Tazkiya e Nafs – Purification of Self – The criterion for success

Umm Amal – Hiba Magazine Team Writer

Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “And [by] the soul and He Who proportioned it and inspired it [with discernment of] its wickedness and its righteousness. He has succeeded who purifies it.” (Ash Shams 91:7-9)

What is Tazkiya?

The term ‘Tazkiya’ means to proportion something. To balance out something. Allah (swt) by His Divine power has granted balance to our self (Nafs). He has placed wickedness and righteousness both into our Nafs and granted man access to it via satan and angels.

When a choice is presented before us in life, the angels begin to (Ilhaam) plant thoughts of goodness into our Nafs. If we incline towards Taqwa (consciousness of Allah swt), we do good, pleasing Allah (swt). Similarly, the satans begin to incite thoughts (Waswasa) into our Nafs to take the forbidden road. If we incline towards Fujoor (wickedness) we sin, displeasing Allah (swt).

This battle began with our father Adam (as) and Iblis and will continue until end of times between the armies of angels and satan driving man towards heaven or hell based on the choice he makes.

What is Nafs?

Just as the brilliance of the sun is untouchable, so is our Nafs. Nafs is the self, our nature, our temperament, our inclination, our free will to act. We have been created with the knowledge of good and bad (placed within our Nafs) and made accountable for opting our ways between them. Nafs will remain with us forever and we will die with it returning to Allah (swt), having done what we did in this world.

Nafs has the potential to indulge equally in piety and sin. There will be no such time in human life when Nafs will lose the capacity to do good or evil. For e.g. Abu Bakr As Siddiq (rta) embraced Islam right away when presented with Haqq. Conversely, Abu Sufyan (rta) embraced Islam 21 years after battling against Prophet Muhammad (sa). They both made choices based on what their Nafs inclined towards and approved of.

However, it is true that when man is ignorant about its Nafs, it becomes corrupt bringing destruction to himself and others.

What is Fujoor and Taqwa?

Fujoor and Taqwa are opposites and inside of our Nafs. Fujoor is a sin committed by transgressing the boundaries set by Allah (swt). For e.g. what Allah (swt) commands to do is not done and what He has ordered not to do, is done. Fujoor also fuels disbelief in man. It leads man to earn Allah’s (swt) wrath as in case of nation of Thamud who after repeated transgressions over time, finally killed the she camel sent to them as a divine sign from Allah (swt). The act brought upon them Allah’s (swt) punishment killing them all.

Taqwa is a state when man fears Allah (swt). He is conscious and alert of Allah (swt). Man chooses to strengthen his Nafs with this quality to seek pleasure of Allah (swt) and become successful.

What is the role of Tazkiya in attaining eternal success?

The act of Tazkiya keeps Fujoor in check and frightens the Nafs from ugly consequences. Simultaneously, Tazkiya also unleashes and raises Taqwa inside the Nafs. This act of Tazkiya eventually enables the structure of man’s servitude before Allah (swt) to be strengthened.

Tazkiya is a daily act. It is our critical need to perform purification of self, life long, at every age and every stage as we are continually presented with new choices in life. For e.g. To lie or to tell the truth? To avenge or to forgive? To sin or to be pious? Etc.

Naturally our choices of the Nafs are leading us somewhere. It will lead us either towards eternal salvation when we reach our permanent abode in Jannah or our eternal doom in Jahannum.

Tazkiya also plays a huge role in our worldly success. We don’t have to die to reap its fruit. Imagine someone who treads the path of Siraat e Mustaqueem, the straight road of success that reaches Allah (swt). Will he be unsuccessful in Dunya? Never!

How should I implement Tazkiya?

Become Allah’s (swt) slave

This is our true identity regardless of the titles we have in society. The mission of our life is to worship Allah (swt) in this worldly life as His slave. Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Adh Dhariyat 51:56).

Learn this Ayah by heart. Recite it frequently, especially when you are tempted to sin or indulge into Fujoor. Put it somewhere you can read. Think about your servitude before Allah (swt). Is it enough? It never will be. Allah’s (swt) status is too High, and as His creation we are weak and imperfect. Hence we have to strive daily to adhere to our mission of worshiping Him.

What does worship mean? It means to obey, respect, love and fear Allah (swt) inside and outside our acts of worship. Worship doesn’t mean that after our Ibadah we are free to act as we please or where our desire leads. Worship is not constricted to the Masjid only either.

Put a reign over your Nafs

Force your Nafs to obey Allah (swt). Go against your unlawful desires. Discipline your Nafs by doing just the opposite to what your wicked self (Nafs Ammara), demands or commands you to do. These are incitements from satan. Do not follow them. In fact, even while performing Ibadah, you need to push yourself. The Fujoor in the Nafs wants to be lazy, skip, or reject acts of worship. Crush it. You might fail once, twice or a few times but eventually when you will keep inclining towards the right choices, you will begin to win by Allah’s (swt) mercy. As James Clear, the author of “Atomic Habits” states it’s the 1 percent improvements we keep making overtime that finally propel; us forward. Don’t give up!

What is the criterion to measure If Tazkiya is working?

Your actions will improve outwardly

You will find yourself obeying more and more of Allah’s (swt) commands according to the Quran and the Sunnah. Your intentions will become pure even if your Nafs doesn’t want to submit. You will indulge in self talk telling yourself to do the right thing for Allah (swt). For no other reason.

Your state of the heart will change inwardly

You will start feeling better as Allah (swt) will grant Noor (guidance) to your Nafs. You will like to follow Allah’s (swt) commands willingly in spite of disbelief and disobedience around you. You will begin to taste a pleasure of faith and sweetness of Ibadah being in the company of Allah (swt). Your lowly desires will weaken as you are able to control them and feel a state of calm.

What will be Satan’s next plot?

Our greatest asset as a believer is our servitude to Allah (swt). Prophet Muhammad (sa) was a human model of excellence in his worship of Allah (swt). Following him will keep us safe too. But what if you begin to feel a sense of achievement after indulging in Tazkiya e Nafs? What if you begin to claim purity of your soul?

Remember inner thoughts of self-praise, piety, etc. are from satan. These are different modes of arrogance and conceit. Satan was arrogant and was cursed by Allah (swt) for it.

It is his final game plan to incite our self or Nafs to be pleased with self and become negligent of our constant act of purification.

Imagine one day you took a bath and perfumed your body. The scent was appealing to you and you felt pleased with it. Now will you stop bathing or cleaning yourself the rest of your life? No. You will repeat the same daily to keep your body clean.

Similarly, Tazkiya e Nafs is purification of self or Nafs. It is not a single action that should please us and make us neglectful for the remaining part of our life.

What Duas can you make to improve servitude and purification of your Nafs?

Prophet Muhammad (sa) invoked Allah (swt) to improve his servitude in these words:

اللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَىَّ وَأَبُوءُ لَكَ بِذَنْبِيْ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ، فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّاأَنْتَ

“O Allah, You (alone) are my Lord. There is no God except You. You are the One Who created me, and I am your slave. And I stand firm on Your covenant and Your promise, in accordance to my (strength and capability). I seek refuge with You from the evil of the sins I have committed, I confess to You of the blessings You have bestowed upon me. And I confess my sins, therefore (You) forgive me. Indeed no one can pardon sins but (only) You.” (Bukhari)

Following is Prophet Muhammad’s (sa) prayer for a guided Nafs:

اللَّهُمَّ أَلْهِمْنِي رُشْدِي وَأَعِذْنِي مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي

“O Allah! Put integrity and guidance in my heart and protect me from the evil of my soul (Nafs).” (Tirmidhi)

Partially adapted from a course “In depth study of Juzz Am