A reading of the Qur'an will demonstrate the great importance of taqwa, how pleasing it is to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى and how Allaah سبحانه و تعالى responds to the Muttaqeen. Note in particular the following blessings and benefits from taqwa: [1]
(1) Guidance from the Qur'an is received by the muttaqeen:
"This is the Book concerning which there is no doubt, a guidance for the muttaqeen." (Soorah al-Baqarah, 2:2)
(2) Allaah's special closeness, help and support comes to those who have taqwa:
"Verily, Allaah is with those people who have taqwa, and with those who are Muhsineen." (Soorah an-Nahl, 16:128)
(3) Allaah سبحانه و تعالى gives His loyalty, protection and support (wilaayah) to the muttaqeen:
"Indeed, they will never avail you against Allaah at all. And indeed, the wrongdoers are allies of one another; but Allaah is the protector and ally of the muttaqeen." (Soorah al-Jaathiyah, 45:19)
(4) Allaah loves the muttaqeen:
"Except those of the Mushrikun with whom you have a treaty, and who have not subsequently failed you in aught, nor have supported anyone against you. So fulfill their treaty to them to the end of their term. Surely Allaah loves the muttaqeen." (Soorah at-Tauba, 9:4)
(5) Allaah سبحانه و تعالى gives the muttaqeen a criterion or signs (furqaan) to distinguish right from wrong, good from bad and what is beneficial from what is harmful:
"O you who have believed, if you have taqwa of Allaah , He will grant you a criterion [to judge between right and wrong] and will remove from you your misdeeds and forgive you. And Allah is the possessor of great bounty." (Soorah al-Anfaal, 8:29)
(6 and 7) Allaah سبحانه و تعالى provides beneficial solutions and ways out from difficulty and confusion for those who have taqwa, and Allaah سبحانه و تعالى provides for the muttaqeen from avenues that they did not even imagine:
"Then when they are about to fulfil their term appointed, either take them back in a good manner or part with them in a good manner. And take for witness two just persons from among you (Muslims). And establish the witness for Allaah. That will be an admonition given to him who believes in Allaah and the Last Day. And whosoever has taqwa of Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things. " (Soorah at-Talaaq, 65:2)
(8) Allaah سبحانه و تعالى makes matters easy for the muttaqeen:
"And those who no longer expect menstruation among your women - if you doubt, then their period is three months, and [also for] those who have not menstruated. And for those who are pregnant, their term is until they give birth. And whoever has taqwa of Allaah - He makes matters easy for him." (Soorah at-Talaaq, 65:4)
(9 and 10) Allaah سبحانه و تعالى forgives the sins of the muttaqeen and makes their reward greater:
"That is the Command of Allaah, which He has sent down to you, and whosoever has taqwa of Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will remit his sins from him, and will enlarge his reward." (Soorah at-Talaaq, 65:5)
(11) Allaah سبحانه و تعالى only accepts deeds from those who have taqwa; if a deed is not done with taqwa it will not be accepted:
"And recite to them the story of Adam's two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allaah], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. The latter said to the former: "I will surely kill you." The former said: "Verily, Allaah accepts only from those who are the mutaqeen." (Soorah al-Maa'idah, 5:27)
(12) Prosperity and success comes to the muttaqeen:
"They ask you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) about the new moons. Say: These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage. It is not Al-Birr (piety, righteousness, etc.) that you enter the houses from the back but Al-Birr (is the quality of the one) who has taqwa of Allaah. So enter houses through their proper doors, and have taqwa of Allaah that you may be successful." (Soorah al-Baqarah, 2:189)
(13) Allaah سبحانه و تعالى gives glad tidings in both this life and the Hereafter to the muttaqeen, and that, in fact, is the greatest of rewards:
"Those who believed and had taqwa of Allaah. For them are glad tidings, in the life of the present world and in the Hereafter. No change can there be in the Words of Allaah. That is indeed the supreme success." (Soorah Yoonus, 10:63-64)
(14) The muttaqeen will be entered into Paradise:
"Verily, for the muttaqeen are Gardens of delight (Paradise) with their Lord." (Soorah al-Qalam, 68:34)
(15) The muttaqeen will be spared the Hell-fire:
"There is not one of you but will pass over it (Hell); this is with your Lord; a Decree which must be accomplished. Then We will save those who had taqwa and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees." (Soorah Maryam, 19:71-72)
(16) The muttaqeen will have the special blessing of being seated the seat of sincerity, near to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى, the Omnipotent King:
"Verily, the muttaqeen will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers (Paradise). In a seat of truth, near the Omnipotent King (Allaah, the All-Blessed, the Most High, the Owner of Majesty and Honour)." (Soorah al-Qamar, 54:54-55)
(17) The mutaqeen will be given the honour of being above the rest of creation on the Day of Judgement:
"Beautified for those who disbelieve is the life of this world, and they ridicule those who believe. But those who have taqwa are above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allaah gives provision to whom He wills without account." (Soorah al-Baqarah, 2:212)
(18) All fear of punishment and grief will be removed from the muttaqeen:
"O Children of Adam! If there come to you Messengers from amongst you, reciting to you, My Verses, then whosoever has taqwa and righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." (Soorah al-A'raaf, 7:35)
Notes:
[1] Muhammad Ibn Juzayy al-Kalbi, Kitaab at-Tasheel li-Uloom at-Tanzeel (Beirut: Daar al-Kitaab al-Arabi, 1983), vol. 1, pp. 35-36. Al-Fairoozabaadi adds a few more to those mentioned above, see Muhammad al-Fairoozabaadi, Basaair Dhawai Tamyeez fi Lataaif al-Kitaab al-Azeez (Beirut: al-Maktabah al-Ilmiyyah, n.d.), vol. 2, pp. 301-303
[2] Shaykh Jamaaluddeen Zarabozo, Commentary on the Forty Hadeeth of Imam An-Nawawi رحمه الله, vol. 1, pp. 581-584