1	Taqwa Part 2 To achieve Allah's Pleasure one must have Taqwa
2	Without Taqwa or Piety: Our Jihad (Struggle) on earth will fail and all our deeds will be turned down by Allah. An example is the two sons of Adam. Each sacrificed for Allah but one's was accepted and the other was not...because: "Verily, Allah accepts only from al-muttaqoon (the pious)”
3	Taqwa (Piety) is also a condition for success in this world An example is how Moses told his people: "Pray for help from Allah, and be patient. Verily, the earth is Allah's. He gives it as a heritage to whom He will of His servants, and the [blessed] end is for al-muttaqoon.”
4	Victory and power can not be attained without Taqwa (Piety). Umar wrote to the commander of the Muslims: "I command you and your soldiers to observe Taqwa which is the best preparation against the enemy and the strongest weapon of war. I command you and your soldiers to be more on guard against sins than against the enemy, for the sins of [your] army should be feared more than their enemy. Indeed, Muslims only triumph by the sinning of their enemy against Allah, for otherwise we would not have the strength and advantage over them. Our numbers are not like their numbers, nor is our preparation like their preparation. If we equal them in sins, they will prevail over us through their physical strength. If we cannot defeat them through our piety, we will not defeat them through our strength."
5	For those who have Taqwa (Piety) when facing their enemies, Allah sends the angels to assist them: "Yes, if you hold on to patience and piety, and the enemy comes rushing at you, your Lord will help you with five thousand angels having marks [of distinction].”
6	Abdullah bin Rawaahah said on the day of the battle of Mutah: "By Allah, we do not fight the people with the number of soldiers and preparation, but we fight them with this religion with which Allah has honored us."
7	Also for those who have Taqwa (Piety and Fear of Allah) Allah gives them: “O you who believe! If you obey Allah and fear Him, He will grant you a Furqan (criterion [to judge between right and wrong]). " Furqan is distinction between the truth and falsehood, with which we recognize truth from falsehood, with which we act with the truth and avoid falsehood, and with which we support the truth and overcome falsehood.
8	Ibn Khathir said in regards to this: "Whoever fears Allah by carrying out what He commands and abandoning what He forbids, Allah will help him distinguish between the truth and falsehood. This knowledge will induce his victory, safety and relief from the difficulties of this world and will also ensure his happiness and forgiveness of his sins on the Day of Judgement."
9	Thus Taqwa (Piety) is: The key to our salvation from weakness, backwardness and humiliation Is the means by which success and victory will come to us It leads us to the truth and makes us love and succumb to it It guards against deviation and guarantees us victory over our enemies
10	Taqwa (Piety) also rescues us from difficulties and distress: “And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out [from every difficulty]. " "And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him. "
11	For all these reasons and more Allah has commanded us: "And take provision [with you] for the journey, but the best provision is Taqwa. So fear Me, O men of understanding.
12	This is why the Prophet(sa) said to a companion who was going on a journey: May Allah provide you with Taqwa (Piety)‏
13	As always.. We Look to the Companions to see how they defined Taqwa
14	Ali once described Taqwa as follows: "Taqwa means fearing Allah the Almighty, acting in accordance with the Qur'an, contentment with whatever little we have, and preparing for the day of departure (death)."
15	Al-'Irbadh bin Sariyah once said: "The Messenger of Allah (SAW) gave us a sermon by which our hearts were filled with fear and tears came to our eyes. We said, 'O Messenger of Allah, it is as though this is a farewell sermon.' He said, I counsel you to fear Allah (have Taqwa) and to give absolute obedience, even if a slave becomes your leader. Verily, he amongst you who lives [long] will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs. Cling to them stubbornly. Beware of newly invented matters, for ever invented matter is an innovation (bid'ah), and every bid'ah is a going astray, and every going astray in the Hell-Fire."[12]
16	Abu Saeed Al Khudri said: "I asked the Messenger of Allah to counsel me and he said, 'Observe Taqwa, for it is the peak of every matter. ' "
17	Umar wrote to his son saying: "I counsel you to fear Allah, who protects those who fear Him, rewards those who lend unto Him, a goodly loan and gives more to those who are grateful. Direct your attention towards Taqwa, and make it the elucidation of your heart."
18	So who are the Pious peoplee: Mu'adh bin Jabal said, "On the Day of Judgement, it will be called out: 'Where are al-muttaqoon (the pious) ?' The pious will then rise under the cover of Ar-Rahman who will not conceal Himself from them." Mu'adh was then asked, "And who are the pious?" He replied, "They are those who avoid shirk and the worship of idols."
19	Hasan Al Basri Said: "The pious are those who avoid what Allah has forbidden them and carry out what He has commanded them."
20	Abu Dardaa Said: "Perfect piety is when the servant fears Allah so much that he eschews evil even, if it is an atom's weight, for fear of Him, and abandons some of the things he thinks are Halal for fear that they might be Haram."
21	Indeed the pious are those who possess all attributes of goodness and righteousness The Prophet (SAW) rightly said, "Fear Allah, for piety brings together all good." "Piety is right here, " and he pointed to his breast three times.
22	So how can we attain this needed component of faith.. how can we attain Taqwa (piety)? Cleanse the heart of any falsehood Fill the heart instead with love hope and fear of Allah Distance oneself away from his desires Think of standing before Allah on the day of Judgement Think of how Allah sees and hears everything Carry out the acts of obedience
23	To be continued.. QUESTIONS GO AHEAD
24	Sufyan Athawree said: "Al-muttaqoon are called as such because they have avoided that which is not avoided (by others)."