In the name of Allaah, Most Beneficent and Most Merciful
Surah Ash-Shams
By the sun and its brightness; (1)
By the moon as it follows it (the sun); (2)
By the day as it shows up (the sun’s) brightness; (3)
By the night as it conceals it (the sun); (4)
By the heaven and Him Who built it; (5)
By the earth and Him Who spread it, (6)
And by Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul), and Him Who perfected him in proportion; (7)
Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him; (8)
Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allâh ordered, by following the true Faith of Islâmic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds). (9)
And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allâh has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islâmic Monotheism or by following polytheism or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds) (10)
Allah did not mention taqwa first. He first mentioned the fact that He created the ability to sin within man. Now it is your duty not to fulfill the urge to sin. This will create taqwa (piety) in you. If you want to obtain piety, then all you have to do is abstain from sin. Achieve Reward without Doing any Work
The owners of factories first make their employees work and then reward them. But in this case, Allah is granting reward for not doing any work. Do not steal, speak lies and do not look at women. By not doing these things, you will be rewarded with piety and Allah’s friendship. What is taqwa? Taqwa is when you have the urge to sin but you abstain due to the fear of Allah.
Source: Life of Piety – By: Hazrat Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahab (db)