Introspection, Purification (Tazkiah-Nafs) and Self Development
The concept of purification in Islam is much broader and wider in its contours as it encompasses the purification of body, soul, and surroundings
Post by on Monday, June 21, 2021
DR. SOFI RAFIQÂ
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The word Tazkiah is
of Arabic origin alluding to “Tazkiyah-Al-Nafs†means “Sanctification†or
“purification†of self. Tazkiah originally
meant pruning the plant – to remove what is harmful to its growth. When the
term is used in relation to the human personality, it simply means to beautify
it and to remove from it all evil traces and spiritual diseases that are
obstacles in experiencing Allah. Human beings have a combination of body and soul;
both are inevitable for an alive person. As we take food for the nourishment of
our body likewise our soul also needs some diet for purification. In a general
sense “Tazkiya Nafs†means that human must keep both their bodies and soul
clean as one affects the other directly.Â
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A pious person not only keeps his body clean from all kinds of dirt and
filth, and not focuses only on bodily needs without concern about his inner
soul and his surroundings. The concept of purification in Islam is much broader
and wider in its contours as it encompasses the
purification of body, soul, and surroundings. When it comes to the
self-development of a person the role of purification cannot be neglected. In
the pursuit of self-development, Tazikayah-Al-Nafs is a continuous process of transforming
Nafs (Desires) from its deplorable state of self-centrality through various spiritual
stages towards the level of purity and submission to the Will of Allah (SWT).
Tazkiah is very important as it is has been described as the Ultimate objective
of the teachings of Islam. The real purpose of raising Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
from amongst mankind was performing and teaching Tazkiah as clearly mentioned
in the following pious verses of the Holy Al-Quran:
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Our Lord, and send among them a messenger from themselves who will
recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify
(tazkiah) them. Indeed,
you are the Exalted in Might, the Wise." ( Al-Baqarah: 129)
It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves
reciting to them His verses and purifying (tazkiah) them and teaching them the Book and wisdom -
although they were before in clear error. (Al-Jumm'ah: 2)
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The Scholars both in the field of Psychology and Sociology from Sigmund
Freud (1856–1939) to Erik Erikson (1902–1994) have described the process of
self-development in their own way but Islam has a unique scheme for
self-development vis a vis Tazkiah Nafs, from the perspective of Islamic Man is
the crown of all creations as Quran quotes “Surely we created man in the best
mould (Al-Tin Vesre-5)†so Islam aims at creating among its followers the sense
of checking oneself from erroneous tendencies and beliefs and turning them to
the path of virtue and piety (fear of God's displeasure) and developing it to
attain the stage of perfection, for this Almighty Allah has invested man’s body
and mind with special characteristics and has also equipped him with senses and
other powers and abilities by means of which he can perform the tasks that are
required of him.Â
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The creator has embedded in Man’s nature the tendencies and inclinations
towards both good and evil. In other words, Almighty Allah impregnated every
person’s subconscious with certain notions of good and evil: That good and evil
deed are intrinsically different, thus are not equal in worth and result.
Performing good deeds makes you happy and joyous while evil deeds take you to
the state of sorrow that is why the Al-Quran vehemently condemns immorality
(Fujjur) and appreciates Taqwa (Avoidance of Evil). ........ and by the soul and by Him who perfected it,
and imbued it with (the consciousness of ) its
evil and its piety (8) He who purifies it will prosper (9) and he who suppress
it will be ruined (10). (AL-Shams).
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In light of the above verses when human beings surrender to their desires
without putting any limits or boundaries, and without worrying about the
results it has on the personal development they are using their Nafs-i-Ammarra.
When one realizes that one has committed a sin and regrets and repents, his
nafs begins to purify themselves and evolves into the Nafs-i-lawammah. The
third and the most desired type of Nafs is the Nafs-ul-Mutmainnah . Thus the
evolution of the Nafs from ammara to mutmainnah is the process of tazkiyah and
it is entirely within the power of human beings.
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The Teachings of Islam depict that the desires and appetites play a
vital role in the make-up of every human being, they cannot be ignored. The
children of Adam (AS) unlike angles face the challenge in the life of mastering
these forces within to become successful hereafter. If we fail to do so then we
become the servants of our own appetites and thus fall below the level of the animal
kingdom. The demand of the hour is “To purify the self†by cleansing oneself of
every sort of evil and to nurture good qualities in oneself instead. This is the
only way to prosper and this is the only method of self-development.
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Tazkiya Al nafs is not possible without self-introspection which is the
first step in the ladder of purification. Introspection helps to identify one’s
weaknesses and strengths thus provides a platform for cleansing and eliminating
all kinds of theoretical and practical impurities. Introspection awakens the
human mind; it jolts the
human personality and gives the individual the incentive to reform. It is a
means of self-appraisal, and an urge to reform oneself thus paves the way for
one’s intellectual and spiritual development. Introspection and purification
are two stages in the process of self-development hence go hand in hand. So the
mantra of our prosperous life should be to develop the quality of deep self
introspection to purify our soul.
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(Author can be reached at:  rafeeqgbl@gmail.com )   Â
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