A Barrier of Safety

Imām Ibn Taimiyyah, may Allāh have mercy on him, said:

It has been said: “A slave [of Allāh] does not attain real taqwá¹ until he puts between himself and all things impermissible a barrier of permissible things [which he also does not approach].”

¹protecting oneself from Allāh’s punishment by fulfilling His commands and avoiding what He has prohibited (tr.)

Majmūʿ Al-Fatāwá, vol. 29, p. 113.