=1= The fourth aspect of the Abrahamic prayer or the fourth excellence
of the great Prophet, which, according to Hadhrat Ibrahim (on whom be
peace) was required in the Seal of all Prophets to last till the Day
of Judgement and which the Qur’an declares to have been fulfilled in
(62:3).
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=2= Each Prophet of God brings teaching which seeks to attain the
pleasure of God and purify his followers. The unique purification that
these verses refer to is by virtue of the decisive verses of the Holy
Qur’an, the like of which had not been revealed before. The teaching
of the Qur’an is full of wisdom and each commandment has been
mentioned with the reasoning behind it. Each word is a Sign
facilitating unparalleled purification. This Book will now continue to
purify till the Day of Judgement, its teaching has not omitted any
aspect therefore it could not have excluded purification. The Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is the purifier of
every person to be born till the Day of Judgement.
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=3= Tazkia (purification) connotes something enhanced, augmented;
something that grows/develops as well as to make pure. The
significance of ‘growth’ is of two kinds; one is to grow/develop in
one’s self and the other is to grow in numbers and in apparatus/
logistics. The purification is also of two kinds; that which is
obvious and that which is ‘internal’….This great Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be on him) that the verse (2:130) speaks of, would
not only purify the minds, rather by imparting wisdom, he would also
purify hearts and these hearts would be filled with love of God and
would reflect Godliness and onlookers would recognise these people to
be people of God.
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=4= This should be one’s aim and one should continue endeavour towardsattaining this, only then one will be able to derive beneficence from
the teaching of the Muzakki (purifier). The Companions of the Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had imbibed his ways.
Considering their previous existence, this was a great Sign from God
and indeed a miracle….. The meteoric changes manifested in the
Companions after they believed in the Holy Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be on him); changes which transformed their earlier
existence of barbarity and savagery into devoutness. This
revolutionary change came about because they sought beneficence from
the holiness of the ‘purifier’. The very same faculties that
previously did not distinguish sin and wickedness strove to do good.
Not only did they purify their hearts from the blessed company of the
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) rather they
spread the good message and identified their Lord through the
resplendent Signs.
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=5= As explained before, one meaning of the word ‘tazkia’ is to growin numbers, therefore, people will continue to believe in the message
of Islam and a time will come when this faith will be triumphant over
all other faiths. The earlier changes did not come about overnight,
however, in accordance with the Abrahamic prayer those errant for
generations were reformed in a spectacular way. Today there is Divine
promise is witnessed for the accomplishment of the mission of the
Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). History bears witness that as
long as his followers adhered to the teachings of the ‘purifier’ they
won over hearts. This is true in the time of the Promised Messiah (on
whom be peace) as well. ..By coming into the subordination of the Holy
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) Allah gave him the
status of a non-law bearing prophet. He is the true and ardent devotee
of the ‘purifier’ therefore his community is growing.. The more they
will purify theirselves, the greater will be the help and succour of
the Holy Spirit. (58:23).
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=6= It is the believer’s task to reflect over the Holy Qur’an and the
advice and counsel of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah
be on him).
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=7= The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said
‘Avoid oppression because oppression will manifest itself as darkness
on the Day of Judgement. Avoid greed, avarice, and malice as it
destroyed the earlier people.’
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=8= The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) defined
‘a destitute person’ as that individual among his ummah who will
present himself on the Day of Judgement with his Salat and his
fasting. However, he would have had abused people and usurped other’s
property and physically harmed others. His virtues (Salat & fasting)
will be granted to his victims and he will thus be ‘destitute’.
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=9= There are individuals who observe worship of God and who give a
lot in financial terms, however, they usurp other’s rights. Purity is
not by virtue of what is apparent, rather it is by virtue of the state
of one’s heart. Financial giving is a source of purification for those
who are well-off.
It is not simply enjoined to give alms in the Qur’an, rather it is
also elucidated where it could be used. Ref: (9:103) and (9:60)….  The
first mention is that of the poor who are completely helpless. Next it
is the needy who cannot make a start because of lack of money, then
the governmental workers and then those whose hearts are to be
reconciled. At the time of early Islam this category (those whose
hearts are to be reconciled) was applicable on those who wished to
accept Islam but due to various predicaments could not do so or the
new Muslims who faced trouble for accepting Islam. However, this does
not mean that Islam pays people to come into its fold. In this day and
age providing for resources for spreading divine light could come
under this category. The next mention in the verse for usage of alms
is for the freeing of slaves. Although this is not applicable in the
current age but unfortunately in some countries people give loans to
servants and put them in a kind of slavery/bondage. It is just now
that voices have been raised against this practice. The government
should find a mutually agreeable solution for this and should not
deprive either the employees or the employers of their rights.
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=10=The funds can also be used to help those who have suffered losses
in business as well as spent on any good cause. They are also used to
help travellers who cannot carry on with their travels due to lack of
funds or to help students with their studies. If Islamic governments
implemented these teachings with good intentions, an image of Islam
would emerge in the world that would be unmatched by any system of the
world and all objections against Islam would dispel… This monetary
system does not just give advantage to Muslims, in fact non-Muslims
also benefit from this system.
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=11=About the concept of purity (2:223) Allah also likes apparent
cleanliness. Indeed, in the teaching of Islam there are specific
instructions about oral hygiene, about keeping oneself clean, one’s
environment clean. For worship there is the requisite of ablution.
There is the specific bath on Friday, use of scent and not to go to
the mosque having eaten something with strong odour. The standard of
cleanliness among Muslims is not up to mark considering how much they
are enjoined towards it.
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=12= In terms of cleanliness of the environment, people  seem to have
the misconception that poverty and filth go hand in hand whereas the
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had enjoined
that cleanliness is part of faith. Huzur related a couple of Ahadith
to elucidate the matter. During morning walk some children are seen
rather unkempt just before school time. Parents should pay attention
towards this matter and in places where [due to heat] one tends to
perspire more, even though there can be water shortage, effort should
be made to take at least one bath a day.
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=13= Cleansing of one’s heart was central. Three vices impede in one’s
purification. One is jealousy. This creates numerous problems. Indeed
when we pray for refuge from the evil of the envier as in Surah Al
Falaq (113:4) we should make an endeavour to avoid envying others as
well. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said
‘Avoid jealousy, it burns up virtues in the manner fire burns up
grass.’ If each person honoured their dues towards others there would
be no jealousy or envy. If the time that people spend consumed in
jealousy was instead spent constructively, they would surpass others.
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=14=The other vice is lying. It is essential to avoid all kind of
falsehood and untruth. Indeed untruth takes one closer to shirk. The
Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) enjoined to
adopt truth for he said truth leads to virtues and virtues take one to
Paradise, whereas untruth should be avoided for it is a source of
depravity and it takes one to the Fire. May Allah keep us all away
from the curse of this practice.
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=15=The third vice that is creating a lot of problems is habitual
borrowing and not returning of loans. People make outlandish excuses
at the time of return of loans and make all sorts of unfair
accusations on the person who asks for his money to be returned. This
is not the practice of the pure hearted; indeed we have to adopt the
ways shown to us by the ‘purifier’. If one’s situation is such that
repayment is not possible then an extension should be requested in a
courteous manner or some surety may be given…..The holy Caliph prayed
that may Allah enable us to put the teaching of the great Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in practice and be included
among those about whom Allah declares: Verily, he truly prospers who
purifies himself. (87:15)…May Allah always include us among the pure.
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