1	The Message from Tabuk (Ar-Risalat-ut-Tabukiyyah) Ibn Qayyim Al Jawziyyah
2	About the book Explaining the true methodology of adherence to Allah's (SWT) Book, His Messenger's (PBUH) Sunnah, and the Guidance of the sahabah (RA). Explaining the qualities of righteousness and piety that are required from everyone, both in practice and in da'wah. Describe the true meaning of migration to Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (PBUH). Deliberate on the situations of true misery and true happiness. Requirements of the Journey of Migration, presenting along the way some very important insights for sound comprehension of the Qur'an.
3	About the author Abu 'Abdullah, Shamsud Deen Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr better known as Ibn al-Qayyim (or ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah). Born in the year 691H in the city of Damascus. Studied under many prominent teachers e.g Ibn Taymiyyah. Students: Ibn Katheer, adh-Dhahabee, Ibn Rajab, Ibn 'Abdul-Hadi etc. Authored over ninety books and booklets - all of them being characterised by their touching address to the soul and the heart, as well, as their accuracy, precision and depth of research. Died on the night of Thursday 13th Rajab in the year 751H. Comprehensive knowledge, firm adherence to the way of the Salaf, excellent manners, worship and zuhd. "He attained great proficiency in many branches of knowledge, particularly knowledge of Tafseer, Hadeeth and Usool.”
4	"Allah (SWT" Allah (SWT) says: وتعاونوا على البر والتقوى ولاتعاونوا على الإثم والعدوان واتقوا الله إن الله شديد العقاب "... Help one another to birr (righteousness and virtue) and taqwa (Piety, fear and reverence of Allah), but help not one another to ithm (sin and vice) and `Udwan (transgression). And fear and reverence Allah; verily, Allah is severe in punishment" [Al-Ma'idah 5:2].
5	Two Situations and Two Obligations between self and Allah (SWT) More on this later between self and other people The duty of man toward his fellow men is that his company with them should be directed toward helping one another to please and obey Allah which is the ultimate happiness and success of a human being; he can have no happiness otherwise. These are birr (righteousness or virtue) and taqwa (piety)
6	Birr and Taqwa When either "birr" or "taqwa" is mentioned, the other is implied or follows in a logical sense. Same way as the words “Islam” and “Iman” are understood. Excellent rule, when understood it will help avoid many misconceptions. "righteousness" carries the meaning of "piety" and vice versa. When they come together, each word then carries a distinctive meaning.
7	Meaning of Birr Birr means excellence, virtue and goodness present in a being. It comprises all kinds of goodness and perfection required from a Muslim. Opposite to it is ithm (sin and vice).
8	""Birr" "Birr" is mostly applied in describing the heart, telling of the taste and sweetness of "iman", and implying the feeling of serenity, satisfaction, strength and pleasure that enter the heart because of "iman". "iman" produces happiness, sweetness and delight in the heart. One who does not feel this lacks or misses "iman", and is among those described in the following verse: قالت الأعراب آمنا قل لم تؤمنوا ولكن قولوا أسلمنا ولما يدخل الإيمان في قلوبكم "The Bedouins say, We believe. Say: You believe not but you can only say, We have submitted to you as Muslims, for iman has not yet entered your heart.” [Qur'an: Al-Hujurat 49:6] Those Bedouins, according to the most prominent understanding amongst scholars, were Muslims, not hypocrites. Yet they were not full believers because "iman" had not yet entered and truly touched their hearts.
9	"Allah (SWT" Allah (SWT) says: ليس البر أن تولوا وجوهكم قبل المشرق والمغرب ولكن البر من آمن بالله واليوم الآخر والملائكة والكتاب والنبيين وآتى المال على حبه ذوي القربى واليتامى والمساكين وابن السبيل والسائلين وفي الرقاب وأقام الصلاة واتى الزكاة والموفون بعهدهم إذا عاهدوا والصابرين في البأساء والضراء وحين البأس أولئك الذين صدقوا وأولئك هم المتقون "It is not righteousness that you turn your faces toward the East or the West [in prayers], but righteousness is he who believes in Allah, the Last Day, the Angels, the Book, and the Prophets, and he who gives his wealth, in spite of the love for it, to kinfolk, to orphans, to the needy, to the wayfarer, to those who ask, and he who sets slaves free, and he who establishes prayers, and gives the purifying charity, and those who fulfill their covenant when they make it, and those who are patient in extreme poverty and ailment and at the time of fighting during the battle, such are the people of truth, and they are the ones who have Taqwa" [Al-Baqarah 2:177].
10	"Believing in Allah" Believing in Allah, in His angels, in His books, in His Messengers and in the Last Day are all required acts of "birr". Are articles of faith without which "iman" cannot stand. Apparent acts of performing salah (the prescribed prayers) and paying zakah (mandatory prescribed alms) and other forms of mandatory expenditures are also acts of "birr". "birr" also comprises concealed deeds of the heart, such as steadfastness and fulfilling the covenants. “Birr” covers all aspects of the religion: the essentials and the rituals; deeds of the heart and deeds of the body, These are the very qualities of "taqwa”
11	Meaning of Taqwa "Taqwa" is to act in obedience to Allah (SWT), with "iman" and "ihtisab" (counting on Allah's promised rewards for a given deed), in regards to both His commands and His prohibitions: Obey Allah's commands, believing they are acts of obedience and believing in Allah's promised rewards for them. Avoid Allah's prohibitions, believing they are acts of disobedience and fearing Allah's retribution for those who commit them. Talq Bin Habib said, "If ordeal appears amongst you extinguish it with taqwa." When asked, "What is taqwa?", He replied, "It is to perform acts of obedience to Allah, with light [guidance] from Allah, seeking for Allah's reward, and to avoid disobeying Allah, with light from Allah, fearing His punishment." This is one of the best definitions of "taqwa".
12	"Every deed requires a starting..." Every deed requires a starting point and a goal. The starting point is sincere "iman". The goal is to attain Allah's rewards and acceptance = "ihtisab". These requirements occur together frequently in Hadith (tradition of the Prophet (SaS). For instance, the Messenger of Allah (SaS) said: "Whoever fasts Ramadhan with "iman" and "ihtisab" will have his previous sins forgiven". [al-Bukhari and Muslim] And he said: "Whoever stands up [in prayer] on the Night of "Qadr" (honor and distinction) with "iman" and "ihtisab" will have his previous sins forgiven". [al-Bukhari and Muslim] What Talq said, "With light from Allah" points to the first requirement, "iman", that should be the origin of a deed and the reason for initiating it. His words: "Seeking Allah's reward" point to the second requirement, "ihtisab", which is the purpose and goal of a deed. “Taqwa” comprises all fundamental and complementary elements of "iman". It, therefore, comprises the meaning of "birr" as well.
13	Birr and Taqwa Compared The difference in their meaning is the same as the difference between a means and a purpose. "Birr" is sought for its own sake because it represents the integrity and excellence of a person "Taqwa“, on the other hand, is the means and the way leading to "birr". The root of the word in Arabic means "protection". One practicing it protects himself from the Fire. Protection is not sought for itself as much as to prevent harm. The relationship of "birr" and "taqwa" is similar to that of health (which is a purpose) and taking care of the body (which is a means).
14	"Therefore" Therefore, what is required from people in their meeting and company is to help one another in "birr" and "taqwa", each helping his companion with both knowledge and deeds. Man alone, acting independently, cannot do this. The wisdom of Allah (SWT) has decreed that the existence of human beings should be through mutual help and support.
15	Ithm (Sin) and Udwan (Transgression) Allah (SWT) followed the verse (in al-Ma'idah 5:2) by saying: ولا تتعاونوا على الإثم والعدوان "... But do not help one another in sin and transgression ..." Prohibiting "ithm and `udwan" (sin and transgression) on one hand is parallel to the enjoining "birr" and "taqwa" on the other. The difference between "ithm" and "`udwan" is that "ithm" applies to deeds which are prohibited in themselves (ex. adultery, drinking liquor, using drugs, stealing etc.) "`Udwan", on the other hand, applies to deeds which exceed the boundaries set by Allah (SWT) (like marrying a fifth wife or demanding more than one's right in blood ransom etc.)
16	"Allah said" Allah said: تلك حدود الله فلا تعتدوها ومن يتعد حدود الله فأولئك هم الظالمون "... These are the limits ordained by Allah, so do not transgress them. Whoever transgresses the limits ordained by Allah then such are wrong doers“. [Al-Baqarah 2:229]. And He said: تلك حدود الله فلا تقربوها "...These are the limits set by Allah, so approach them not“. [Al-Baqarah 2:187]. Allah (SWT) forbids transgressing His limits in one verse and approaching them in the other. Allah's limits are the boundaries separating between "halal" (what is permissible) and "haram“ (what is prohibited).
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18	Conclusion Mutual help in "birr" and "taqwa", in both the knowledge and actions. Observing Allah’s commands and avoiding disobedience. Fear and reverence Allah as was pointed out in the first verse. Two obligations on every servant of Allah: one toward the creation and the other toward the Creator. In order to fulfill the first obligation we need to detach ourselves from the evils of people, doing this with sincere intention of offering them advice, being good to them and caring about them. In order to fulfill the second obligation we need to eliminate all creatures from between ourselves and Allah (SWT) so that we can obey Him, with His help, with sincerity, love and adoration. Failure to comprehend this subtle matter leads to failure in performing these two obligations.