Integrity and Taqwa

Integrity and Taqwa

Integrity means moral soundness, uprightness, rectitude and incorruptibility of character. It is all about doing what is right in all circumstances. The word “Integrity” comes from the Latin, “integritas” and “integra” meaning whole, undivided, unbroken, or complete. In the Quran, the word ‘taqwa’ has been used against the word ‘fujoor’ [91:8]. The latter comes from the root f-j-r, which primarily means ‘to break up”. The word ‘fujoor’ means “immorality’ or ‘corruption’ or ‘disintegration’ or ‘impairment of virtue and moral principles’. Hence the word ‘taqwa’, while being used in contrast to ‘fujoor’, could mean moral soundness, uprightness, rectitude and incorruptibility of character. This is what the word ‘integrity’ means. Hence the word ‘taqwa’ may be rendered as ‘integrity’ wherever the context of its use permits it. A Muttaqi, being a man of integrity, is incorruptible, upright and morally sound.

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