Linguistic Gems from the Qur’an, Day Two: Taqwa

Day 2: Taqwa

Allah says in Surah Nisa, verse 9

وَلْيَخْشَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَوْ تَرَكُوا۟ مِنْ خَلْفِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّةًۭ ضِعَـٰفًا خَافُوا۟ عَلَيْهِمْ فَلْيَتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَلْيَقُولُوا۟ قَوْلًۭا سَدِيدًا

Let those who would fear for the future of their own helpless children, if they were to die, show the same concern [for orphans]; let them fear Allah and speak out for justice.

The translation of this verse indicates that the word fear has been used twice, whereas the Arabic actually reveals that the words used are two different verbs, based on the nouns khashyah (وَلْيَخْشَ) and taqwa (فَلْيَتَّقُوا۟). So what is the difference between the two words in Arabic?

Khashyah is said to be the fear that results from knowledge and reverence, when one acknowledges the greatness and magnitude of that which is feared. Hence Allah uses the verb from this noun in Surah Fatir verse 28,

إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.”

Taqwa, on the other hand, comes from the root و ق ي - which connotes meanings of safeguarding oneself, or placing a barrier between oneself and that which one fears. So khashyah then is considered to be the starting point upon which taqwa is founded, and taqwa is an end goal of khashyah.

Thus, in this verse, Allah commanded us to be mindful of both of them simultaneously, for khashyah is not beneficial without taqwa, and taqwa cannot occur without khashyah.

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