Tazkiah

Tazkiah or "Tazkiah-tun-nafs" (purification of the soul) is the central aim of the Sufi Muslim path. It is the process of transforming the "nafs" (carnal self or desires) from its deplorable state of ego-centredness through various psychospiritual stages to the purity and submission to the will of Allah. Although some have considerably more, most Sufi orders have adopted seven "maqamat" ("maqam" pl. "maqamat", refers to a station on the voyage towards spiritual transformation), the Sufi’s journey begins with "Nafs-al-Ammara" (self-accusing soul) and ends in "Nafs-al-Mutma’inna" (satisfied soul) - although some Sufis’s final stage is "Nafs-as-Safiya wa Kamila" (soul restful and perfected in Allah’s presence). The term is conceptually synonymous with Tasawwuf, Islah al-Batini etc.

Another concept which is closely related but not identical is "Tazkiah-al-Qalb", or cleansing of the heart, which is also a necessary spiritual discipline for travellers on the Sufi path. The aim is the erasure of everything that stands in the way of purifying Allah’s love ("Ishq").

Tazkiyya starts with "Verily deeds are according to intentions" and ends with "Worship Him as though you see Him", the reference being to the first hadith in Sahih Bukhari and the oft referred hadith famously known as the hadith of Gibril in Sahih Muslim.

It must be remembered that "tazkiah" is not a "hal" (state), which is something that descends from Allah into a seeker's heart, without him being able to repel it when it comes, or to attract it when it goes, by his own effort. "Tazkiah" is a continuous process of purification to maintain spiritual health. Similar to the process of maintaining physical health, any lapse in the regimen can cause one to lose their previous gains, and thus caution must always be used to not deviate from the path.

ources

Nasr, SH, "The Spiritual States in Sufism" Allen & Unwin