕَّﺏِﻉْ ﺃَﻩْﻭَاءَﻩُﻡْ ﻉَﻡَّﺍ ﺝَاءَﻙَ ﻡِﻥَ اﻠﺤﻖ‬

“To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the Scripture that came before it, and as a
guardian over it…” Al Maa’eda 5:48
Taqwa, as stated previously, was one of the main objectives of this revelation, the revelation of
the Qur’an. Allah subhanahu wa ta’aala says:

28) َ‫ﻕُﺭْﺁَﻥًﺍ ﻉَﺭَﺏِﻱًّﺍ ﻍَﻱْﺭَ ﺫِﻱ ﻉِﻭَﺝٍ ﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻩُﻡْ ﻱَﺕَّﻕُوﻦ‬

“(It is) a Qur’an in Arabic, without any crookedness (therein): in order that they may become
righteous (achieve Taqwa).” Az-zumar 39:28.
The Qur’an, being the last testament and the final revelation Allah sent down to mankind, made
its call to build God-fearing people very clear.
In a basic search of the paradigm of the Arabic word ‫ ﺗﻘوﻰ‬or ‘Taqwa’ we find over 230 locations
in the Qur’an. More than half of this number is found only in the first third of the Qur’an,
according to the order of the Mus’haaf.
The subject of Taqwa was covered thoroughly in the Qur’an in different ways. In the form of
command Allah mandates Taqwa for his servants:

‫ﻱَﺍ ﺃَﻱُّﻩَﺍ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﺁَﻡَﻥُوﺎ اﺖَّﻕُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﺡَﻕَّ ﺕُﻕَاﺖِﻩِ ﻭَﻝَﺍ‬

َ‫ﺕَﻡُوﺖُﻥَّ ﺇِﻝَّﺍ ﻭَﺃَﻥْﺕُﻡْ ﻡُﺱْﻝِﻡُوﻦ‬

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“O ye who believe! Fear Allah As He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.”
AlImran 3:101
This explicit command is repeated frequently in the Qur’an. There are many Ayat in the Qur’an
that begin, “O ye who believe! fear Allah.”
Taqwa was mentioned in the Qur’an as one of the injunctions Allah prescribed upon those who
preceded us, as explained earlier, and hence was perceived as one of the highly praised
qualities of the righteous throughout time.
Those who acquire Taqwa are those who believe in the revelation:

33) َ‫ﻭَاﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺝَاءَ ﺏِاﻠﺺِّﺩْﻕِ ﻭَﺹَﺩَّﻕَ ﺏِﻩِ ﺃُوﻞَﺉِﻙَ ﻩُﻡُ اﻞْﻡُﺕَّﻕُوﻦ‬

“And He who brings the truth and He who confirms (and supports) it – such are those who are
righteous.” Az-zumar 39:33.
They follow it and benefit from it. Allah says:

ْ‫ﻭَﻩَﺫَﺍ ﻙِﺕَاﺐٌ ﺃَﻥْﺯَﻝْﻥَاﻪُ ﻡُﺏَاﺮَﻙٌ ﻑَاﺖَّﺏِﻉُوﻪُ ﻭَاﺖَّﻕُوﺎ ﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻙُﻡ‬

155) َ‫ﺕُﺭْﺡَﻡُوﻦ‬

“And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be righteous, that ye
may receive mercy.” Al An’aam 6:155
And they realize the good revealed within its verses. Allah says:

‫ﻭَﻕِﻳﻞَ ﻝِﻝَّﺫِﻳﻦَ اﺖَّﻕَﻭْﺍ ﻡَاﺬَﺍ ﺃَﻥْﺯَﻝَ ﺭَﺏُّﻙُﻡْ ﻕَاﻞُوﺎ ﺥَﻱْﺭًﺍ‬

ِ‫ﻝِﻝَّﺫِﻳﻦَ ﺃَﺡْﺱَﻥُوﺎ ﻑِﻱ ﻩَﺫِﻩِ اﻠﺪُّﻥْﻱَﺍ ﺡَﺱَﻥَﺓٌ ﻭَﻝَﺩَاﺮُ اﻞْﺁَﺥِﺭَﺓ‬
(30) َ‫ﺥَﻱْﺭٌ ﻭَﻝَﻥِﻉْﻡَ ﺩَاﺮُ اﻞْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬

“To the righteous (when) it is said, ‘What is it that your Lord has revealed?’ They say, ‘All that is
good.’ To those who do good, there is good in this world, and the abode of the Hereafter is
better and truly excellent indeed is the home of the righteous.” AlNahl 16:30
The Qur’an is a source of guidance to those who are truly God-fearing. Allah says:

2) َ‫( ﺫَﻝِﻙَ اﻞْﻙِﺕَاﺐُ ﻝَﺍ ﺭَﻱْﺏَ ﻑِﻳﻪِ ﻩُﺩًﻯ ﻝِﻝْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬1) ‫اﻠﻢ‬

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The Triangle of Virtue: Fasting, Taqwa, and The Qur’an

“A.L.M. This is the Book; in it is sure guidance, without doubt, for those who fear Allah.”
AlBaqara 2:1-2.
The whole of Al Qur’an was revealed as an admonition and a reminder to the Muttaqeen –the
righteous and those who are God-fearing. Allah says:

(48) َ‫ﻭَﺇِﻥَّﻩُ ﻝَﺕَﺫْﻙِﺭَﺓٌ ﻝِﻝْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬

“But verily this ‘Qur’an’ is a reminder for the Muttaqeen, the God-fearing.” AlHaaqa 69:48
And Allah says:
َ‫ﻭَﻝَﻕَﺩْ ﺃَﻥْﺯَﻝْﻥَﺍ ﺇِﻝَﻱْﻙُﻡْ ﺁَﻱَاﺖٍ ﻡُﺏَﻱِّﻥَاﺖٍ ﻭَﻡَﺙَﻝًﺍ ﻡِﻥَ اﻞَّﺫِﻳﻦ‬
34) َ‫ﺥَﻝَﻭْﺍ ﻡِﻥْ ﻕَﺏْﻝِﻙُﻡْ ﻭَﻡَﻭْﻉِﻅَﺓً ﻝِﻝْﻡُﺕَّﻕِﻳﻦ‬

“We have already sent down to you verses making matters clear, an illustration from (the story
of) people who passed away before you, and an admonition for those who fear Allah.” AlNur
24:34
Ultimately, the Qur’an is a divine message that promotes Taqwa and those who have Taqwa
benefit most from the Qur’an.

The relationship between Taqwa and the Qur’an has been established. Therefore it is not
surprising to add this virtue of the Taqwa-Qur’an relationship to the Fasting-Taqwa and
Ramadan-Qur’an triangle.
Ramadan is called the month of the Qur’an because the revelation of the Qur’an began in
Ramadan.

ٍ‫ﺵَﻩْﺭُ ﺭَﻡَﺽَاﻦَ اﻞَّﺫِﻱ ﺃُﻥْﺯِﻝَ ﻑِﻳﻪِ اﻞْﻕُﺭْﺁَﻥُ ﻩُﺩًﻯ ﻝِﻟﻦَّاﺲِ ﻭَﺏَﻱِّﻥَاﺖ‬

ُ‫ﻡِﻥَ اﻞْﻩُﺩَﻯ ﻭَاﻞْﻑُﺭْﻕَاﻦِ ﻑَﻡَﻥْ ﺵَﻩِﺩَ ﻡِﻥْﻙُﻡُ اﻠﺶَّﻩْﺭَ ﻑَﻝْﻱَﺹُﻡْﻩ‬
ُ‫ﻭَﻡَﻥْ ﻙَاﻦَ ﻡَﺭِﻳﺾًﺍ ﺃَﻭْ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﺱَﻑَﺭٍ ﻑَﻉِﺩَّﺓٌ ﻡِﻥْ ﺃَﻱَّاﻢٍ ﺃُﺥَﺭَ ﻱُﺭِﻳﺪ‬
‫اﻠﻞَّﻩُ ﺏِﻙُﻡُ اﻞْﻱُﺱْﺭَ ﻭَﻝَﺍ ﻱُﺭِﻳﺪُ ﺏِﻙُﻡُ اﻞْﻉُﺱْﺭَ ﻭَﻝِﺕُﻙْﻡِﻝُوﺎ‬
ْ‫اﻞْﻉِﺩَّﺓَ ﻭَﻝِﺕُﻙَﺏِّﺭُوﺎ اﻠﻞَّﻩَ ﻉَﻝَﻯ ﻡَﺍ ﻩَﺩَاﻚُﻡْ ﻭَﻝَﻉَﻝَّﻙُﻡ‬
(185) َ‫ﺕَﺵْﻙُﺭُوﻦ‬

“Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur’an as a guide for humanity, and also
clear (signs) for guidance and Judgment (between right and wrong)…” Albaqara 2:185
Ibn Katheer rahmahullah says in his commentary on this Ayah:
“Allah praised the month of Ramadan beyond other months by choosing to send down the
Glorious Qur’an therein.”

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Ibn Rajab rahimahullah says: “…And the month of Ramadan is distinguished by the Qur’an, as
Allah says: Ramadan is the month in which was sent down the Qur’an.”
The most favorable act of worship performed in this month is recitation of the Qur’an. Occupying
oneself with the Qur’an in Ramadan has been the tradition of Muslims, scholars and laymen,
throughout the history of Islam. It is the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, salla Allahu alayhi
wa sallam.
Ibn Abbas narrated: “Allah’s Apostle was the most generous of all the people and he used to
reach the utmost in generosity during the month of Ramadan when Jibreel met with him. Jibreel
used to visit him every night of Ramadan to revise (in another narration: to teach him) the
Qur’an. Allah’s Apostle was the most generous person, even more generous than the strong,
bountiful wind (in readiness and haste to do charitable deeds).” Bukhari and Muslim.

Ibn Rajab said: “This hadith shows the excellence of studying the Qur’an in Ramadan and
gathering for this purpose. It is also proof of the recommendation to increase recitation of the
Qur’an in Ramadan.”
The Sunnah of Qiyam and Taraaweeh prayer, performed every night throughout the whole
month of Ramadan, is another manifestation to the virtue of the Qur’an in Ramadan.

Narrated Abu Hurayrah, the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever prays at night in Ramadan out
of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” Bukhari and Muslim.

In the hadith of Jabir, radiyallahu anhu, the Messenger of Allah explains the concept and
significance of Qiyam, stating: “Qiyam –night prayer– is the long ‘Qunoot’ -standing.” Muslim.
Imam AlNawawi, rahimahullah, asserts that: “The meaning of ‘Qunoot’ in this hadith is the long
standing in recitation. This is what all the Ulama agree on.”

Jibreel, alyhis salam, used to review the Qur’an with the Messenger of Allah every Ramadan
and in the last year of the life of Muhammad, salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, he did so twice.
Since then, the Muslim Ummah started the tradition of Khatm Al Qur’an –the recitation of the
whole Qur’an – every Ramadan.

There is an abundance of reports regarding the tradition of the Ulama and pious predecessors
regarding their approach to the Quran in Ramadan. Some reports might seem strange and
difficult to understand. People used to count sixty full Khatma for Imam Ash-shafi’ee in

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Ramadan. Imam Az-zuhri used to stop the sessions of hadith and direct his attention in
Ramadan to the Qur’an.

During the month of Ramadan, the Qur’an becomes the theme and focus of this Ummah.
Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an and the achievement of Taqwa is its purpose. All this is
sought so as to develop God-fearing individuals who will then become citizens of a God-fearing
society.

There is no better chance to achieve the triangle of virtue than the opportunity that Ramadan
presents. No wonder! When Jibreel said to the Messenger of Allah: “May his nose be rubbed in
dust; one who experiences Ramadan and in spite of that does not enter Jannah. Say ameen.”
The Messenger of Allah replied: “Ameen

By Shaikh. Yaser Birjas

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