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The word TAZKIYA [when applied to NAFS] has
the following meanings:
-Increase and augmentation [in goodness and righteousness]
-Growth and development [in goodness and righteousness]
-Personal development
-Development of self [i.e. NAFS]
-Self-actualization
TAZKIYA is different from TAHAARAT,
which is
-Freedom from dirt, dust or filth
-Freedom from evil or sins
-Distance or remoteness from evil or sins
TAHAARAT encompasses all the following
aspects:
Physical: Freedom from dirt, dust and filth/
cleanliness of body
Mental: Freedom from evil and sinful thought; Freedom
from wrong beliefs, prejudices, etc.
Spiritual: Freedom from the evil effects [on the
personality/self] of sinful deeds
TAHAARAT is a negative virtue in that it does
not develop any positive virtues in man but just it gets rid
of negative and undesirable things.
TAZKIYA is a positive virtue in that it
develops in man positive attributes
Physically, it means, physical development, growth
and wellbeing
Mentally, it stands for the development of the mind
Spiritually, it means development of the SELF, i.e.
developing in oneself the Divine attributes such as ILM,
KHABR, TAKHLEEQ, QUDRAT, MUADDAT, RAHMAT and so on. Or
it would mean to become better in goodness and
righteousness.
Why attain TAZKIYA?
The following benefits of TAZKIYA are given in Quran:
1.
FALAAH which means, success, prosperity, felicity,
fortune, good state, the attainment and acquisition of what
one desires; the conversion of latent potentialities into
actualities [91:9, 87:14]
2. The attainment of Paradise and permanence therein [20:76]
How to attain TAZKIYA?
Quran gives the following means and modes for attaining
TAZKIYA:
1.
By spending money in the cause of Allah [9:103, 92:18]
2. By developing Divine attributes in oneself according to
humanly possible capacity [87:14-15]
3. By following Allah's instructions in all routine and
specific affairs [2:232, 24:28]
4. By lowering the gaze and guarding the chastity [24:30]
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