Taqwa is the OS – Mahmood Habib Masjid and Islamic Centre

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Think about it: if you have a laptop or computer, it has an operating system—the platform on which everything else runs. On that operating system, you upload different apps and software to perform whatever functions you want. The dangers come in two major kinds. One is a virus from outside the system, which can affect it. The second danger comes from within the operating system itself.

Now, what happens is that your system seems to be working fine, but it gets infected by some virus and then stops functioning, or its value vanishes. The other thing that happens is that it works fine initially, but one day you want to do some heavy stuff—like major video editing or running AI with heavy computational work—and you find that the output fails because there was a fault in the operating system all along. It didn’t show up until you put it to the test. This is our nature.

The platform on which everything runs is our heart (*qalb*) and our mind (*’aql*). What we believe—that is the top layer, the awareness of Allahﷻ with which we live—is the foundation. We must not confuse Allahﷻ with ourselves. That concept, that everything we do with the awareness that Allahﷻ must not be confused with us, is the basic platform. Now, on this platform, we upload different kinds of topics: religious knowledge, worldly knowledge (such as science and technology), work, relationships, and so on. All of those good things function only to the extent that the platform remains healthy.

The monitoring for that health is like a virus scan program. In Islam, the “virus scan” is *Salah*. Five times a day, the program comes on and runs. You make sure that everything is functioning correctly in *Salah* because when you are standing before Allahﷻ, believing everything means Allahﷻ, the whole world behind you is Allahﷻ. There is no one between you and Allah; there is no barrier. You are standing directly before Allahﷻ. This makes you act just as you would stand before the throne of Allahﷻ. So, this is what *Salah* does for us: it scans the whole system. If there is any fault in the system, *Salah* reveals it. That’s why we have to perform it five times a day, where this process constantly continues.

Now, in addition to these five daily prayers (*Salah*), if you start bringing something else into your life, then this acts as reinforcement for the platform itself. The Hajj is not like the routine *Salah*, which is merely a check of being on the top layer. The Hajj is deeper; it is literally the connection between you and Allahﷻ. Allahﷻ loves the slave who constantly asks Him. Even if someone keeps asking you repeatedly—once, twice, three times—and every time they get an answer, eventually they stop asking because they know the truth. But Allahﷻ loves those ones who keep asking. Conversely, Allahﷻ is angry with those who do not ask. Especially with Allahﷻ, the best way or position to ask is *Istighfar*. In your own language, can you say “forgive me”? If you wear a wig (metaphorically covering yourself), especially with Allahﷻ, this gets us close to Allahﷻ. That is why it is said that the Jinn must know whom they are addressing. As the Quran says: *”And We will test them with good and bad news until there comes to them what they used to fear”* (Quran 67:2). No one knows what tomorrow holds.

Allahﷻ loves those who seek forgiveness. He said in the Quran regarding the people of distress: *”But those who believe and do righteous deeds, for them is the highest degree.”* And regarding the believers during calamity: *”Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”* (Quran 2:153). When Allahﷻ tests His servants, He does so through trials (*ibtila*). Allah said: *”If you knew the unseen, you would not find any hardship except what Allah has decreed for you.”* (Quran 64:11). So, these are the tests. If we have regular *Salah*, then if we read the hundreds of verses from the Quran, just drink it in like water, then our system becomes beautiful—everything works. The operating system (OS) is working; whatever software you’ve loaded is functioning correctly. Your “virus” protection system is working. You think you’re working well, but sometimes just like a computer under stress, things fail. This test happens to us through difficulties in our lives, calamities, bereavement, or when someone dies. These are the tests.

Normally, everything happens according to our desires (*shawq*), and things go well. But when things do not happen as expected, when there is failure, that is where Allahﷻ tests us. We ask Allah to protect us from His tests, though technically He cannot be stopped from testing us. If Allahﷻ tests us because our platform of faith is weak, or if we have some weakness, there is a chance of breaking. Then we get failure. In such times, we go back to Him and start asking again. They ask Allah for protection from those things. They say: *”O Allah, save me from what I am supposed to face.”* And they include themselves, their children, and their families. So, I said, I will test you in all these ways. Maybe some people get tested in all of them, while others get tested in only one.

Then Allahﷻ sent His mercy upon the believers. As the Quran says regarding the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH): *”And We would never punish until We had sent a messenger.”* (Quran 17:15). For the believers, good news comes. For those with *Sabr* (patience), there is relief. Who are those? The people who, when distress comes to them, say: *”Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return.”* (Quran 2:156). These are the people on whom Allahﷻ sent His mercy and guidance. These are the people who are rightly guided.

So, these are the tests. If we have regular *Salah*, then anything that happens, *Salah* was on the list. If we have the regularity in *Salah*, and then if we read hundreds of verses from the Quran, our system becomes like a beautiful machine where everything works perfectly. The OS is working; whatever software you’ve loaded functions as intended. Your antivirus system is working. You think you’re working well, but sometimes just like a computer under heavy load, it fails. This test is what happens to us through life’s difficulties.

This is where I said: “But sometimes, just like in a computer when you put it to the test, sometimes it fails.” And this test is what happens to us with our lives. When things are not happening as expected, when there is failure, or bereavement, these are the times where Allahﷻ tests us. We ask Allah to protect us from His tests, though He may still test us. If Allahﷻ tests us because the platform of faith is weak, or if we have some weakness, there is a chance of breaking. Then you know, you get failure. In such moments, you go back and start asking again. They ask Allah for protection from those things. They say: *”O Allah, save me from what I am supposed to face,”* including themselves, their children, and their families. So, I said, I will test you in all these ways. Maybe some people get tested in all of them, while others get tested in only one.