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‘Integrity’ – A possible rendition of the word ‘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.
10-06-08
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