In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, You are in awe of the mountains, You are in awe of the night sky, You are in awe of the night sky turning into day; You are in awe at how the baby grows in his mother’s womb; You are in awe of the crops and seeds; You are in awe of what Allah has placed at your subservience. If there is five then you know He is the sixth; If there is four then you know He is the fifth; If there is three then you know Hs is the fourth. Because you know there is One God, the Lord of each and all. You are cognisant that He watches everything and this very understanding causes you to refrain from committing sins. The awe of Allah

There are social markers of piety. There are also outward features we often associate with righteousness, clothing, language, appearance.

But Surah Al-Mulk, verse 12 shifts the focus entirely:

“Indeed, those who fear their Lord unseen will have forgiveness and a great reward.” (Qur’an 67:12)

None of this, however, truly has anything to do with piety unless it is rooted in a deeper reality: being in awe of Allah when no one else sees you. It is doing what is required even when there is no one around to scrutinise you or praise you.

True piety is not performative. It is restraining yourself from temptation purely because Allah sees you.

It takes a heart filled with awe of Allah to walk aw

And from wherever you go out [for prayer], turn your face toward al-Masjid al-Ḥarām. And wherever you [believers] may be, turn your faces toward it in order that the people will not have any argument against you, except for those of them who commit wrong… Meaning some people will forever criticize you. فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ …so fear them not… وَاخْشَوْنِي…. but fear Me. Do not fear people; fear Allah. And remember that the person who fears Allah inclines to Allah, and the person who inclines towards Allah, obeys Allah. And Allah will complete His blessings upon such a person. وَلِأُتِمَّ نِعْمَتِي عَلَيْكُمْ … And [it is] so I may complete My favor upon ​ you… وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَه