Hawzah News Agency - The commander of the faithful, Imam Ali (peace be upon him) says,

«اعْلَمُوا عِبَادَ اللَّهِ أَنَّ التَّقْوَى دَارُ حِصْنٍ عَزِيزٍ ... أَلَا وَ بِالتَّقْوَى تُقْطَعُ حُمَةُ الْخَطَايَا.»

"Know, O creatures of Allah, that piety is a strong house of protection ... Know that the sting of sins is cut by piety." 1

Explanation:

Just as a person needs outer clothing to cover their body and private parts, they also need a covering for their inner ugliness. Outer clothing protects the body from cold and harms and can serve as an adornment for a person. The inner self (Bāṭin - باطِن) is also at risk and needs to be adorned with divine attributes.

God, the Exalted, has reminded us of this danger as follows:

«يَا بَنِي آدَمَ لَا يَفْتِنَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ كَمَا أَخْرَجَ أَبَوَيْكُمْ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ يَنْزِعُ عَنْهُمَا لِبَاسَهُمَا لِيُرِيَهُمَا سَوْآتِهِمَا.»

"O Children of Adam! Do not let Satan tempt you, like he expelled your parents from paradise, stripping them of their garments to expose to them their nakedness." 2

Although we do not see Satan, he is very aware of us. He constantly watches our every action, big and small, and is always looking for opportunities to infiltrate our being and soul. As the Quran states:

«إِنَّهُ يَرَاكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ.»

"Indeed he sees you—he and his hosts—whence you do not see them." 3

That is why Quran says:

«وَلِبَاسُ التَّقْوَى ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ.»

"Yet the garment of Godwariness—that is the best." 4

This story suggests that God wants to arm humanity against Satan—this sworn enemy—with a weapon that prevents him and his followers from having power over human existence. A weapon that Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) refers to as a "strong and invincible fortress." A weapon that can eliminate the roots of all sins—those that cause a person to distance themselves from their Creator.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Nahj al-Balaghah, Sermon no. 157.

2. Quran, Chapter A'raf, Verse no. 27.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid, Verse no. 26.

The International Service of "Hawzah News Agency"