Godwariness · a Light
God consciousness is built on a word meaning to shield
Taqwa is usually rendered piety or fear of God. Its root is w q y, to guard, to shield, to put something between yourself and harm. A wiqaya is a protective covering, and the same root gives modern Arabic its term for preventive medicine. Read that way taqwa is not a feeling but a practice of keeping a barrier between yourself and what damages you. The Qur'an makes the image explicit twice. In the middle of the rules for pilgrimage it tells travellers to take provision, and says the best provision is taqwa. In a passage about clothing it calls taqwa a garment, and the best of garments. A shield, a supply and something you wear.
Root w q y, to guard and to shield
Source · Qur'an 2:197, 7:26
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The words
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- Patience in Arabic is a word about restraintRoot s b r, to bind and restrain
- Gratitude shares a root with a beast that thrives on littleRoot sh k r, a return larger than the gift
- Trust in God uses a word from commercial lawRoot w k l, to appoint an agent
- Excellence was defined as working as if you were watchedThe hadith of Jibril