Content Soul

July, 2012

• 27 July

  Inner Reformation

  The whole purpose of tazkiyah is to reform one’s fitrah (core character). A person may adopt a facade for a certain time, however when he is tested, his true fitrah emerges. On the path of spiritual purification, a person must strive and work hard in order to eradicate bad character.A spiritual guide can only help and advise, however the onus, …
• 5 July

  A Dignified Composure

  The pressures and trials of life inevitably test a person’s character, but the beauty of a person’s character should shine through in such situations. Many of us become visibly miserable and agitated at such times, however it is the mark of a believer that he maintains a dignified composure and continues to treat others with adab (etiquettes), akhlaaq (manners) and …

April, 2012

• 19 April

  Worshipping in Ease and Hardship

  Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Qur’an: وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ “I have not created men and jinn except that they worship Me. ” [Al Dhariyat 51/56] Worshipping Allah سبحانه وتعالى is a duty upon a person regardless of whether one is in ease or hardship. Many people despair when they practice Islam because they do not …
• 5 April

  Fast Disappearing Qualities

  Alongside the apparent laws, Islam also has a certain spirit. Qualities such as selflessness, tolerance, open-heartedness, open-mindedness and eagerness to serve others are fast disappearing. In this day and age and with our modern society, many of us are not learning sublime, spiritual qualities and social etiquettes, epitomised by the great Muslims of the past, rather we have become increasingly …

March, 2012

• 22 March

  A Balanced Perception of Others

  Islam teaches us to maintain a balanced perception of others. We should not have unrealistically high expectations of anyone. This is because if our exceedingly high expectations (of others) are not realised, we will be disappointed and will eventually lose respect for them. Human beings naturally make mistakes and only Allah سبحانه وتعالى is perfect. If we see others as …
• 8 March

  Speak with Love and Respect

  Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Qur’an, وَقُلْ لِعِبَادِي يَقُولُوا الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ “And say to My servants to speak that which is the best, for shaytaan seeks to draw divisions between them.” [al Isra’ 17:53] Shaytaan creates enmity and hatred between us by exploiting what we say to each other. It is human nature …
• 1 March

  Abandon that which does not Concern you

  Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Qur’an, وَلا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولاً “Do not pursue that regarding which you have no knowledge. Indeed the hearing, the sight and the heart will be questioned” [al Isra’ 17:36] Further, in a hadeeth Rasūl Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم mentions, “Part …

February, 2012

• 9 February

  Remember the Terminator of all Pleasures

  أكثروا ذكر هاذم اللذات يعني الموت ”Remember the terminator of all pleasures i.e. death.” [Tirmidhi] In the above hadeeth we are being reminded to remember the terminator of all pleasures. This is why we are instructed to visit graves and remember death, because death is something that awaits every one of us. The believers have been instructed to take part …

November, 2011

• 3 November

  Control the Nafs

  In a hadeeth Rasūl Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم mentions: الكيس من دان نفسه وعمل لما بعد الموت والعاجز من اتبع نفسه هواها وتمنى على الله Intelligent is he who suppresses his nafs and works for that which is to come after death, and the weak is he who allows his nafs free reign and continues to build hope in …

October, 2011

• 28 October

  Forced to Reflect

  Ilm ul zaahir (outward knowledge) is appealing for a number of reasons including the fact that such knowledge is tangible and stimulates the mind e.g. learning Arabic, fiqh and tafseer. Ilm ul baatin (inner, spiritual knowledge) does not have the same appeal for someone who is interesting in learning and thus some people actually deny it exists. Ilm ul zahir …
• 20 October

  Spiritual Advice for Hajj

  Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Qur’an: الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلاَ رَفَثَ وَلاَ فُسُوقَ وَلاَ جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ وَمَا تَفْعَلُواْ مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللّهُ وَتَزَوَّدُواْ فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُوْلِي الأَلْبَابِ The season of Pilgrimage is the months known; wherefore whosoever ordaineth unto himself the pilgrimage therein, there is no lewdness nor wickedness …
• 13 October

  Debating, criticizing and obstinacy

  Rasūl Allāh صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned the following ḥadīth, “One of the most detested people in the Sight of Allah is he who is obstinate and argumentative.” [Bukhārī] By constantly debating and discussing a person’s heart becomes hard, his ʿibādāt (acts of worship) become mechanical and all he thinks about and is perturbed about are the fine points of …

August, 2011

• 19 August

  The Resident Enemy

  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ الصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ “O believers, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you so that you may attain taqwa(consciousness of Allah).” [al Baqarah 2/183] The nafs is the resident enemy in the heart of a Muslim and the accomplice of …
• 12 August

  The Month of Training

  Ramadhan is the month of training for one on the path of tazkiyah (spiritual purification) and the training one receives in this month is not received at any other time. Below is some practical advice one should try to act on during this blessed month: • Ramadhan is the month of the Qur’an and one should try to complete at …

June, 2011

• 30 June

  Spiritual Reality

  Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Quran, وَمَنْ جَاهَدَ فَإِنَّمَا يُجَاهِدُ لِنَفْسِهِ “And whoever strives, thus he strives only for himself.” [al ʿAnkabūt 29/6] One can never progress on the path of tazkiyah without mujāhadah (striving against one’s nafs and carnal desires) and this, undoubtedly, is very difficult. However, if, with the Help of Allah سبحانه وتعالى,one’s mujāhadah is …
• 24 June

  Die Before Your Death

  At the time of death, the dying man possesses certain attributes whose inculcation is understood from the following aphorism: “Die before your death.” The attributes that are in the perfect state in the dying man are tawba (repentance), zuhd (abstention), qana’a (contentment), tawakkul (trust in Allah), azla (solitude), tawajjuh ila ‘Llah (attention directed to Allah), sabr (patience), rida (being pleased …
• 10 June

  Hearts and Minds

  Allah سبحانه وتعالى says in the Holy Qur’an: أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ Has the time not come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah’s Reminder. [al Ḥadīd 57/16] In order for a person to be to be fully receptive of the laws of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, his heart and mind …

May, 2011

• 27 May

  Sublime Character

  Allah سبحانه وتعالى says of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم in the Holy Quran, وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلى خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ Verily you are upon a sublime character. [al Qalam 68/4] The inner character, manners and demeanour of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Companions رضى الله عنهم would shine through both in private and in public, regardless of who they were …
• 19 May

  Adorn Your Character

  Mawlana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi  رحمة الله عليه, a great a scholar of the Indian subcontinent who died in 1905, wrote an article in which he listed the attributes and characteristics that are manifested in those who reach the rank of ihsaan. We should work towards these attributes which are: 1. To adopt humbleness and regard oneself as inferior. 2. To …
• 5 May

  Annihilate Your Nafs

  One of the goals of tazkiya is to annihilate one’s nafs before one’s death. We should realise that in order to extinguish the nafs and thereby to be instilled with sublime qualities, much sacrifice has to be made. We will have to tolerate some pain (to the nafs) in doing so; only then can we reach the goals we aspire …