Teachings from Surah Baqarah

In the name of ALLAH, The Merciful, The Compassionate

ALLAH says in the Holy Quran in Surah Baqarah: "Who believe in the al-ghayb and establish as-salah and spend out of what we have provided for them"

1) We learn from this ayah that one should have all the mentioned traits to become a 'muttaqi' and if one is missing, then a person cannot be a 'muttaqi'.
2) From this ayah we understand that the first and most important of things for a person to be known as 'muttaqi' is to know his Aqeedah because ALLAH (Subhanahu wa ta'aala) talks about belief in the unseen first.
3) We can also derive from this ayah that a student of knowledge should start from learning his aqeedah then go on to Fiqh of Salah, then Zakah and then onwards.
4) Establishing prayer not only means praying of oneself, but it also includes telling others to offer theirs and praying in congregation. Thus we also learn from this that it is one of the many characteristics of a muttaqi, that he must enjoin good and forbid evil wherever possible.
5) Giving in charity (either voluntarily or obligatory) from what one has been provided with by ALLAH can also be used to say that giving charity from haram means such as stealing or interest based earnings doesn't count anything and will not be rewarded by ALLAH and this can also be seen in authentic Hadith.
6) The word "yunfiquun" means to give away. So, we must learn that keeping our wealth to ourselves is not from the signs of a "Muttaqi" and engaging in charity is.
7) A "muttaqi" is a balanced person. He tries to fulfill the rights of ALLAH by believing in the pillars of Iman. He strives to improve his own self by praying and helping others by giving away in charity.

And ALLAH knows best.