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Articles of Faith New Muslims

Self-Purification: How & What For?

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Approached as a comprehensive and all-embracing process, you will find that each part of your life will complement some other part.

The most comprehensive goal for a Muslim is the single-minded desire to attain Paradise. This desire to seek Paradise is a life-long process which can be sparked in a moment- and this desire will provide the means and the momentum to reach the goal.

Your model for self-development is that of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In your quest for Paradise, you must personally take charge of your responsibilities, develop the willpower to perform and make a genuine effort to fulfill your obligations, ensure that you make the best use of your time and adopt a balanced approach to life.

All-embracing Process

Islam does not subscribe to the type of asceticism where we purify our hearts and yet remain immersed in political, economic or social corruption. Tazkiyah must encompass our entire life – the privacy of our thoughts as well as their social manifestations in our daily life. Everything must be in conformity with Allah’s will.

This will of God also requires you to seek and maintain a delicate balance between the various obligations that demand your attention; between your obligations to Allah, your obligations towards others and your obligations towards yourself The Prophet advised us against extremism of any kind. It is reported that he said to `Abdullah ibn `Amr:

“Have I heard right that you fast every day and stand in prayer all night?” `Abdullah replied, “Yes, O Messenger of God.” The Prophet said, “Do not do that. Fast, as well as eat and drink. Stand in prayer, as well as sleep. For your body has a right upon you, your eyes have a right upon you, your wife has a right upon you, and your guest has a right upon you”. (Bukhari & Muslim)

Unless you approach tazkiyah as an all-embracing process, you will find that your life is compartmentalized, certain parts impeding the development of others. This can only result in a life of disharmony and unhappiness.

Approached as a comprehensive and all-embracing process, however, you will find that each part of your life will complement some other part. This should, God willing, make your struggle on the path to God and Janna, easier and full of grace.

As you struggle to make headway on the path to God, always remember that you have an excellent example before you. This is the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Often we would like to emulate our sports heroes, our parents, our teachers, our friends or others who attract our attention. For your spiritual development, however, the most beautiful example is that of the Prophet. Allah says in the Qur’an:

You have, indeed, in the Messenger of God an excellent exemplar, whoever places his hopes in God and the Final Days and who remembers Allah much. (Al-Ahzab 33: 21)

The Ultimate Goal

The decision to purify and develop yourself requires that you clearly define the path and consider the ways and means to achieve Paradise. This whole process will not only purify your heart, but also affect your entire life and the will of Allah will become so much easier for you to follow.

Following the Divine Will is, of course, tazkiyah itself, soon, all your efforts will be directed towards the ultimate goal – the pleasure of Allah and Paradise:

Know that every sin can be effaced through forgiveness, and forgiveness is a sure way to Paradise. As you strive to better yourself, then, simultaneously and continuously pray for forgiveness for all your shortcomings. God says: And whoever repents and believes and works righteous deeds, God changes evil deeds into good ones, and God is Ever-Forgiving, Merciful. (Al-Furqan 25:70)

It is a misconception to believe that simply by setting up Paradise as the ultimate goal, one can get there without any further effort. It is also a misconception that Paradise can solely be achieved by concentrating only on certain aspects of life, the ‘religious and the spiritual’.

The very fact that Paradise is the ultimate objective means that tazkiyah must be pursued in all aspects of life, and in life as a whole. Consider, for example, the following:

– Is not honesty a means to enter Paradise?

– Will not a sense of responsibility enable me to enter Paradise?

– Will not striving to fulfill the needs of fellow human beings make me deserve Paradise?

– Will not abstaining from vain talk and aimless actions, bring me closer to Paradise?

– Is not consciousness of the best use of my time a key to Paradise?

– Will not keeping promises and offering salah on time, which are distinguishing traits of the righteous, put me on the highway to Paradise?

– Must not all of the above be sought to attain Paradise?

Every effort that is legitimate and is aimed at attaining Paradise is also an integral part of the process of tazkiyah.

In sha’ Allah (God-willing), if you take heed of all the prerequisites, blessings and benefits of tazkiya, you will surely find the right environment, the true companionship and brotherhood and the most appropriate training programs to make the task of self-development easier and more rewarding.

So give the good news to My servants who listen to the word [of God], then follow the beauty in it. Such are they whom God has guided And such are they who are endowed with understanding. (Az-Zumar 39: 17-18)

Through the Guidance of God

Remember that every effort that is legitimate and is aimed at attaining Paradise is also an integral part of the process of tazkiyah and that every sin can be effaced through forgiveness – and that forgiveness is the sure way to Paradise.

And as for the one who fears to stand before his Lord and who restrains himself from base desires, the Garden is surely the abode. (An-Nazi`at 79: 40-41)

May Allah enable us to be among those who purify themselves for it is “God Who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity; and none shall be wronged by as much as the husk of a date stone” (An-Nisaa’ 4: 49).

Were it not for God’s favor upon you and His grace, not one of you would ever have remained pure. For it is God who causes whomever He wills to grow in purity: for God is all-Hearing all-Knowing. (An-Nur 24:21)

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The article is excerpted from the author’s book “In the Early Hours: Reflections on Spiritual and Self-Development”.

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Categories
New Muslims Reflections

Discovering One’s Flaws: The Tenth Stop of Your Spiritual Journey to God

By Dr. Jasser Auda

Trying to discover the flaws within you is better than trying to discover the worlds hidden from you.

One may start his journey to God the right way. But unfortunately, he might feel self-conceit or feel that he is doing God a favor and forget that he has many flaws. After setting the rules of how to perfect the beginning of the journey, Ibn `Ata’illah says: “Trying to discover the flaws within you is better than trying to discover the worlds hidden from you.”

“Human” Flaws

A servant, who does extra rituals, might think that is able to know the Unseen or that he has the piercing sight about which the Prophet said; “Beware of the piercing sight of the believer, for he sees with the light of God.” (At-Tirmidhi) Therefore, Ibn `Ata’illah is warning us saying: “Trying to discover the flaws within you is better than trying to discover the worlds hidden from you.”

If one thinks that he is free from flaws, surely he is mistaken, because this is the nature of human beings. God enjoys the perfect attributes, while humans suffer from flaws.

God is the Generous, but man is miser: “Say: “If you were to own all the treasure-houses of my Sustainer’s bounty, lo! you would still try to hold on (to them) tightly for fear of spending (too much): for man has always been avaricious (whereas God is limitless in His bounty).” (Al-Israa’ 17:100) God is the Mighty, but man is very weak: “God wants to lighten your burdens: for man has been created weak.” (An-Nisaa’ 4:28) God is Merciful, but man is cruel. God is much-forbearing, but man is angry. God is forgiving, but man does not forgive easily. God is patient, but man is prone to be hasty in his judgments. God is the Knower, but man is ignorant. God is the Just, but man does injustice to others.

Self-purification

One should do his best to discover the flaws within himself. This is much better than trying to discover the worlds hidden from him because one can not discover hidden worlds before purifying himself from flaws. Man will never purify himself completely, but he should do as much as he can to purify it. Purifying the inner self eventually helps one realize his nature and attain the quality of humbleness. Self-purification and humbleness make one spiritually elevated and bring about divinely bestowed knowledge and spiritual lofty status.

Scholars have identified several ways through which one discovers his flaws. This includes:

First, being criticized by people: if someone criticizes you, you have to think deeply about this criticism. Is it a constructive criticism that will help you discover your flaws? You have to take into consideration every criticism that comes from everybody even if it comes from those who are not in good terms with you. You have to ask yourself: does this criticism show me my flaws?

Second, a good friend; a good friend helps you discover your flaws when he offers you a sincere advice. `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) said: “May God have mercy on the one who shows me my flaws.”
A sincere friend comes to you directly telling you about your flaws. From your part, you should listen to him and look within yourself for those flaws and try to amend them.

Third, God’s tests; when you are put to a test, this test will reveal your flaws and shortcomings. God says; “Are they, then, not aware that they are being tested year-in, year-out? And yet, they do not repent and do not bethink themselves (of God).” (At-Tawbah 9:126)

The verse here is talking about the hypocrites. God always puts them to tests, but they never repent to Him and they do not bethink themselves of God. If you are under pressure or put to test, you have to discover your flaws so that you will pass this test easily.

We pray to God to conceal our flaws and to help us amend them. We pray to God to grant us forgiveness in this world and the world to come.

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The article is excerpted from “Some of Al-Hikam Al-Ataiyyah” (The Path to God: A Journey with Ibn `Ata’illah’s Words of Wisdom In the Light of the Quran, the Prophetic Tradition, and Universal Laws of God- By Dr. Jasser Auda

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Categories
Ethics & Values New Muslims

Moderation: Your Way to Self-Development

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Human beings are prone to go to extremes when overtaken by passion.

By Abdur Rashid Siddiqui

A responsible highways authority will erect a variety of warning signs in order to alert drivers to dangers and so ensure safe passage. Similarly it is necessary that certain of the obstacles in the path of self-purification be identified for the benefit of the seekers of truth. Doing so will help them reach their destination safely. In broad terms, there are certain failings which gradually separate one from one’s goal against which it is well to be forewarned.

One of these failings is extremism. Human beings are prone to go to extremes when overtaken by passion. They often adopt an extremist position on particular issues, whether acts of worship or points of morality, overemphasizing certain matters at the expense of others. Islam enjoins human beings to seek balance and moderation in their outlook and warns them against extremism of any sort. One should therefore observe moderation in the effort to attain self-purification. It is reported on the authority of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Do not strain yourself in matters of faith lest Allah may treat you harshly.’ (Abu Dawud) In another hadith he warned: ‘Beware! Do not become entrapped by extremism. For people before you were destroyed on account of their extremism in faith.’ (Abu Dawud)

We have taken note of extremism as an obstacle and pitfall on the road to self-purification. This should not give rise to the impression that one cannot make progress on this road. Certainly this is not that difficult. Human beings instinctively welcome goodness and are repelled by evil. There are lessons to be learnt from every event in this universe, as well as from one’s own experience. One does not stand in need of joining some training course to assimilate these lessons. Furthermore, it is within man’s capacity to fulfill the obligations prescribed by Allah. Allah does not burden anyone beyond his capacity, for that would run counter to justice.

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Source: Excepted from Tazkiyah: The Islamic Path of Self-Development, edited by Abdur Rashid Siddiqui and published by Islamic Foundation, 2004.

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