While Allahﷻ sustains everyone, Muslim and nonMuslim, Allahﷻ reserves a special mercy for the believers. Allah says in the Quran, "And Musa (Moses) chose out of his people seventy (of the best) men for Our appointed time and place of meeting, and when they were seized with a violent earthquake, he said, "O my Lord, if it had been Your Will, You could have destroyed them and me before, would You destroy us for the deeds of the foolish ones among us? It is only Your Trial by which You lead astray whom You will, and keep guided whom You will. You are our Wali (Protector), so forgive us and have Mercy on us, for You are the Best of those who forgive." "And ordain for us good in this world and in the Hereafter. Certainly we have turned unto You." Allah said, (As to) My punishment I afflict therewith whom I will and My Mercy embraces all things. That (Mercy) I shall ordain for those who are the Muttaqun (the pious) and give Zakat and those who believe in Our Ayat (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs and revelations)."
(Surah Al-A'raf, 7:155-156)
Translated Verse from Arabic-English
Many people think Taqwa just means fearing Allah like you fear an enemy, but that is a misunderstanding. In Islam, Taqwa means building a protective barrier between yourself and Allah’s anger. The great companion Umar ibn al-Khattab asked another companion, Ubayy ibn Ka'b, what Taqwa was. Ubayy asked, "Have you ever walked on a path full of thorns?" Umar said, "Yes." Ubayy asked, "What did you do?" Umar replied, "I rolled up my sleeves and carefully navigated my way to avoid them." Ubayy said, "That is Taqwa."
Sins are the thorns. When you are about to look at something haram on your phone or backbite about a coworker, Taqwa is the brakes you hit because you know Allah is watching. You cannot have Taqwa if you willingly skip the five daily prayers. Taqwa starts with doing what is mandatory, then avoiding the forbidden and then doing extra good deeds.
Zakat is often translated simply as charity, but the Arabic word Zakat means purification and growth. When you give Zakat, you aren't doing the poor a favor, you are giving them the money that Allah put in your bank account for them and it's to purify yourself. If you possess wealth above a certain threshold (called the Nisab) for a full lunar year, you must calculate and pay 2.5% of it to those eligible. A person who gives Zakat willingly without showing off and for fear, hope and loving Allah has tasted the sweetness of faith. It breaks the disease of materialism (Wahn), which is the love of this world and the hatred of death. While Zakat is mandatory once a year, giving general charity (Sadaqah) regularly even a single dollar a week keeps Allah's mercy continuously flowing into your life.
True belief (Iman) is not just a feeling in the heart. It consists of three parts, belief in the heart, speech of the tongue and actions of the limbs. Believing in Allah’s verses means total submission. It means we don't say, "I know the Quran says X, but society says Y, so I will follow society." We adjust our lives to fit Islam, we do not try to adjust Islam to fit our modern desires.
Believe in its laws, the qadar, the unseen, its stories, its promises of Jannah and its warnings of Hell. Everything revealed to the Prophet Muhammadﷺ. To believe in Allah’s verses means obeying the Prophet Muhammadﷺ. As Allah says, "He who obeys the Messenger (Muhammadﷺ), has indeed obeyed Allah, but he who turns away, then we have not sent you (O Muhammadﷺ) as a watcher over them." (Surah An-Nisa, 4:80)
Translated Verse from Arabic-English
Seek authentic Islamic knowledge based on proof, not cultural traditions or innovations (Bid'ah). Regarding taqwa, pray your 5 daily prayers on time everyday till you die and actively choose to avoid sins and seek forgiveness from Allahﷻ always. Regarding zakat, make sure your wealth is clean and being generous with what Allah has given you. Regarding iman, having belief in Allah with certainty when reading, listening or applying the Quran and Sunnah in your choices everyday. So you can earn the eternal prize, Allah’s special mercy in this life and the hereafter prepared for the believers.
سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك أشهد ان لا اله الا انت استغفرك وأتوب اليك