[29clepayJainync]

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 successful, Allah سبحانه وتعالى removes certain veils over one’s heart which enables one to see things much clearer and spiritual realities become known. Ultimately, this leads to true faith and the highest rank of ʿubūdiyyah (servitude) to Allah سبحانه وتعالى which is to engage in good deeds and refrain from evil deeds only for the pleasure of Allah سبحانه وتعالى.


The Difficult Part


A sahabi رضى الله عنه asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم for advice. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: ‘Say ‘I believe in Allah’ and then remain steadfast’ [Reported in Muslim]

It is very easy to say ‘I believe in Allah‘ but the second part i.e. ‘remain steadfast‘ (one word in Arabic – istiqamah) is very difficult. This is what makes Islam so different from other faiths. In other faiths once a person has entered the faith, even if they do not remain observant to the faith they have ‘guaranteed membership’ in a way; the person remains part of the faith.

With Islam, it is very different because there is no training or indoctrination. It is a very simple process to enter the faith. However, in contrast to other faiths, there are many things which a person can do or say which can render their faith invalid after they have believed. It is very difficult in remaining steadfast upon Islam; the hard work is not becoming a Muslim but remaining steadfast. The formality of embracing is important but the journey begins when the new Muslim tries to remain steadfast.



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 must be prepared; tazkiyah enables one to do this, just as a farmer prepares the soil before planting the seed. Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم reformed the hearts and minds of the people in Makkah over a period of 13 years without any ahkaam (laws), so when they reached Madinah they were ready and willing to accept the laws of Allah سبحانه وتعالى that were revealed there.