Self-Purification

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is text from a lecture on self-purification by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Every person 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 tazkiyyah.  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 (s.w.t.), love for the Prophet (s.a.w.) and engaging in dzikr, to be God-conscious at all times.  When this is done, one becomes a model of compassion, piety and truthfulness.  This is one of the reasons why Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الشّمس

قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّٮٰهَا (٩) وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَن دَسَّٮٰهَا (١٠) 

Truly he succeeds that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it! (Surah ash-Shams:9-10) 

Tazkiyyah an-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 (s.w.t.) Says, the nafs, the physical desires, orders one to commit sins.  The result of self-purification is love.  The person cultivates love for Allah (s.w.t.), for the Prophet (s.a.w.), and for mankind at large.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ النِّسَاء

وَمَن يُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ مَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہِم مِّنَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَٱلصِّدِّيقِينَ وَٱلشُّہَدَآءِ وَٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ‌ۚ وَحَسُنَ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ رَفِيقً۬ا (٦٩) 

All who obey Allah and the Messenger are in the company of those on whom is the Grace of Allah ― of the prophets (who teach) the sincere (lovers of Truth), the witnesses (who testify), and the righteous (who do good): Ah!  How a beautiful fellowship! (Surah an-Nisa’:69) 

Tazkiyyah 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 (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعلی

قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ (١٤) وَذَكَرَ ٱسۡمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ (١٥) 

But those will prosper who purifies themselves.  And glorify the Name of their Guardian-Lord, and (lift their hearts) in prayer. (Surah al-A’ala:15) 

Self-purification is an individual matter, and every person will benefit based on his effort. Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ فَاطِر

... وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفۡسِهِۚۦ ... (١٨) 

… whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own soul ... (Surah Fathir:18) 

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) 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 tazkiyyah 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 Ramadhan 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 tazkiyyah in the daily life and also as special acts of worship in order to be a successful person.  And Allah (s.w.t.) will Bless him.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ اللیْل

وَسَيُجَنَّبُہَا ٱلۡأَتۡقَى (١٧) ٱلَّذِى يُؤۡتِى مَالَهُ ۥ يَتَزَكَّىٰ (١٨) وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُ ۥ مِن نِّعۡمَةٍ۬ تُجۡزَىٰٓ (١٩) 

But those most devoted to Allah shall be Removed far from it ― Those who spend their wealth for increase in self-purification, and have in their minds no favour from anyone for which a reward is expected in return, (Surah al-Layl:17-19) 

We remember that it is because the purification of the personality, both physical and spiritual is so important that Allah (s.w.t.) Swore seven times to emphasize the culminating promise that it is tazkiyyah that plays a significant role in success.  Here is verses 1 through 10 of Surah ash Shams with the English translation. 

سُوۡرَةُ الشّمس

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

وَٱلشَّمۡسِ وَضُحَٮٰهَا (١) وَٱلۡقَمَرِ إِذَا تَلَٮٰهَا (٢) وَٱلنَّہَارِ إِذَا جَلَّٮٰهَا (٣) وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا يَغۡشَٮٰهَا (٤) وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَمَا بَنَٮٰهَا (٥) وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَمَا طَحَٮٰهَا (٦) وَنَفۡسٍ۬ وَمَا سَوَّٮٰهَا (٧) فَأَلۡهَمَهَا فُجُورَهَا وَتَقۡوَٮٰهَا (٨) قَدۡ أَفۡلَحَ مَن زَكَّٮٰهَا (٩) وَقَدۡ خَابَ مَن دَسَّٮٰهَا (١٠) 

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

By the Sun and his (glorious) splendour; by the Moon as it follows him; by the day as it shows up (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 soul, and the proportion and order Given to it; and its enlightenment as to its wrong and its right; ― Truly he succeeds that purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it! (Surah ash-Shams:1-10) 

Let us all strive with our wealth, health, education. to purify ourselves, because it should never be forgotten that Allah (s.w.t.) Says, “Whoever purifies himself does so for his own benefit.”  May Allah (s.w.t.) Forgive and Bless all believers.