بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ
Every human
being should concentrate on the removal of undesirable growths and impurities
from the personality. It involves the
self-imposition of efforts for eradicating those tendencies that are obstacles
in the path of moral development. In
this way, it puts an end to the conflict of good and evil that rages in the
human breast.
Theologically,
the process for do doing is called Tazkiyah, (self purification). To abide by the requirements of attaining self
purification is one of the most important ingredients for success in both the
worlds physically and spiritually. When
practiced, it brings spiritual health, morality, love for Allah, love for the
Prophet (pboh) and engaging in Zikr (i.e. to be God-conscious all the time). When this is done one becomes a model of
Compassion, piety and truthfulness.
This is one
of the reasons why Allah says:
Truly,
he succeeds who purifies it, and fails who corrupts it (the heart). (91:9-10)
Tazkiyah
e nafs is the purification of the
physical self by subduing the evil desires that may be plaguing a person. Such desires come from the whispering of Satan
in the breast of men; and because it is from Satan it is evil. In this connection Allah says, the nafs
(physical desires) order one to commit sins.
The result
of self-purification is love. The person
cultivates love for Allah, for the Prophet (pboh), and for mankind at
large. Allah says:
All who
obey Allah and the Messenger are in the Company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah; of the
Prophets; the sincere, the witnesses and the righteous. Ah, what a beautiful
fellowship. (4:69)
Tazkiyah or
self-purification is a comprehensive program, as, in addition to the
purification of the body, one also has to focus on the purification of the
heart. Allah says:
He is
indeed successful who purifies himself, and remembers the name of his Lord and
prays. (87:14-15)
Self
purification is an individual matter, and every person will benefit based on
his effort. Allah says:
And
whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own nafs. (35:18)
Prophet
Muhammad (pboh) used to pray to Allah as follows:
O Allah, grant my inner soul piety and purify it, for
You are the Best Purifier; You are the Guardian and Master.
One of the
best ways of developing tazkiyah both physically and spiritually is to keep
fast, as in fasting one has to restrain himself from all the negative things,
and during fasting in Ramadan he engages himself in extra acts of worship,
charity, patience and reading of the Holy Qur'an.
It is now
left for the individual to continue practicing tazkiyah in the daily life and
also as special acts of worship in order to be a successful person. And Allah will bless him. Allah says:
Those
devoted to Allah shall be removed far from it (i.e. the blazing fire), who
spend their wealth for the increase in self purification, and have in their minds,
no favour from any one for which a reward is expected in return. (92:17-19)
Remember that, it is because
the purification of the personality, both physical and spiritual is very
important that Allah swore
seven times to emphasize the culminating promise that it is tazkiyah that plays
a significant role in success. Here is
the English translation of Verses 1 through 10 of Surah al Shams (91).
"By the Sun and his (glorious)
splendour; By the Moon as she follows him; By the day as it reveals (the Sun's)
glory; By the Night as it conceals it; By the Firmament and its (wonderful)
structure; By the Earth and its (wide) expanse; By the Nafs (Soul), and the
proportion and order given to it and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its
right: - truly he succeeds who purifies it, and he fails who corrupts it!"
Let us all
strive with our wealth, health, education, etc. to purify ourselves, because it
should never be forgotten that Allah says: Whoever purifies himself does so
for his own benefit.
May Allah
forgive and bless all believers.
