“Al-Muttaqi” (The Devout One) In The Qur’an

In the very beginning of the Holy Qur’an, and right after the “Opening”, Al-Fatiha, God says that this book, about which authenticity there is no doubt, is (in principal) a guidance for those who are God-conscious (= those who devout themselves to God).

Very often people imagine the “muttaqi” (= the devout one to God) to be a person who we see regularly going to the mosque for his/her prayers, who does supererogatory fasting, who is always holding a string of rosary, etc. All such actions may be done sincerely and as a means to remind oneself of God, and to strengthen his/her faith so that he/she will fulfill all duties given by God.

But what struck me about this characteristic word in the Qur’an, is that it does not portray the exterior image of any rituals of a devout person. Rather, every time this word is mentioned in the Qur’an, it appears to portray a person whose dealings and interactions with others are always done properly, as perfect as possible, and always justly and sincerely as a devotion to God, longing for His satisfaction.

The Qur’an (see 2:177) emphasizes on the principle that the mere compliance with outward forms does not fulfill the requirements of  “taqwa” (= God-fearing or devotion). The Qur’an describes the real devoted one as a person who has attained to faith in God, in the Last Day, in the Angels, in the Revelation and in the Messengers, and who spends out of his/her substance for the next of kin, the orphans, the needy, the wayfarer, and the beggars and acts for the freeing of human beings from bondage, who keeps one’s promises whenever he/she promises, and is patient in misfortune and hardship and in time of peril. It goes without saying, that whoever does such deeds will as well be constant in performing regular prayers, in giving the purifying alms (zakat) and in maintaining good behavior towards his family and the broader society in which he/she lives. That is the real image of a devoted one portrayed in the Qur’an.

Abu Hurairah (one of the companions of the Prophet) narrated: The Messenger of God (peace and God’s blessings upon him) said: “Indeed God does not look at your figures, nor at your attires, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds” (Recorded by Muslim in his Collection of Hadith).

In another part in the Qur’an, we find also the description of those who are endowed with insight (13:19) as follows:

“Those who fulfill (their) pledge with God and do not break the covenant, and those who maintain the relationships God has commanded to be maintained and fear their Lord and are frightful of evil reckoning, and those who patient in adversity out of a longing for their Lord’s countenance and are constant in prayer and spend secretly and openly from what We have given to them, and repel evil with good. Those are the ones for whom there is the ultimate abode” (13:20-22). Of course by “those who are endowed with insight” it is meant “the devout ones to God”.

And if we go further and remember that God did not send His messengers except to guide people so that they may behave with equity in all domains of their life, socially, economically and politically (see also: Qur’an 57:25), then indeed what is important in our life is to do our duties as well as possible, seeking to realize the ultimate aim: to uphold justice in human life.

Thus, to conclude we can say that to be devoted to God, one should be sincerely unselfish and generous towards others with the intention of seeking God’s satisfaction!