5/11/2017 PracticalTipsforPurificationoftheHeart

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ByWaleedS.Ahmed
July31,2013

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PracticalTipsforPurificationoftheHeart

Adayinwhichneitherwealthnorchildrenshallbeofanybenefit,exceptonewhocomestoGodwitha
soundheart(SratlShuar:8889).

SpiritualpurificationoftheselfistheessenceofIslamicteachings.Knowledgeofthissciencewas
traditionallylearnedbykeepingcompanywithgoodteachersandrighteouscompanions.However,thisoption
islargelyunavailabletomostofus.WhatfollowsisadvicethatIhavebeengatheringfromvariousscholars
regardingspiritualpurification.Ihavecompiledthefollowingasareminderformyselfandforthosesearching

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forsimilaradvice.

BeginwithRepentance

Sinsarebarrierswhichrestricttheopportunitytodogoodworkssobeginyourjourneywithsincere
repentance.Listallofthemainsinsyouaimtoeliminateinthefutureandaskforgivenessforthosesins
specifically.Aspecificrepentancewiththeintentionofstartingonaspiritualquestwillactasastartingline
foryou.Itwillputyouintherightframeofmindandwillallowyoutobecognizantofcommittingthesesins
again.

Whyaskforforgivenessifweknowwewillcommitthesesinsagain?

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IbnAtallhsummarizesafewreasons:Allahlovesthosewhoconstantlyrepent(QurnSratlBaqarah:
222)ourProphet ,thebestofcreation,wouldseekrepentanceover70timesadayrepentancefromasin
reducesitssweetnessitdiscouragesyoufromdoingitagain

EstablishDailyRoutines(Awrad)

Justlikeourphysicalmuscles,ourspiritualmusclesneedtoundergoregulartraininginordertobe
strengthened.ImmAlGhazliexhortsontheimportanceofroutines,Yourtimeshouldnotbewithout
structure,suchthatyouoccupyyourselfarbitrarilywithwhatevercomesalong.Rather,youmusttakeaccount
ofyourselfandorderyourworshipduringthedayandthenight,assigningtoeachperiodoftimeanactivity
thatmustnotbeneglectednorreplacedbyanotheractivity.Bytheorderingofthistime,theblessingwillshow
initself.

Followingisabrieflistofactionsonemustperformregularly,withoutexcuseorneglect.

a)TheObligatoryPrayers

Thisoneissoobviousitdoesntneedtobestated.However,therealityis,mostofusstruggletokeepupwith
ourfiveprayersontime.Thosealreadydoingthisshouldworkonofferingthevoluntaryprayers(sunnan
rawatib)andsupererogatoryprayers(dhuda,ishrq,altlwuetc).

Soundactionsemanatefromsoundstates.Ifyouarestrugglingtokeepupwiththeprayers,lookatthe
spiritualcausesthatmightbehinderingyouraccesstothisblessing.Areyourconstantlyengagedinsinsfor
whichyoufeelnoguiltorremorse?Whattypeofpeopleareyousurroundedby?Doyousleepinastateof
ritualpuritytofacilitatewakingupforFajr?Aretheintentionsbehindyouractssincere?

Actionsarebytheirintentions,socheckyours.SincerityinintentionistoseekGodspleasurealone.Howdo
youknowifyouaresincere?ImmQushayriquotesinhisRisala,Themajorflawofthesincereoneisthathe
isawareofhissincerity.WhenGodMostHighwantstorenderhissinceritypure,heremovesfromhis
sincerityhisawarenessofbeingsincere.Inotherswords,youhavetoconstantlyreevaluateandrenewyour
intentions.Themomentyoustartnoticingyoursincerity,youvebecomeinsincere.

b)HaveadailyreadingofQurn

Whetheritisahizb(i.e.1/60ofQuran),afewpagesorafewlines,pickanamountthatyoucancommitto
readingfromtheQurneveryday.Makeitaroutinetoreadthatamountafteroneoftheobligatoryprayers
afterFajrisusuallythebesttimetodoso.

c)DailySupplications(Dhikr)forMorningandEvenings

Havingaregularwird(adesignatedamount)ofdhikrisalsonecessaryinonesdailyroutine.TheProphet
recommendedsupplicationsformorningsandevenings.Thesehavebeencompliedinnumerousbooksand
litanies.Setasideatime,usuallyafterFajrandMaghrib,torecitethem.ImmalHaddadsWirdalLatifand
RatibalShahirarefromoneofthemostcomprehensiveandeasytorecite(takesjust1015mins),based
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completelyonQurnandSunnah.OtherplacesthesesupplicationscanbefoundareinbookslikeHisnal
Muslim,AdhkarImmNawawiandothercollections.

d)Salutations(Salam)upontheProphet

InyourdailysupplicationsbesuretoincludearoutineofsalutationsupontheProphet .Weshouldaimto
dothisthroughoutourday,butincludingitinourdailyroutineinculcatesthepractice.Onewaytodothisisto
establishthehabitofsayingallallhualayhiwasallamwheneverheismentioned.Themostfamousbookof
salutationsupontheProphet isImmJazulisDalilalKhairt.Thebookhassetasideachapterof
salutationsforeachdayoftheweekitcanberecitedonaweeklyordailybasis.

Ingeneralmakeaneffortto,KeepyourtonguemoistwiththeremembranceofAllh.

Controlyoudiet

ImmAlGhazliconsideredthestomachandgenitalstobethedominatorsofourdesiresiftheyarein
controlallotherlimbsarekeptincheck.Controllingourdietisespeciallyneeded,giventhatweliveina
societywhereobesityisaseriousproblemandwedontthinktwiceabouteatingtosatiety.

ImmAlHadddsuccinctlysummarizethemoderationweneedtobringtoourdiets:Donotmakegoodand
pleasurablefoodyourprimeconcernBewareofeatingexcessivelyandfrequentlyeatingtosatiety,foreven
ifitbefromhalalfoodsitwillstillbethebeginningofmanyevils.Itresultsinhardeningoftheheart,lossof
perspicacity,confusedthinking,lazinessinworship,andotherthings.Thewaytobemoderateistostopeating
whilestilldesiringtoeat,andnottostarteatinguntilyoureallywantfood.Thesignthatyoursisarealdesire
isthatyoudesireanykindoffood.

ReadingList

Followingisalistofmanualsthatoutlineingreaterdetailthestepsoneneedstotaketoattainpurificationof
theheart.Whilemanybookshavebeenwrittenonthesubjectthesebooksareknownforthehandson
approachtakenbytheauthors.

1)TheBookofAssistancebyImmAlHaddd:Amustreadforanyoneseekingspiritualpurification.The
bookisknownforsuccinctnessandpracticality.

2)TheBeginningofGuidancebyImmAlGhazli:HujjatalIslamsgoalinthisbookistooutline
beneficialknowledgehealsolaysoutatimetabletowhichoneshouldaspiretofollow.Writteninthepost
Ihyaperiod,itsamustreadforstudentsofknowledgeandthelaypersonalike.

3)PurificationoftheHeartsbyImmMawlud:PresentedinEnglishwithShaykhHamzaYusufs
commentary,thebookoutlinesspiritualdiseasesandtheirremedies.

4)TheBrideGroomsCrownbyIbnAtallh:Dr.ShermanJacksonpresentshisnewtranslationasSufism
forNonSufis?AimingtobridgethedividebetweenthejuristandtheSufi,IbnAttalhtakesonaZarruqian
approachandwritesthismanualforanyoneseekingtocleansehisorhersoul.

Thelastpieceofadviceistomakeduandtoavoidsins.Practicalmeasuresoutlinedaboveneedtobe
coupledwithconstantprayeraskingGodtograntyouapureheart.Inaddition,whilesinsareinevitable,an
activeeffortneedstobemadetoavoidsinswecommitconsistently.Asmentionedearlier,sinsarebarriersthat
limittheopportunitytodogoodworksavoidingthemandconstantlyseekingforgivenessisthereforevital.

ImamNawawisSpiritualBucketList

AlloftheabovehasbeensummarizedsuccinctlyinaparagraphbyImamNawwawiinhisMaqasid.Printit
out,putituponawallandworktowardsachievingthisspiritualbucketlist.(TakenfromShaykhHamzas
translationofSidiAhmedZarruqsFoundationsoftheSpiritualPathanotherbeneficialread):

OnereachesAllahMostHighbyrepentingfromallthings,unlawfuloroffensiveseekingsacredknowledgein
accordancewithonesneedsmaintainingritualpurityperformingtheobligatoryprayersintherstoftheir
timeandincongregation,includingtheSunnaprayersthatcorrespondtoeachoftheobligatoryprayers
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adheringtotheeightrakaatsofthemidmorningprayer(Duha)andthesixrakaatsafterthesunsetprayer
andbeforethenightprayerperformingthenightprayers(tahajjud)afterawakingfromonessleepfullling
thewitrprayerfastingonMondaysandThursdaysandonthethreedaysofthefullmooni.e.the13th,14th,
and15thofthelunarmonthandalsothedaysoftheyearinwhichfastingisrecommendedrecitingthe
Quranwiththeheartspresencecoupledwithreectionuponitsmeaningsfrequentlyaskingforgivenessof
Allah(istighfar)maintainingprayersandblessingsupontheProphet,peacebeuponhimand,nally,
adheringtothemeritoriousinvocationsofthemorningandtheeveningthathavecometousfromtheSunna
(adhkaarassabaahwaalmasa)

22/ViewComments

22responsestoPracticalTipsforPurificationoftheHeart

1. UmaraTanwersays:
July31,2013at12:19AM

AssalaamuAlaikum.JazakAllahkhairforthisverybeneficialpost!

Reply

2. amelsays:
July31,2013at2:52PM

itsareallygoodpost,givingpointersonwhatshouldbedonedaily,jazakAllah

Reply

3. Travellersays:
July31,2013at5:33PM

MayAllahrewardyouinabundancebrother,thelinksareamazingthankyou.

Reply

4. HiliCliffesays:
August1,2013at5:21AM

Howsurearewethatoursinisforgiven?DoesntitdependonAllahsdecision?

Reply

Zaheersays:
August3,2013at1:09PM

Salaam,

NotsurebrotherWaleedstatedthisanywhereinthearticle,orifyourejustaskingoutof
interestssaketheanswer,ofcourse,isthatAllahsdecisionencompasseseverything,so
naturallyitisHis(s.w.t.)decisionwhetherheforgivesthesinsofanindividual,ornot.

However,thisispreciselywhyweshouldmakeistighfaar,andthenmakeistighfaar,andagain,
andagain.WearenevercertainthatAllahhasforgivenus,soweconstantlyseekHis(s.w.t.)
forgivenessuntilHe(s.w.t.)returnsustoHim(s.w.t.).

Onarelevantsidenote:manypeoplegetdiscouragedfromseekingforgiveness,andfrommaking
duaingeneral,becausetherearenosignsthatAllahhasforgiventhemorhasansweredtheir
dua.ThisisthefirstmistaketomakebecauseitdemonstrateslackoffaithWaleedsexcellent
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exampleoftheNabiMuhammad(s.a.w.s.)makingconstantistighfar,eventhoughhenever
committedsinandanysinhemayhavecommittedwouldhavebeeninstantlyforgiven,isasign
forus.Wehavenumeroussins,andnoautomaticprotectionfromAllahforthem,unlessHe
(s.w.t.)wills.So,byrights,weshouldbemakingmuchmoreistighfarthanourbelovedNabi
(s.a.w.s)

Reply

HiliCliffesays:
August6,2013at7:24AM

Hello?

MayIthankforyourefforttoreplytomyquestion.However,Iamshockedthatbeinga
MuslimIcannotbesurethatmysinsareforgiven.ItmeansthatIcannotrestassuredofthe
kingdomofAllah(s.w.t).Itisthusjustguesswork.Howwillyouthereforetellsomebody
torepentofhissinifyouyourselfarenotsureifthatpersonwillbeforgiven.Itimpliesthat
ifthusbelievinginIsabinMarriamcanbringforgivenessaschristiansBibleclaim,then
Heisworthfollowing.

Reply

Zaheersays:
August6,2013at9:11AM

HelloHilli,

Ithinkyoumayhavemisunderstood.Or,rather,myexplanationwasinadequate:)

WhatImeantwas,everythingisinAllahsdecreewecannotsay,Okay,Iaskedfor
forgiveness,nowAllahhasforgivenme.Thisdoesntmeanweshoulddespairin
Allahsmercy,neveraskforforgiveness,andnauthibllah,startworshippingIsa(a.s)
andaskinghimforforgiveness.

Whatitdoesmean,isthatweshouldneverfeelsecurethatoursinsareforgiven,and
thatwecanrestandnotincreaseourgooddeeds,spirituallevels,anddua.

So,whilenoonecanguaranteethattheir,oranyoneelsessinhasbeenforgiven,the
QuranandSunnahhastaughtusthatAllahsmercyisvast,andthatsolongaswe
makesincererepentance,thereisthepossibilityofAllahforgivingit.Andallsins,
besidesascribingpartnerstoHim(s.w.t.),canbeforgivenevenafterwedie,ifHe
(s.w.t.)sowills.

Theimportantthingisthatwedontdespairwhencommittingsin,butfeelregret,
makerepentance,andmoveon(i.e.dontdwellonthesinandwhetherAllahhas
forgivenitornot).AssumethebestofyourLord,asourNabi(s.a.w.s.)hassaid,but
fearHis(s.w.t.)punishmentaswell.Inthisway,thebalancebetweenhopeinHis
(s.w.t.)mercyandfearofHis(s.w.t.)punishmentcanbeachieved.Thevehicle?
Dua:)

HopethisexplainswhatImeant.

Reply

abdirahmansays:
December25,2014at8:53AM

Therealdiseasesaresinsandonemustrepentfromthemallthetime.Wecanneverbesureif
Allahacceptedourrepentence.Howeverasignthatshowsyourprayershasbeenacceptedisthat
youstopcommitingthosesins.
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Reply

nbsays:
March13,2016at1:50AM

PartofrepentanceishavingfaithinAllahspromisethatheWILLforgiveyou.Yeswedont
knowuntildayofJudgmentifitsacceptedbutweBELIEVEitis,AllahiswhatyouthinkofHim
sohavetheBESTopinionofHim.Youwillalwayscommitsinthatswhywealwaysturnbackto
Allahnotbecausewearehunguponthepast.Also,taubahmeansturningback,notseeking
forgiveness,OurNabiS.A.WwouldturnbacktoAllahi.erememberHimafterbeingoccupied
withworldlywork,whichisnormalandweallneedtokeeprememberingAllah.AllahuAlim

Reply

Hassansays:
May25,2016at6:57PM

WellitsurelydependsuponthedecisionofALLAHbutifyouarerepentingwithtrueheartand
pureintentionyoullhaveasatisfaction.ThisistheindicationthatALLAHhasforgivenyou.I
hopeitansweredyourquestion.

Reply

FatimaIrenesays:
August4,2016at7:52AM

assalamualaikum.Whenyoucannotdothatsinagain,itonlymeansthatAllahs.w.t.hasalready
forgivenyou.OfcoursedontforgettoaskforHisforgivenessfirst.Thereisalwaysforgiveness
fromAllahs.w.t.wheneveryouaskforit,becausethatiswhoAllahs.w.t.is!TheMostForgiving.
:)

Reply

5. Guestsays:
August2,2013at12:02PM

thankyou!muchneedednowthatramadanisending

Reply
6.TheTMIHijabi|says:
October31,2013at1:09PM

[]PracticaltipsforpurificationoftheheartbyMuslimMatters[]

Reply

7. KimberlyKatesays:
October9,2014at10:05AM

AssalaamualaykumwaRahmatullahiwaBarakaatuhu.JazakAllahuKhayran.

Reply

8. AhmedSiddiquisays:
March5,2015at11:38AM

AlhamduLillah.Thereisnothingwrongwiththisarticle.Inmyopiniontheremedyforthepurification
ofheartisverybasic.EveryindividualthatcomestotheMasjidfollowtheseritualsregularlywithout
anydoubt.Thistopicisarealheavydutytopicanditrequirestremendousresearchandexplanation.
Thereisadifferenceinoverthecountermedicationsandprescribedmedications,bothofthemhave
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5/11/2017 PracticalTipsforPurificationoftheHeart

healingpowerandeffectivenessexceptthatlateroneissuperiortotheearlierone.MayAllahguideus
all.MycommentsarenotintendedtohurtanybodysfellingsexceptthatIamstillthirsty.

Reply

9. addinasays:
March22,2015at1:34PM

Thankyouforsharingthisarticle.MayAllahkeepfirmourheartsinthisreligion.

Reply

10. Kutubsays:
August13,2015at10:12AM

Jazakallahforthepost.indeedgoodadviceforspiritualenhancement.

Reply

11. khalidoonsays:
July1,2016at8:53AM

Jazakkallahukhair.MashaaAllahthisisreallyagreathelptothosewhoareinneedofsuchadviceslike
me.Butmayiask,howmayibesincerethenifbeingawarethatiamsinceremeansiamnotsincere?I
hopeyouhelpmebeenlighteninthismattersukran

Reply

WaleedAhmedsays:
July1,2016at5:17PM

waiiyak.wecantknowifweresincereandwhetheranactwedidwasinfactacceptedbyGod.
wehavetoconstantlycheckourintentionsandkeeprenewingitwhilewedoouracts..itsa
constantstruggle

Reply

12. Sanasays:
July2,2016at4:29PM
Postnavigation
Verybeneficialarticle,veryhelpfulandenriching,mayAllahblessuandallofusaameen
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13. Adamsays:
July28,2016at1:03PM

AllahsaysthatheforgivessinstimesintheQuran.AlluhavetodoisworshipnonebutHim.Follow
thewayofMuhammadpeacebeuponhim.Andthemessengersaidtofollowupanevildeedwitha
gooddeedandthelatterwillwipeouttheformer.Meaningifufallintoasinthendosomethingofgood
emailaddress SignUp
iecharity,bedutifultoparents,helpsomeoneinneed,helpanorphanetc.Lotsgoodwecandoifwe
think.ReadtheQuranifuareunsureaboutthings.Itwassentasabookofguidanceafterall.Allah
protectthisdeenandBestowurmercyonthebelievers.Ameen.

Reply
OurPartners
14. Asinnersays:
November8,2016at8:27AM

Allahummainnakaafuwwun,tuhibbulafwa,fafuanni
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5/11/2017 PracticalTipsforPurificationoftheHeart

(OAllah,YouareMostForgiving,andYouloveforgivenesssoforgiveme).:'(:'(

brothersandsistersplzkeepmeinyourprayer.
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