Bismillah.
There’s something I need to say. Something I’ve been thinking about deeply. It’s about taqwa—a word so powerful, yet today, so misused. Taqwa means to fear Allah, to love Him so much that you live every moment in cautious awareness of His gaze. It is the soul’s shield—a fireproof armor for the Hereafter. But somewhere along the way, we’ve turned it into a badge. A costume. A tool to rise in the eyes of people, not Allah. And it’s breaking my heart.
The Hollowing of Taqwa
In today’s world—especially in places I know so well, like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh—taqwa is being hijacked. Not by the enemies of Islam… but by us. Some people wear the image of piety like a designer cloak. The beard is grown, the trousers lifted, the prayer cap worn. Qur’anic quotes roll off the tongue. Yet the heart is dry. Cold. Sometimes arrogant. Religious titles have become currencies. Taqwa has become a brand. A marketing strategy. A business model. How many Islamic centers, charity boards, and even madrasas are led by people who have perfected the look of piety—but use it for status, power, and wealth? We’ve turned taqwa into a public relations campaign, and the Ummah is falling for it. The average Muslim, seeking guidance, sees the appearance and assumes piety. They are fooled. And the worst part? Some of these “pious” ones know they’re fooling people—and they are perfectly okay with it.
Status for Allah? Or for the World?
Some people say they fear Allah—but really, they fear being exposed.
They speak softly in public, but roar with anger in private.
They weep in du‘a—but only when the camera is on.
They quote Qur’an—but twist it to justify their ego.
They’ve taken the sacred and sold it. Turned devotion into a ladder to climb higher in people’s eyes. And what they forget… is that Allah sees through every disguise. You cannot fool the One who made your heart.
The Taqwa of the Prophet ﷺ
Look at the Prophet ﷺ. His taqwa was not on display—it radiated. It lived in his mercy, in his patience, in how he treated even his enemies. He would cry at night while the world slept, begging for his Ummah. He feared Allah in silence, in whispers, in prostrations soaked in tears. And when he had the power to destroy those who hurt him—he forgave. That is taqwa. That is power.
The Taqwa of the Sahabahؓ
Hadrat Umarؓ used to cry whole night. Hadrat Abu Bakrؓ would cry every time he stood to pray. Hadrat ‘usman said, “ fear Allah in private and public, accepting His decree, and preparing for death.” And let me tell you about someone special…
The Taqwa of Ahl al-Baytؓ
Have you seen humility like theirs? Sayyiduna Husaynؓ walked to death with taqwa bleeding from his soul. Sayyiduna ‘Aliؓ cried in prayer until the ground beneath him was soaked. Sayyidah Fatimahؓ, the beloved daughter of the Prophet ﷺ, would stay up all night weeping for Allah.
The Taqwa of Hadrat Uthman ibn Maz‘unؓ
He is the example of taqwa that the world forgot. And it’s why I wrote about him in my book “Hadrat Uthman ibn Maz‘unؓ – The Living Legend of Islam.”
He wasn’t famous like the other Sahaba. He didn’t die in battle. He died quietly, but with a heart so soaked in taqwa that even the Prophet ﷺ kissed his forehead. This man turned away from wealth, from fame, from the world. He embraced hunger, hardship, and sleepless nights just to earn the pleasure of Allah. He never judged others, never boasted, never tried to be “seen.” They never wore taqwa. They lived it. They didn’t use religion for their image—they used their image to serve religion.
The Rise of Fake Pīrs
One of the saddest distortions of taqwa in our era is the rise of fake pīrs, babas, and so-called murshids—especially in the South Asia subcontinent. They wear the clothing of saints, carry the vocabulary of the pious, and sit on thrones made of deception. They claim to be close to Allah—but they sell taweez (amulets), take money for prayers, and demand blind allegiance. People kiss their hands, follow their shadows, and offer them more respect than they do for the Prophet ﷺ. This is not taqwa. This is disguise. These men have turned religion into a spiritual circus. They manipulate weak hearts, and prey on the desperate. Their gatherings are filled with lies, loud chants, and promises of instant success in love, wealth, and health—for a price. They offer du‘a for dollars. They promise healing for high fees. They promote themselves as intercessors between people and Allah—when in truth, the door to Allah is always open.
They are the exact opposite of taqwa. And what breaks me… is how many people fall into their traps. Because real scholars, Alim stay humble and quiet, and the fake ones shout from rooftops. Where are we heading, O Ummah? When did we stop asking for proof before following? When did we lose the spirit of sincerity and start chasing spectacles?
My Message to You, My Brother and Sister
If you have real taqwa, you don’t need to announce it. It will show—in your silence, your humility, your gentleness. Please don’t be fooled by outward shows. Don’t measure people by their religious words. Measure them by their actions, their character, and how they make you feel closer—or further—from Allah. And more importantly… check your own taqwa. Do you still cry in your du‘a?
Do you avoid sin when no one is watching? Do you feel Allah’s gaze when your phone screen lights up with temptation? That’s where taqwa lives.
We are heading into a world where true taqwa will be rare. Where image will overpower essence. Where religion will be sold in markets, staged on screens, and wrapped in pride. But you—yes, you—can keep it alive. You can protect the sacred. And I pray Allah ﷻ gives us all that kind of taqwa.
Real, raw, trembling, sincere taqwa.
The taqwa of the Prophet ﷺ, the Sahabahؓ, the Ahl al-Baytؓ, May we die with it. May we be raised with it.
Ameen.
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