International Shia News Agency

Is God-wariness (Taqwa) and piety repugnant to freedom?

SHAFAQNA- Answer:

What is Taqwa? Taqwa in Arabic means keeping and preservation, and Martyr Motahhari emphasizes on this sense in the book of ‘Dah Goftar’. Henceforth, God-wariness means that man should preserve themselves from whatsoever that is to their disadvantage. God-wariness like freedom is meaningful in a human context. If the essence of human entity comprises of elements, components and premises which have been placed in the context of natural phenomena and survived in the pass of time and will be left with no trace and effect in the future, God-wariness then is repugnant to natural freedom and animal liberty of mankind as Allameh Jafari mentions these points and says life in its natural general sense is not in need of religion; rather, religion is a nuisance in some cases.

But should material elements constituted a small part of human essence, and the important genuine part of his life related to his divine dimension, which should be designed by himself and be displayed in the eternal world, not only is piety not repugnant to human freedom, but it also paves the ground for the emancipation and development of freedom as the holy Quran mentions this point in numerous verses including,” And whoever is wary of Allah, He shall make a way out for him and provide for him whence he does not reckon.”(1) or elsewhere it states,” Indeed the God-wary would be in a secure place “(2) Imam Ali (a`) mentions the fact that God-wariness leads mankind to sublimity and exonerates them from animal self and brings about felicity and mastership of this world and the Hereafter in numerous sermons of the Peak of Eloquence (Nahj al-Balaghah) as in the following sermon,” God-wariness is verily the key to any locked door, the provision of the Day of Resurrection, factor for freedom from slavery, and deliverance from chastisement.”

Thus, the role of piety and God-wariness in the sphere of natural and animal life is to rationalize man`s freedom and direct it. In the spiritual divine sphere of life, its role is bringing unlimited liberty of man and society. Expediency dictates man put aside cheap interpretations and analyses for man`s two-dimensional nature and universal facts` different perspectives and try to know his true self better.

Refrence:

1- Surat al-Talaq, verses 2 and 3

2- Surat al-Dukhan, verse 51

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Source: www.andisheqom.com

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