The instances of Arabic words from the root: waaw, qaaf and yaa (و ق ي) occurs 258 times in the Quran, in 8 derived forms having similar meanings according to their morphological and grammatical forms while we know that an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on context, which is a key concept to understand the message coded in the Arabic text of the Quran:
Note: The above table is populated with data obtained from the corpus.quran.com
17 instances of taqwaa meaning “righteousness” in the noun form and 49 instances of muttaqeen meaning “righteous” in the active participle form have already been reviewed to understand the message in different context in the Quran being crucial for us to attain righteousness with God. However, 166 instances of ittaqaa in the verb form meaning “to become righteous” or “to fear” found in 157 verses across 42 suras are being reviewed to understand how we can become righteous as well.
Instances of ittaqaa
Out of 166 instances of ittaqaa meaning “to become righteous” or “to fear” found in 157 verses across 42 suras in the Quran. 43 instances in the 40 verses across 2 suras have already been reviewed, and 49 instances in the 46 verses across 8 suras are being reviewed here:
[4:1] O people, you shall fear your Lord the One who has created you from a single soul (ittaquu rabbakumu alladhee khalaqakum min nafsin waheedatan) and has created from it its mate and has spread from both of them many men and women. You shall fear God whom you ask about it (ittaquu allaha alladhee tasaa-aluuna bihi) and the relations. Indeed, God is Watcher over you.
[4:9] And let those who deal with if they had left behind them a weak progeny, they would have concerned of them. Let them fear God (fal-yattaquu allaha) and let them say what is just.
[4:77] Have you not seen those to whom it was said: “Restrain yourselves (from fighting), and observe the Contact Prayer and give the Obligatory Charity.” Then when the fighting was decreed for them, then a group of them feared the people as much as they feared God or even greater fear. And they said: “Our Lord, why have You decreed the fighting for us? if only You would delay for us till another time.” Say: “The enjoyment of the world is little, and the Hereafter is far better for whoever fears God (wal-aakhiratu khayrun limani ittaqaa); and you will not be wronged even in the least.”
[4:128] And if a woman fears rebellion or desertion from her husband, then there is no sin for them to reconcile between themselves; and the reconciliation is best (for them). And the souls are swayed by greed. And if you do good and fear (God) (wa-in tuh’sinu wa-tattaquu), then indeed, God is Cognizant of what you do.
[4:129] And you will never be able to deal justly between the women, even if you have sincere intention; so do not incline to the one and leave her (the other one) like the hanging one. And if you reconcile and fear (God) (wa-in tus’lihu wa-tattaquu), then indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[4:131] And to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth. And we have commanded those who have been given the scripture before yourselves and also you that you shall fear God (wa-iyyaakum ani ittaquu allaha). And if you disbelieve, then to God belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and God has been Rich, Praiseworthy.
[5:2] O you who have believed, you do not violate God’s rites, nor the Sacred Month, nor the animal to sacrifice, nor the garlanded ones, nor those coming to the Sacred House seeking bounty from their Lord and pleasure. And when it has been lawful for you, then you may hunt. And let not incite you the hatred of a people as they have prevented you from the Sacred Masjid that you may transgress. You shall help one another in the uprightness and the righteousness; you do not help one another in the sin and the transgression. And you shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha); indeed, God is severe in the retribution.
[5:4] They ask you (Muhammad) what has been made lawful for them; say, “It has been made lawful for you the good things, and what you have taught of the hunting animals, as trainers you teach them of what God has taught you.” So you shall eat from what they have caught for you, and shall mention God’s name upon it, and shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha); indeed, God is swift in the reckoning.
[5:7] You shall remember God’s blessing upon you, and His covenant which He has bound you with it when you said, “We have heard and we have obeyed.” And you shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha); indeed, God is Knower of what is in the breasts.
[5:8] O you who have believed, you shall be steadfast for God as witnesses in the justice, and let not prevent you hatred of a people upon (you) that you do not do justice. You shall be just, it is nearer for the righteousness. You shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha); indeed, God is Cognizant of what you do
[5:11] O you who have believed, you shall remember God’s blessing upon you; when has determined a people that they extend their hands towards you, then He has restrained their hands from you. And you shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha), and upon God so should trust the believers.
[5:35] O you who have believed, you shall fear God (ittaquu allaha) and shall seek the way towards Him, and shall strive in His way that you can succeed.
[5:57] O you who have believed, you do not take as allies those who have taken your religion in ridicule and fun from those who have been given the scripture before yourselves, nor the disbelievers. And you shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha), if you have been believers.
[5:65] And if that the people of the scripture had believed and feared (God) (wa-law anna ahla al-kitaabi aamanuu wa-ittaqaw), we would have certainly removed from them their evil and we would have certainly admitted them to gardens of Bliss.
[5:88] And you shall eat what God has provided you of lawful good things, and you shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha) the One in Him you are believers.
[5:93] There is no sin upon those who believe and do good works for what they ate so that they feared (God) and believed and did good works (idhaa maa ittaqaw wa-aamanuu wa-amiluu al-saalihaati). Afterwards, they fear (God) and believe (thumma ittaqaw wa-aamanuu) while they fear (God) and do good (thumma ittaqaw wa-amiluu ahsanuu), and God loves those who do good.
[5:96] Made lawful for you is the game of the sea and its food as provision for you as well as for the travellers but made unlawful for you is the game of the land as long as you are in a state of Ihram. And you shall fear God the One to Him you will be gathered (wa-ittaquu allaha alladhee ilayhi tuh’sharuuna).
[5:100] Say: “The evil and the good are not equal, even if the abundance of the evil impresses you.” So you shall fear God, O men of understanding that you can succeed (fa-ittaquu allaha yaaulee al-albaabi la’`allakum tuf’lihuuna).
[5:108] That is closer that they would bring the testimony on its forms, or they would fear that their oaths will be refuted after their oaths. And you shall fear God and listen (wa-ittaquu allaha wa-is’ma`uu); and God does not guide the disobedient people.
[5:112] When the disciples said: “O Jesus, son of Mary, is your Lord able that He can send down for us a feast from the heaven?” He said: “You shall fear God (ittaquu allaha) if you are believers.”
[6:32] This worldly life is no more than play and amusement, while surely, the abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who fear (God) (wa-lalddaaru al-aakhiratu khayrun lilladheena yattaquuna). Do you not then understand?
[6:51] And you shall warn with this (Quran) those who fear that they will be gathered to their Lord; for them there is no protector other than Him nor an intercessor that they fear (God) (la’`allahum yattaquuna).
[6:69] And not on those who fear (God) of their reckoning of anything (wa-maa alaa alladheena yattaquuna min hisabihim min shayin) except for a reminder that they shall fear (God) (wa-laakin dhikraa la’`allahum yattaquuna).
[6:72] And that you shall observe the Contact Prayer and fear Him (wa-an aqeemuu al-salata wa-ittaquuhu), and He is the One to Him you will be gathered.
[6:153] And that this is My path, is a straight one. So you shall follow it, and you do not follow the other paths that they part of you from His path. That He has enjoined you with it so that you may fear (Him) (la’`allakum tattaquuna).
[6:155] And this is a scripture we have revealed it is a blessed; so you shall follow it and shall fear (God) (fa-ittabi`uuhu wa-ittaquu) that you are given mercy.
[7:35] O Children of Adam, when messengers come to you from you to deliver My revelations to you; then whoever fears (Me) and reforms (fa-mani ittaqaa wa-aslaha), will have no fear for them nor will they grieve.
[7:63] “Do you wonder that a reminder has come to you from your Lord through a man from you that he can warn you, and that you fear (liyundhirakum wa-litattaquu), and that you are given mercy?”
[7:65] And (sent) to ‘Aad their brother Hud, who said: “My people, you shall worship God, there is no god for you other than Him. Then, will you not fear (Him) (a-fa-laa-tattaquuna)?”
[7:96] And if that people of cities had believed and feared (God) (wa-law anna ahla al-quraa aamanuu wa-ittaqaw), then we would have certainly opened for them blessings from the sky and the land; but they denied, so we seized them for what they used to earn.
[7:156] “And decree for us goodness in this world and in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned to You.” He said: “My punishment – I afflict with it whomever I will, but My mercy has encompassed all things. So I will decree it for those who fear (Me) (fa-sa-aktubuhaa lilladheena yattaquuna) and give the Obligatory Charity, and those who – they believe in our revelations.”
[7:164] And a community among them said: “Why do you preach a people God is destroying them or is punishing them a severe punishment?” They said: “There is absolution to your Lord, and that they fear (Him) (ma`dhiratan ilaa rabbikum wa-la`allahum yattaquuna).”
[7:169] Afterwards, a generation came from after them that inherited the scripture. They accept the good of this lower life and say: “We will be forgiven.” And if such good comes to them, they will accept it; was not the covenant of the scripture taken by them that they would not say about God except the truth and study what was in it while the abode of the Hereafter is far better for those who fear (Him) (wal-ddaaru al-aakhiratu khayrun lilladheena yattaquuna)? So will you not reflect?
[7:171] And as we raised the mountain above them as if it was a canopy while they thought that it would fall on them (and said): “Take what we have given you with strength and remember what is in it that you can fear (us) (la’`allakum tattaquuna).”
[7:201] Indeed, those who fear (God) (inna alladheena ittaqaw), when any evil from the devil touches them, they remember (God), so they are the seer.
[8:1] They ask you (prophet) about the spoils of war. Say: “The spoils of war belong to God and the messenger.” So you shall fear God (fa-ittaquu allaha) and shall make that fair between yourselves, and shall obey God and His messenger if you have been believers.
[8:25] And you shall fear a test (wa-ittaquu fitnatan), which will not only afflict those who have done wrong among you; and you shall know that God is severe in the retribution.
[8:29] O you who have believed, if you fear God (in tattaquu allaha), He will make for you criterion, and He will remove your evils from you and will forgive for you, and God is Possessor of the great bounty.
[8:56] Those with whom you made a treaty, then they may break their treaty at any time as they do not fear (God) (wa-hum laa yattaquuna).
[8:69] So you shall consume of what you gained in war being the lawful good, and shall fear God (wa-ittaquu allaha). Indeed, God is Forgiving, Merciful.
[9:115] And God has not done that He sends a people astray after once He guided them until He makes clear to them what they should fear (hattaa yubayyina lahum maa yattaquuna). Indeed, God is Knower of everything.
[9:119] O you who believed, you shall fear God (ittaquu allaha) and be with the truthful ones.
[10:6] Indeed, in the alternation of the night and the day, and what God has created in the heavens and the earth are signs for a people who fear (Him) (la’aayaatin li’qawmin yattaquuna).
[10:31] Say: “Who provides for you from the sky and the earth or who controls the hearing and the eyesight and who brings forth the living from the dead and brings forth the dead from the living and who controls all affairs?” Then they will say: “God.” Then say: “Then will you not fear (Him) (a-fa-laa-tattaquuna)?”
[10:63] Those who have believed and have done to fear (God) (wa-kaanuu yattaquuna).
[11:78] And his people came to him rushing towards him, and before they had been doing the evil deeds. He said: “O my people, these are my daughters, they are purer for you, so you shall fear God (fa-ittaquu allaha) and do not disgrace me in presence of my guests. Is there not a sane man among you?”
Conclusion
This study may help the believers to succeed in the Hereafter if they fear God reflecting to: creation of humans from a single soul, reward in the Hereafter, marriage and reconciliation, creation of the heavens and the earth, the alternation of the night and the day including many other signs in the heavens and the earth, messengers come with divine revelations, religion taken as mock and fun, Sabbath and favor of God upon the Children of Israel, war treaty and war spoils, worldly life is a play and amusement, mercy of God, what is lawful and unlawful, helping others in committing sins, distinguishing between the evil and the good, bringing out the life from the dead and the dead from the life, provisions from the sky and the earth, controlling our hearing and vision, and homosexuality.
Peaceful Friday, salaam and God bless.
Tafazzal (8/2/2019).