ISLAM AND THE WEST - 94

 V. AKHLAQ / TAZKIAH (INTERNAL PURIFICATION)

 

Regardless of whether we call it a person’s mind, soul, spirit, personality, temperament or inner-self, everyone recognises that there is a part of human beings which is not visible with eyes, but is as clearly unique and identifiable as their facial features, their physique, or their skin colour. Most of us know someone who always becomes angry, and probably someone who always withdraws and goes into their shell, every time something happens against their wishes. We know someone who is the first person to volunteer every time someone needs help, and someone who hates to part with even a cent of their money even if someone is in desperate need of help. These traits of a person’s inner-self are as clearly identifiable when we spend some time with someone, as their height and complexion.

 

In Shariah, some of these traits of inner-self are deemed desirable; like being able to control one’s anger, like having humility and modesty, and some have been deemed undesirable; like routinely erupting so explosively in anger over trivial matters that they end up hurting people physically or emotionally, or having so much love of their wealth that they fail to fulfil the financial obligations due towards them. This fifth facet of Shariah which deals with developing and enhancing the former, and weakening and attenuating the latter, is known by many names such as Ilm-al-Akhlaq, Tazkiyah(literally meaning purification), Tareeqat, or Tasawwuf.

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