Taqwa (God-consciousness) is for a person to avoid everything that he fears may harm his religion. When a person afflicted with fever avoids things like eating and drinking that could harm his body, this is called ittikā (abstention).
There are two types of harm to be feared in religious matters: purely unlawful (ḥarām) things and permissible (mubāḥ) things. This is because being preoccupied with the mubāḥ and becoming deeply attached to them can draw a person into the ḥarām through taqwa/takwallah.
The reason for this is the greed of the nafs (the lower self) and its tendency to excess; the rebelliousness and disobedience of desire (hawā). Whoever wishes to be safe from harm in religious matters avoids danger and, out of fear of falling into the purely unlawful, also refrains from the mubāḥ.
The complete definition of taqwa is to purify the qalb (the heart) from evil (sharr) that you have not yet committed. This is only possible with a strength that enables one to abstain. Ultimately, taqwa becomes a shield between you and all evil. (Minhāj, 27)
Tawhid (the oneness of God) is in the qalb, zuhd (asceticism) is in the qalb, taqwa is in the qalb, maʿrifa (gnosis, experiential knowledge of God) is in the qalb, knowing the Truth is in the qalb, maḥabba (love for God) is in the qalb, drawing near to Him is in the qalb. (Fath, 49)
Taqwa is to abandon what Allah has forbidden and to do what He has made obligatory. What greater provision from Allah could there be than this! This is the very essence of good... Muhammad Ḥafīẓ (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Taqwa is to distance yourself from everything that distances you from Allah.
Qāsim Qāsim said: Taqwa is to preserve the etiquettes of the sharia (the sacred law).
Sufyān al-Thawrī also said: Taqwa is to avoid the dunya (the world) and its calamities.
Abū Yazīd (al-Bisṭāmī) said: Taqwa is to abstain from all doubts (warāʿ, scrupulousness, caution). He also said: The muttaqī (one who possesses taqwa) is the one who speaks for Allah when he speaks, is silent for Allah when he is silent, and remembers Allah when he remembers.
Fudayl ibn ʿIyāḍ (may Allah have mercy on him) also said: A servant cannot be among the muttaqūn (those who possess taqwa) until his enemy is as safe from him as his friends are.
Sahl said: The muttaqī is the one who is freed from his own strength and power (recognizing that all strength and power are from Allah).
It has been said: Taqwa is that Allah does not see you where He has forbidden you to be, and that He does not find you lacking in what He has commanded you. It has also been said: Taqwa is to follow the Messenger of God (peace be upon him).
It has also been said: Taqwa is for your qalb to be free from heedlessness, your nafs from desires, and your nature from...