As part of the daily after Fajr program regarding the life of a Muslim, the following is a dua to ask Allah for Taqwa
أَللّٰهُمَّ اٰتِ نَفْسِىْ تَقْوَاهَا وَ زَكِّهَا اَنْتَ خَيْرُ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا اَنْتَ وَلِيُّهَا وَ مَوْلَاهَا
Transliteration: Allahumma Aati Nafsi Taqwaahaa Wa-Zakkihaa, Anta Khayru Man Zakkaahaa, Anta Waliyyuhaa Wa-Mawlaahaa
Translation: O Allah! Give my soul piety and my conscience purity. You are the Master of my soul and the Guardian of my conscience
وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجًا وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لا يَحْتَسِبُ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ
“…And whoever fears Allah – He will make for him a way out. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him…” [Surah Talaq 65: 2-3]
An inspirational story about Taqwa:
Sulaimaan bin Yasaar (rahimahullah) was an illustrious taabi‘ee, an outstanding jurist and a famous scholar of Madeenah Munawwarah. He had also been blessed with stunning beauty.
Once while on the journey to Hajj he camped at a place called Abwaa. A Bedouin woman caught sight of his beauty and was infatuated with him. Hence she came to his tent, uncovered her face which shone like a piece of the moon and tried to seduce him. He blankly refused but she advanced towards him. He immediately fled from the tent.
He says: “When I reached Makkah Mukarramah and completed my tawaaf and sa‘ee, slumber overcame me while I was sitting in the hateem. In this condition I saw an extremely handsome and well-dressed person in my dream, from whom a lovely scent was emanating. I asked: ‘May Allah Ta‘ala have mercy on you. Who are you?’ He answered: ‘I am Yusuf the son of Ya’qoob (‘alaihimas salaam).’ I said to him: ‘The incident of you protecting yourself from the seduction of Zulaikhaa is really amazing.’ He replied: ‘The story of the woman in Abwaa is even more amazing. I had some natural inclination towards Zulaikhaa (due to the dictates of being human, although I did not do anything wrong) but you did not have the slightest inclination towards that woman.’” (Hilyatul Awliyaa vol. 2, pg. 218 and Siyarus Salaf lil Isfahaani – Aa’yaanul Hujjaaj pg. 134)
Lesson: At times one may be facing a similar situation where a person of the opposite gender is trying to seduce one either verbally or through an ‘invite’ on some social network. One must be extremely firm and follow in the footsteps of Yusuf (‘alaihis salaam). Allah Ta‘ala will really appreciate this ‘sacrifice’ and reward one in this very life together with the great rewards and pleasures that will be in store for her in the Hereafter.
