Tazkiyah-e-Nafs

"Only those who come before Allah with a pure heart will be saved"

ِ ‫َﻓﻔِرﱡ ۤوا۟ إِﻟَﻰ ٱ ﱠ‬

Self Purification:
Tazkiyah, or self-purification, is the heart's journey back to its Creator. It is the process of shedding the burdens of the
soul—the envy, pride, anger, and heedlessness that weigh us down—and nurturing the qualities that make us truly
human: humility, sincerity, compassion, and gratitude. At its core, tazkiyah is not just about cleansing the soul but also
about rediscovering its innate light, allowing it to reflect the beauty of divine guidance.

The Qur'an captures this transformative process with profound simplicity:

"Indeed, he succeeds who purifies it [the soul]."
(Surah Ash-Shams, 91:9)
This verse is a reminder that true success is not measured by wealth, status, or power but by the inner peace and clarity
that come from a soul aligned with its purpose. It speaks to every human being who has felt the weight of their flaws yet
yearns for renewal and growth.Tazkiyah is a deeply humane endeavor. It acknowledges our struggles and imperfections,
urging us to face them with honesty and courage. It is a call to heal from within, to soften hearts hardened by life’s trials,
and to embrace the profound mercy of Allah (SWT). It is not a journey of perfection but one of progress—of becoming a
better version of ourselves each day.In a world that often pulls us outward, tazkiyah invites us inward—to a place where
we can reconnect with Allah, rediscover ourselves, and strive for the kind of success that transcends this fleeting life.
 Tazkiyah in Hadees
1. The Most Beloved Traits
The Prophet Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“The most beloved of you to me are those who are best in character.”
(Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 1162)
This underscores that tazkiyah involves cultivating noble character, such as honesty,
patience, and kindness.
2. Removing Arrogance from the Heart
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬warned:
“No one who has an atom’s weight of arrogance in his heart will enter Paradise.”
(Sahih Muslim, 91)
Tazkiyah entails cleansing the heart from arrogance, ensuring it remains humble and
submissive to Allah.
3. The Heart as the Central Focus
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“Indeed, there is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is sound, the entire body will be sound.
If it is corrupt, the entire body will be corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart.”
(Sahih Bukhari, 52; Sahih Muslim, 1599)
This hadith highlights the importance of the heart in tazkiyah, as it is the source of all
actions and intentions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

01
Death Heart 02
Sick Heart 03
Healthy Heart
 01
Dead Heart
 Definition
A "dead heart" in Islamic spirituality refers to a heart
devoid of faith, guidance, and remembrance of Allah
(SWT). It is a heart that has become spiritually
desensitized, unable to respond to divine truths or
reflect on moral and spiritual obligations. The
concept of a dead heart is profoundly discussed in
the Quran and Hadees, emphasizing its dangers and
the need for revival.
 Characteristics
1. Devoid of Remembrance of Allah
Allah (SWT) says:
‫ﺷ ۭ ًﺔ ﺿَ ﻧ ًۭﻛﺎ‬َ ‫َوﻣَنْ أَﻋْ رَ ضَ ﻋَ ن ِذ ْﻛرِ ي َﻓﺈِنﱠ َﻟﮫُۥ َﻣﻌِﯾ‬
"And whoever turns away from My remembrance—indeed, he will have a depressed life..."
(Surah Taha, 20:124)
A dead heart is one that neglects dhikr (remembrance of Allah), leading to spiritual emptiness and worldly distress.
2. Hardened and Unresponsive
‫ﺷ ﱡد ﻗَﺳْ َو ًۭة‬
َ َ‫ُﺛ ﱠم ﻗَﺳَ تْ ﻗُﻠُو ُﺑﻛُم ﻣ ۢﱢن ﺑَﻌْ ِد ذَٰ ﻟِ َك َﻓﮭِﻰَ ﻛَﭑ ْﻟﺣِﺟَ ﺎرَ ِة أ َْو أ‬
"Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder..."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:74)
A dead heart becomes resistant to the truth, harder than stone, and incapable of absorbing divine guidance.
3. Driven by Desires
The Prophet Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“The heart of an old man remains young in two things: love of the world and unending hopes.”
(Sahih Bukhari, 6420)
A dead heart is enslaved by worldly desires, losing sight of eternal realities and divine priorities.
 Causes
1. Neglecting the Qur'an
Allah (SWT) warns:
‫َوﻗَﺎل َ ٱﻟرﱠ ﺳُول ُ َﯾـٰرَ بﱢ إِنﱠ ﻗ َْوﻣِﻰ ٱﺗﱠﺧَ ذُوا۟ َھـٰذَ ا ٱ ْﻟﻘُرْ ءَ انَ َﻣ ْﮭﺟُورًۭ ا‬
"And the Messenger has said, 'O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Qur'an as [a thing] abandoned.' "
(Surah Al-Furqan, 25:30)
Abandoning the Qur'an, both its recitation and implementation, is a major cause of spiritual death.
2. Sins and Disobedience
The Prophet Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“When a servant commits a sin, a black dot appears on his heart. If he stops, seeks forgiveness, and repents, his
heart is polished. But if he continues, it increases until it covers his entire heart. This is the 'Raan' which Allah
mentioned: 'No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.'”
(Sunan Ibn Majah, 4244; Surah Al-Mutaffifin, 83:14)
Persistent sin darkens the heart, leading to complete spiritual insensitivity.
3. Worldly Attachments
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬warned:
"The love of this world is the root of every sin."
(Al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman, 1136)
Excessive attachment to material pleasures diverts the heart from Allah, resulting in spiritual death.
 SIGNS
1. Lack of Emotional Response to Qur'an and Worship
Allah (SWT) describes the believers:
‫َوإِذَ ا ُﺗﻠِﯾَتْ ﻋَ َﻠ ْﯾ ِﮭ ْم آﯾَﺎ ُﺗﮫُۥ زَ ادَ ْﺗ ُﮭ ْم إِﯾ َﻣ ٰـ ۭ ًﻧﺎ‬
"And when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith."
(Surah Al-Anfal, 8:2)
A dead heart, however, feels no impact from the Qur'an, salah, or other acts of worship.
2. Comfort in Sin and Heedlessness
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain that he fears may fall on him, while the wicked person
considers his sins like a fly that lands on his nose and he just waves it away.”
(Sahih Bukhari, 6308)
A dead heart trivializes sins and remains heedless of accountability.
 REVIVAL
1. Returning to Allah
Allah (SWT) says:
ِ ‫ﻗُلْ َﯾ ٰـ ِﻌﺑَﺎدِىَ ٱ ﱠﻟذِﯾنَ أَﺳْ رَ ﻓُوا۟ ﻋَ ﻠ ٰ َٓﻰ أَﻧﻔُﺳِ ِﮭ ْم َﻻ َﺗ ْﻘ َﻧطُوا۟ ﻣِن رﱠ ﺣْ َﻣ ِﺔ ٱ ﱠ‬
"Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah.'"
(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53)
Tawbah (repentance) and seeking Allah’s forgiveness are the first steps toward reviving the heart.
2. Engaging with the Qur'an
The Qur'an is a source of healing:
َ‫َو ُﻧﻧَزﱢ ل ُ ﻣِنَ ٱ ْﻟﻘُرْ ءَ ا ِن ﻣَﺎ ھ َُو ﺷِ ﻔَﺂ ٌۭء َورَ ﺣْ َﻣ ٌۭﺔ ﱢﻟ ْﻠﻣ ُْؤ ِﻣﻧِﯾن‬
"And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers..."
(Surah Al-Isra, 17:82)
3. Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“The example of the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not is like the living and the dead.”
(Sahih Bukhari, 6407)
Frequent remembrance of Allah softens and revives the heart.
4. Righteous Company
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
“A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends.”
(Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 2378)
Being in the company of righteous people inspires spiritual growth and revives the heart.
Characteristics of a Sick Heart
Fluctuating Faith
Sick Heart
Allah (SWT) says:
‫َوﻣِنَ ٱﻟﻧﱠﺎسِ ﻣَن َﯾﻘُول ُ ءَ ا َﻣﻧﱠﺎ ﺑِﭑ ﱠ ِ َوﺑِﭑ ْﻟﯾ َْومِ ٱ ْﻟـَٔﺎﺧِرِ َوﻣَﺎ ھُم ِﺑﻣ ُْؤ ِﻣﻧِﯾنَ ۞ ﻓِﻰ ﻗُﻠُو ِﺑﮭِم ﻣﱠرَ ۭضٌ ﻓَزَ ادَ ُھ ُم ٱ ﱠ ُ ﻣَرَ ًۭﺿﺎ‬
"And of the people are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' but they are not believers. In their hearts is a disease,
so Allah has increased their disease..."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:8-10)
A sick heart wavers in belief, often manifesting hypocrisy, doubt, or insincerity.
Hypocrisy and Deception
Allah describes the hypocrites:
َ‫ﺷ ُﻌرُون‬
ْ ‫ﯾُﺧَ ٰـ ِدﻋُونَ ٱ ﱠ َ َوٱ ﱠﻟذِﯾنَ ءَ ا َﻣﻧُوا۟ َوﻣَﺎ ﯾَﺧْ دَ ﻋُونَ إ ﱠِﻵ أَﻧﻔُﺳَ ُﮭ ْم َوﻣَﺎ َﯾ‬
"They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not."
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:9)
A sick heart often deceives others and itself, remaining unaware of its spiritual fragility.Inclination Toward Sin
The Prophet Muhammad (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
"The hearts of people are prone to rust like iron, and their polishing is the remembrance of Allah."
(Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman)
The sick heart is prone to sin, becoming "rusty" due to a lack of spiritual polishing through dhikr and good deeds.
Love of the World
The sick heart is deeply attached to materialism and desires.
Allah (SWT) says:
‫ت‬
ِ ‫ﺷﮭ ََٰو‬
‫ُزﯾﱢنَ ﻟِﻠﻧﱠﺎسِ ﺣُبﱡ ٱﻟ ﱠ‬
"Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire..."
(Surah Aal-E-Imran, 3:14)
Excessive attachment to worldly pleasures weakens the heart and distances it from Allah.
Remedies
1. Sincere Repentance
Allah (SWT) says:
َ‫َوﺗُوﺑ ُٓو ْا إِﻟَﻰ ٱ ﱠ ِ ﺟَ ﻣِﯾﻌًﺎ أَ ﱡﯾﮭَﺎ ٱﻟۡ ﻣ ُۡؤ ِﻣﻧُونَ ﻟَﻌَ ﱠﻠﻛُمۡ ﺗُﻔۡ ﻠِﺣُون‬
"And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed."
(Surah An-Nur, 24:31)
2. Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
"The example of the one who remembers Allah and the one who does not is like the living and the dead."
(Sahih Bukhari, 6407)
Frequent dhikr revives and strengthens the heart.
3. Seeking Righteous Company
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
"A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so let one of you look at whom he befriends."
(Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 2378)
Good companions influence and heal a sick heart.
4. Engaging with the Qur'an
Allah (SWT) says:
ِ‫ﺻدُور‬‫َﯾ ٰـٓﺄ َ ﱡﯾﮭَﺎ ٱﻟﻧﱠﺎسُ ﻗ َۡد ﺟَ ﺂءَ ﺗۡ ﻛُم ﻣ ۡﱠوﻋِ ظَ ۭ ٌﺔ ﻣﱢن رﱠ ﱢﺑﻛُمۡ َوﺷِ ﻔَﺂ ٌۭء ﱢﻟﻣَﺎ ﻓِﻰ ٱﻟ ﱡ‬
"O mankind, there has come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts..."
(Surah Yunus, 10:57)
The Qur'an is a source of healing and guidance for ailing hearts.
 Healthy Heart
A "healthy heart" in Islamic spirituality is one that is pure, free from sin and
hypocrisy, and wholly connected to Allah. It is a heart that loves what Allah
loves, fears Him, and is steadfast in righteousness. The Qur'an and Hadith
describe the qualities of such a heart and the means to nurture it.
1. Submission to Allah
Characteristics
Allah (SWT) says:
‫ﯾ َۡو َم َﻻ ﯾَﻧ َﻔ ُﻊ ﻣَﺎ ۭل ٌ َو َﻻ َﺑﻧُونَ ۞ إ ﱠِﻻ ﻣ َۡن أَﺗَﻰ ٱ ﱠ َ ِﺑﻘَﻠۡ ٍۢب ﺳَ ﻠِﯾ ۢ ٍم‬
"The Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit, but only one who comes to Allah with a sound heart."
(Surah Ash-Shu’ara, 26:88-89)
A healthy heart is free from shirk, hypocrisy, and moral corruption, fully submitted to Allah.

2. Remembrance of Allah
Allah (SWT) says:
ُ‫ٱ ﱠﻟذِﯾنَ ءَ ا َﻣﻧُوا۟ َوﺗ َۡط َﻣﺋِنﱡ ﻗُﻠُو ُﺑﮭُم ِﺑذِﻛۡ رِ ٱ ﱠ ِ ۗ أ ََﻻ ِﺑذِﻛۡ رِ ٱ ﱠ ِ ﺗ َۡط َﻣﺋِنﱡ ٱﻟۡ ﻘُﻠُوب‬
"Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of
Allah hearts are assured."
(Surah Ar-Ra’d, 13:28)
The healthy heart finds peace and tranquility in remembering Allah.

3. Guided by Revelation
Allah (SWT) says:
ۡ‫َوٱ ﱠﻟذِﯾنَ ۡٱھﺗَدَ ۡوا۟ زَ ادَ ھُمۡ ُھ ۭ ًدى َوءَ اﺗَﯨٰ ﮭُمۡ ﺗَﻘۡ َوﯨٰ ﮭُم‬
"And those who are guided—He increases them in guidance and gives them their righteousness."
(Surah Muhammad, 47:17)
A healthy heart is nourished by the Qur'an and Sunnah, which increase its faith and piety.
 SIGNS
1. Eagerness for Worship
A healthy heart finds joy and fulfillment in acts of worship, such as prayer, fasting, and recitation of the
Qur'an.
2. Empathy and Humility
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
"The most beloved of people to Allah is the one who brings the most benefit to others."
(Al-Mu'jam Al-Awsat, 5787)
A healthy heart is humble and compassionate toward others.
3. Acceptance of Truth
Allah (SWT) says:
‫َﻓ َﺑﺷ ۡﱢر ﻋِ ﺑَﺎ ِد ٱ ﱠﻟذِﯾنَ ﯾ َۡﺳ َﺗ ِﻣﻌُونَ ٱﻟۡ ﻘ َۡول َ َﻓ َﯾ ﱠﺗ ِﺑﻌُونَ أ َۡﺣﺳَ َﻧﮫُۥ‬
"So give good tidings to My servants who listen to speech and follow the best of it."
(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:17-18)
A healthy heart readily accepts truth and strives to act upon it.
 Remedies for maintaining it
1. Regular Qur'anic Recitation
َ‫َو ُﻧﻧَزﱢ ل ُ ﻣِنَ ٱﻟۡ ﻘ ُۡرءَ ا ِن ﻣَﺎ ھ َُو ﺷِ ﻔَﺂ ٌۭء َورَ ۡﺣ َﻣ ٌۭﺔ ﻟﱢﻠۡ ﻣ ُۡؤ ِﻣﻧِﯾن‬
"And We send down of the Qur'an that which is healing and mercy for the believers."
(Surah Al-Isra, 17:82)
The Qur'an purifies and strengthens the heart.
2. Gratitude (Shukr)
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
"Whoever is not grateful for small things will not be grateful for large things."
(Musnad Ahmad, 23704)
Gratitude keeps the heart connected to Allah and content with His blessings.
3. Consistent Dhikr (Remembrance of Allah)
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬said:
"Shall I not inform you of the best of deeds... Dhikr of Allah."
(Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 3377)
Constant remembrance keeps the heart alive and healthy.
4. Frequent Supplication (Dua)
The Prophet (‫ )ﷺ‬frequently made this supplication:
"O Turner of the hearts, keep my heart firm upon Your religion."
(Sunan At-Tirmidhi, 3522)
Dua connects the heart with Allah and ensures its steadfastness.
A heart that’s pure, a heart that’s kind,
Free from the weight of selfish mind,
In Allah’s light it finds its way,
Guided by truth, both night and day.

It beats with mercy, gentle and true,

With love for others, ever anew,
No envy or hate, no pride to hold,
Just peace within, both young and old.

It’s cleansed of doubt, it’s free from fear,

It seeks forgiveness, always near.
For in a heart so pure, we find,
The essence of peace, the love divine.

O heart, keep pure, remain steadfast,

For in purity, true joy will last.
And when we meet Allah on that day,
A heart so pure will light the way.

UMBRA