I asked: What is taqwa (God-consciousness)? He replied: It is to avoid and abstain from things that Allah dislikes.
I said: From whom should one abstain? He said: From Allah. I said: In relation to what should one abstain from Him? He said: In relation to two qualities. These are: not performing what is obligatory, and committing what is forbidden, whether openly or secretly, in a ḥāl (spiritual state). This hazer (abstinence)
encompasses fulfilling what Allah has made obligatory and avoiding what He has prohibited. (Ri'āya, 8)
Supervision is the station of calling to Allah. A warner only warns. The one who warns is only fearful, and the one who fears is a scholar. Hazer (abstinence) is among the ḥāl (spiritual states) of maʿrifatullāh (experiential knowledge of God). It is khashyatu’llāh (awe of Allah). (Kūt, I, 153)
The first station of khawf (fear) is taqwa... the second station is hazer (abstinence). In this station, ascetics, and those possessing warāʿ (scrupulousness) and khushūʿ (humble reverence) are found... (Kūt, I, 241)
(See also: khawf–rajāʾ)