|
Friday Talks |
 |
|
221 |
|
Friday Talks |
|
|
221 |
|
|
|
||
Purification of the soul (2019)
Written by: Abdurrazzak Taher Farih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa.
18 Rabee Al-Awal 1441
15 November 2019
Dearly beloved in Allah,
What is the purification of the soul, or self-purification in our Islamic faith? Self-purification is the cleansing of the self, and fixing of the self or making the self-better through the learning of useful knowledge and doing good deeds.
Cleaning the self (ÊØåíÑ ÇáäøóÝÓ) means cleansing it from the filth, dirt, from sin, immorality, disobediences. Cleansing from associating others with Allah (shirk), cleansing from doubt and suspicion, hate, hypocrisy, pretending in showing off, grudging. Cleansing the self from being envious, from being easily tempted, egotism, vanity and arrogance, from lying, and giving false testimony, from evil and from preaching to misguided paths and many more of those infections and diseases.
Self-purification (ÊÒßíÉ ÇáäøóÝÓ) is done with believing in the oneness and singularity of Allah. It is done with faith and sincerity and certainty. It is done in having hope and love; and in putting your trust in Allah, and nominating Him to handle your affairs, and represent you in every matter, and accept that He has all authority over all things. Self-purification is also done by being God-fearing person, and seeking His help, calling upon Him alone in hours of need; and many more situations where the self must elevate until it reaches a level when it pleases and satisfies the Lord of the heavens and the earth.
Just as the body needs food which will benefit it and not harm it. The body needing the food in order for it to grow and flourish. Similarly, the soul will only grow and flourish when it is purified from all those infections and impurities, then reinforcing it with all those deeds and situations.
Allah made an oath in the blessed Quran. He made eleven oaths affirming the triumph and success of anyone who purifies his/her soul; and the loss, demise and disgrace this who ignores and forgets about the self-purification. Allah says: {An oath is made by the sun and its brightness; (1) By the moon as it follows it (the sun); (2) By the day as it reveals it; (3) By the night as it conceals it; (4) By the heaven and Him Who built it; (5) By the earth and Him Who spread it, (6) And by soul and Him Who perfected its proportions; (7) Then He inspired the soul for it; what is wrong and what is right; (8) Indeed he succeeds who purifies his soul or himself. (9) And indeed he fails who corrupts his soul or himself (10) } 91:1-10.
This oath stated by Allah in fact is made up of eleven oaths just shows how great the status of self-purification is. It shows how important it is. It also warns of the great loss and downfall whoever disregards and corrupts himself or his soul.
People are of two types. One type who are in control of their selves or their souls. They implant the God fearing and the love of God into their souls. Consequently, their souls lead them to all that is good in this life and next life. The second type of people are whom their souls are leading. Their souls have them broken, and their souls made them tools and means to reach all evil and towards total loss in this life and next.
For that reason Allah; in three locations in the Quran, gave preference to soul purification over learning Quran and over learning wisdom. This only reflects the high status and the importance of self-purification. Indeed, what good is having all the knowledge; and what good is having all the wisdom without having self-purification, and without sincerity, without having faith, without humbleness and modesty, without total and true devotion to Allah, and without having total humility towards Allah’s creations.
What good is having all the knowledge if it does not generate the respect, love and fear of God into our souls. What good is it; if it does not inspire us to do night prayers (Qiam lail); or if it does put politeness into us; and it if it does not put humbleness into us; and if it does not make us do good deeds.
What value does knowledge and wisdom have if I am not wise in what I say and in what I do and in all my affairs? What value knowledge and wisdom have if I cannot see the consequence of everything I say or I do? And what value knowledge and wisdom have without true self-purification. Allah says: {Indeed Allâh conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting unto them His Verses, and purifying them, and instructing (or teaching) them the Book (the Qur'ân) and wisdom, while before that they had been in evident or clear misguidance} 3:164.
Dearly beloved, we need self-purification, soul purification. And the first step in self-purification is to realized and be truly informed about the oneness of God, and to have faith into what Allah demands and what His messenger ppbu demands.
The second step is to follow the messenger ppbu, and do as he used to do when it comes to remembering Allah, and in night prayers, and in God praising, and in our daily prayers; in our morals and interactions, in donations and in silence and in speech and in everything.
The third step is to doing all the compulsory requirements, and do the recommended deeds (Nawafil). The compulsory is a must for you to do in perfection and completeness. While the recommended good deeds you can do what you can of them. The messenger ppbu said: {Allah the Exalted has said: the most beloved thing with which My worshipper comes closer to Me is what I have enjoined or imposed upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (extra not imposed prayers or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him.}
Forth, is the keep up of glorifying and remembering God. They are the morning and evening remembrances of Allah. Allah says: {Indeed, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest and peace} 13:28. The messenger ppbu said: {Always keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah}.
Fifth step is to ensure that you have the good company.
Those mentioned are the five steps are the best and most important steps which help in self-purification or purification of the soul.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).
Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
- Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
- PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
- Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
