Part I

 

1. Initial Supplication

 

I seek refuge with Allah from the Accursed Shaytan

In the Name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful

All Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds

And peace be upon the greatest among the prophets and messengers

Our master and leader Muhammad…..

 

And upon his righteous and pure progeny. 

 

As-Salaam Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuho!

The Peace, Mercy of God and the Blessings of God be on you!

 

2. Starting with verses from the Holy Qur’an (the Final Testament)

 

Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem

In The Name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

  

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ

يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ الْمَلِكِ الْقُدُّوسِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَكِيمِ {1}

[62:1] Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth declares the glory of Allah, the King, the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise.

هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِّنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِن كَانُوا مِن قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ {2}

[62:2] He it is Who raised among the inhabitants of Mecca an Messenger from among themselves, who recites to them His communications and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and the Wisdom, although they were before certainly in clear error,

 

3. Difference between Tahir and Zakkah

1. Tazkiya (self-development, related to nafs) is different from Taharat (purification, related to physical body)

 

وَاللّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُطَّهِّرِينَ  

[9:108] ...God loves all who purify themselves.

2. Allah s.w.t. uses the term Tahir in the Quran to indicate cleanse

3. Allah s.w.t. uses the term Zaka in the Quran to indicate increase, to be suitable, and also to purify

   1. Saying "La illaha illallah" is an act of Tazkiya-e-Nafs (purification of the self)

   2. Tazkiya in the Quranic vocabulary, the term nearest in meaning is self development

   3. It can also mean purification and refers to the cleansing of the human self from all that is unwholesome, undesirable and unwelcome.

4. Example: making the intention to go to medical school requires nurturing certain qualities, focusing your energies, ceasing to waste time, and so on. This is Tazkiya. On the other hand, keeping one's self clean, or keeping one's actions clean (e.g. by not committing forbidden acts) is related to Tahir

5. It refers to the nurturing and the strengthening of all the qualities within the human self that are essential for growth and development, for blossoming and flowering

6. Success and happiness in this world and the Hereafter depend on proper tazkiya

7. Islam is a state of becoming, it is not a state of being. Each day you must strive to improve and better yourself - and you will improve.  Tazkiya is a process that unfolds itself step by step.  The gradual process of change is reflected in revelation of Quran over 23 years. e.g. like a river gradually carves out its way through the earth

    

4. There are lots of injunctions in the Quran about Tazkiya

    

   قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّى

   [87:14] But those will prosper who purify themselves,

    

   قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن زَكَّاهَا

   [91:9] Truly he succeeds that purifies it,

    

   الَّذِي يُؤْتِي مَالَهُ يَتَزَكَّى

   [92:18] Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification,

   Also we learn that it Allah s.w.t. purifies whom He wants

   أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ بَلِ اللّهُ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاء وَلاَ يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلاً

   [4:49] Hast thou not turned Thy vision to those who claim sanctity for themselves? Nay-but Allah Doth sanctify whom He pleaseth. But never will they fail to receive justice in the least little thing.

    

5. How Tazkiya helps us reach closer to Allah s.w.t.

1. The path to God is only illuminated when a person recognizes the central place of God in his life and strives to develop themselves accordingly - Ya Nuru Ya Qudus - Allah s.w.t. is the Light that is Holy

2. In the Islamic scheme of things, the growth of an individual’s character and bringing it to perfection is a goal in itself. Islam addresses individuals, requiring them to worship and obey Allah. It charges them with responsibilities and obligations; it requires them to observe the lawful and the unlawful. Reward is promised to them to for their adherence to faith and dire warnings are served to them for disobedience… if he reaches the highest point possible in his self-development and develops his character as much as he can, the general decadence in his society cannot obstruct his deliverance and felicity. Rather, he will be credited for his positive efforts in a hostile atmosphere.

3. The above account does not imply that Islam pays no regard to social reform. It is of the utmost importance, but it is not a goal by itself.

 

6. Lesson from Hadith Al Qudsi

1. Almighty Allah says: Allah bears witness that indeed, there is no god but He. The Angels and those who posses knowledge are maintaining (His creation) with Justice. There is no God but He, the Mighty, the Wise. Indeed, the true religion with Allah is Islam (3:19). Give good news of jannat (Heaven) to the benevolent people. And warn all sinful and ruined people that they are the losers. The one, who knows Allah and obeys His orders, has attained salvation. The one, who knows Satan and disobeys him, he is safe. The one, who knows the truth and follows it, is safe. The one, who knows falsehood and keeps away from it, has succeeded. The one, who knows this world and discards it, has purified himself. The one, who knows Akhirat (Hereafter) and seeks it, has achieved it. Indeed, Allah guides whoever he wishes and towards him is your return.

 

In conclusion, we should focus on Tazkiya by constant remembrance of Allah s.w.t. and through God-consciousness or Taqwah

 

Glossary

s.w.t. = May He be Glorified and Exalted

a.s. = Upon him be Peace

p.u.b.h.&f = Peace be Upon him and his family

 

- Mujtaba Khambatti, Oct. 5, 2007