Faith and Taqwa the Path to Salvation and Success

وَ لَوْ اَنَّ اَهْلَ الْكِتٰبِ اٰمَنُوْا وَ اتَّقَوْا لَكَفَّرْنَا عَنْهُمْ سَیِّاٰتِهِمْ وَ لَاَدْخَلْنٰهُمْ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِیْمِ (65)

The bad actions of the People of the Book were already mentioned. Now the way to be saved from those actions is explained. The question is how a person can remove the dirt and bad effects of sins inside them. The answer is to come toward faith and taqwa. If a person adopts iman and taqwa, they will be purified from the impurity of their deeds.

This is good news for both this world and the hereafter. If you want success in both, then follow the true system of Allah and His religion. Adopt iman and taqwa, and Allah will give you success in both worlds.

If the People of the Book had believed and protected themselves from disobeying Allah, their difficulties would have been removed.

They were told to believe in the Prophet ﷺ and the Qur’an. Since they already believed in their own books, they were asked to complete their faith by accepting the Prophet ﷺ and the Qur’an. They were also told to believe in all necessary beliefs and to follow their own books correctly, because those books also guided toward belief in the Prophet ﷺ.

عاشقی گر زیں سر و گر زاں سر است
عاقبت ما را بدان سر رہبر است

If you truly follow the Qur’an, it teaches you to believe in all previous prophets. It does not teach rejection. Likewise, if the Torah and Gospel are followed correctly, they do not reject the Prophet ﷺ, rather they guide toward believing in him.

Taqwa means protecting yourself from disobedience to Allah. Iman is the foundation, and taqwa is shown through actions and character. Fear of Allah means stopping yourself from sin. Just saying you fear Allah is not enough. Even Shaytan claimed fear but still disobeyed.

The real fear is described in this dua of the Prophet ﷺ:

اللَّهُمَّ اقْسِمْ لَنَا مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ مَا يَحُولُ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَ مَعَاصِيكَ

Iman and taqwa bring clear results.

First, Allah forgives sins. Past sins are removed because Islam wipes away what came before.

Second, sins bring difficulties such as poverty, humiliation, and hardship. They remove blessings from life. When a person adopts taqwa, Allah removes these hardships.

Third, a person’s abilities begin to be used correctly. The heart, wealth, and strength are used in the right way. Tools like the pen, mobile, and personal abilities are no longer used for wrong. Bad deeds are replaced with good ones.

The second promise is:

وَ لَاَدْخَلْنٰهُمْ جَنّٰتِ النَّعِیْمِ

They will be entered into the gardens of blessing in the hereafter. Accepting faith does not take away blessings. Instead, it improves both worldly life and the hereafter.

وَ لَوْ اَنَّهُمْ اَقَامُوا التَّوْرٰىةَ وَ الْاِنْجِیْلَ وَ مَاۤ اُنْزِلَ اِلَیْهِمْ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ لَاَكَلُوْا مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ وَ مِنْ تَحْتِ اَرْجُلِهِمْ (66)

This verse promises worldly blessings and removes a misunderstanding. The People of the Book had created their own systems and left the true teachings. They changed the commands.

They thought they were following religion, but in reality they had moved away from it. They made religion easy for the rich and powerful, and in return gained support and money.

They feared that if they followed the Prophet ﷺ and practiced true religion, they would lose support and become poor.

The Qur’an removes this fear. The poverty and weakness they feared actually came from leaving Allah’s religion. When a person follows Allah’s system, life and economy become strong.

Blessings are connected with Allah’s religion and belief in His oneness. Progress cannot come by leaving religion.

This same fear was shown by earlier disbelievers. Allah said:

اِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَیْلَةً فَسَوْفَ یُغْنِیْكُمُ اللّٰهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖ

And they also said:

وَقَالُـوٓا اِنْ نَّتَّبِــعِ الْـهُدٰى مَعَكَ نُـتَخَطَّفْ مِنْ اَرْضِنَا

The Qur’an makes it clear that following religion brings worldly benefit as well.

Scholars explain that worldly benefits come with following Shariah, but the main goal should always be the pleasure of Allah.

Like a shopkeeper gives a small extra gift to a child, Allah gives worldly benefits as an extra reward.

So the aim should not be worldly gain, but the pleasure of Allah. Even if worldly life becomes difficult, a person should remain firm.

When intention becomes sincere, Allah knows it. He looks at the heart, not just words.

Pray for Allah, seek knowledge for Allah, and serve the religion for Allah, whether worldly benefit comes or not.

A person should think that they are responsible for following Allah’s religion and will do so in all situations.

This is the main message. Following Allah brings expansion in provision and stability in life.

If a family follows religion, blessings come into their home. If a country follows it, its economy becomes strong.

The Qur’an repeatedly teaches to adopt iman and taqwa, follow the way of Allah, and both your worldly life and your hereafter will succeed.