Sections of self-purification:
From the above we can say that self-purification is about expelling and adorning. Expelling all the sins, evils and vices, and then adorning the self by developing it, refining it and reforming it with the noble manners. Out with the bad and in with the good! We keep doing this until we reach the utmost degrees of human sublimity and by this we transform our evil-enticing self into a self-reproaching self then into an assured self.
Why do we need self-purification?
Looking quickly at the condition of the Muslims today we realize how badly they need self-purification and self-building so we could rear ourselves on fearing Allah. Our need for this is ever more pressing than our need for food, drink, and dress for so many reasons:
First: We are fraught with tests and temptations from every direction. So our need for self-building and purification is more pressing than the need of the past Muslims because the corruption in our time is much stronger and tougher than theirs. Also because we have much less support and help from others!
Second: Because we have so many incidents of relapses and recidivism even among those working for Islam. So we must all be careful not to fall into the same fate.
Third: Because responsibility is subjective and liability is individual. Each one will be held accountable for what he/she did so we must be ready for this day, “On the Day when every soul will come disputing for itself…”
Fourth: We never know what is coming next? Tribulation or empowerment! In both cases, we need to build and purify ourselves so that we could stay steadfast.
Fifth: Because we need to help
others build themselves and those who cannot build themselves will not be able
to help others build themselves.
1. Al-Dhilal, part 2, page 3893.2). Ighathat Al-Lahfan, Ibnul-Qayem, part
1, page 75 to 78. 3). Ihya’Ulum Al-Din, part 3, page 4. 4). Abu-Dawood and
Al-Tirmidhi.
5. Ighathat Al-Lahfan, part 2, page 75., 6). Al-Dhilal, part 6, page
3893. 7). Madarij Al-Salikin,
2/356. 9). Ighathat Al-Lahfan, part 2/
49.
10. Al-Bukhari, 538. Muslim, 283. 1)1. Muslim, 284. 12.)Tafsir Al-Saadi, 3/293. 13). Al-Majmu’, 10/269. 14). Ighathat
Al-Lahfan, part 1/49. 13) . Madarij
Al-Salikin, 2/576. 16). Muslim, 2722.
17). Ihya’Ulum Al-Din, part 4, page 382. 1819. Ighathat Al-Lahfan, part 1, page
80. 19). Ihya’Ulum Al-Din, part 4, page
382.
20. Ihya’Ulum Al-Din, part 4, page 386. 21).
TahdibMadarij Al-Salikin. 22).
TahdibMadarij Al-Salikin. ]23. Ahmad and others.
