The Driving Forces of Spiritual Purification

Throughout the Quran, Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, makes it clear that the reward of Paradise and His pleasure are reserved for the people of Taqwa (God-consciousness and piety). Among the defining characteristics of those who attain this description and its promised reward is that they be Tayyibin — pure and wholesome in their inner selves and their deeds. Allah, the Most High, describes them as follows: “Those whose souls the angels take while they are pure and wholesome, saying, ‘Peace be upon you! Enter Paradise because of what you used to do’” (16:32).

Who, then, are the people of Taqwa whom Allah has distinguished with the promise of Paradise and His pleasure? They are among those whose souls the angels take in a state of purity and wholesomeness.

For a servant of Allah to be Tayyib is to be purified of the defilement that results from wronging one’s own soul. This means striving to free oneself from corrupt beliefs, false assumptions, blameworthy character traits, and evil deeds. Allah describes such believers in Surat Al-Mu’minun: “Indeed, those who stand in awe for fear of their Lord; those who believe in the signs of their Lord; those who do not associate anything with their Lord; and those who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will return to their Lord” (23:57–60).

The use of the present tense in these verses conveys continuity and persistence, highlighting the believers’ consistent commitment to faith and righteous deeds. Such steadfastness helps prepare the way for a righteous end and a blessed departure from this world.

Allah has commanded the believers to remain mindful of Him and steadfast in their submission until the end of their lives. He says: “O you who believe, be mindful of Allah as He deserves to be feared, and do not die except in a state of submission to Him” (3:102).

Every believer must, therefore, persist in purifying their soul from the wrongs they commit against it, striving to attain the blessing of departing this world in a state of purity and wholesomeness.

But how can a believer, with Allah’s help, prepare to meet Him with a purified soul, finding peace and glad tidings when the angels come to receive them? Allah, the Most High, says: “Indeed, those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remain steadfast — the angels descend upon them, saying, ‘Do not fear, nor grieve, but rejoice in the good news of Paradise that you have been promised’” (41:30).

This state of purity and steadfastness is attained, first and foremost, through the following deeds:

First: Reconciling Oneself with Death

Reconciling oneself with death begins with correcting one’s understanding of existence, internalizing this perspective, and viewing life and death in light of divine guidance. Death is a stage in existence that is followed by another life, not a transition into nonexistence. Indeed, it marks the beginning of the eternal life for which the human being was created. Allah, the Most High, recounts the words of the disbelievers: “They will say, ‘Our Lord, You caused us to die twice and gave us life twice, and we have confessed our sins. Is there any way out?’” (40:11).

Death is the appointed end of each person’s life in this world. It is reported in a Hadith narrated by Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that some Bedouins would come to the Prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be upon him, and ask him about the Hour. He would look at the youngest among them and say: “If this one lives, he will not grow old before your Hour comes upon you.” Here, the expression “your Hour” refers to the death of those being addressed, rather than the end of the world. Death also marks the end of the believer’s confinement in this worldly life, as the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him, said: “The world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.” This statement is understood in light of what awaits each person in the Hereafter and the contrast between the believer’s ultimate reward and the disbeliever’s ultimate fate.

This is the first point: reconciling oneself with death, so that it is no longer something a person fears, but rather the appointed term that one awaits. When death comes to a person who has performed righteous deeds, they will be pure and wholesome, and the angels will take their soul in that state. They will then attain the bliss of Allah’s pleasure, Glorified and Exalted be He, and His reward.

Second: Understanding the Reality of Taqwa

Taqwa entails establishing the system of faith, encompassing belief, acknowledgment, and action, throughout every aspect of life, maintaining it consistently, and ensuring that it guides one’s principles, starting points, endeavors, achievements, and objectives. This is achieved by remaining constantly mindful of one’s ultimate goal, aspiring to attain higher spiritual ranks through promptly performing good deeds and refraining from reprehensible actions. It is, therefore, a continuous striving to fulfill the Prophetic command to advance in spiritual rank through sincere striving until one attains the station of Ihsan (spiritual excellence), while continually seeking Allah’s guidance and enabling grace throughout the journey. This is beautifully expressed in the words of Allah, the Most High: “And say, ‘My Lord, cause me to enter through a sound entrance and to exit through a sound exit, and grant me from Yourself a supporting authority’” (17:80).

To remain consistent in the practices of Taqwa, which are outlined in summary in the verses we mentioned from Surat Al-Mu’minun, we find that these verses identify the deeds through which Taqwa is attained. These include reverent fear and apprehension, reciting the Quran, reflecting upon its meanings and drawing lessons from it, sincerity and affirming the Oneness of Allah, taking the initiative and hastening to perform good deeds, and maintaining a heart that remains constantly filled with awe and apprehension before Allah.

To embody these qualities in practice, one must carefully preserve and strengthen two fundamental faculties upon which Taqwa depends: willpower and determination, for they are the driving forces that translate spiritual awareness into righteous action.

To cultivate and sustain these qualities, one must remain steadfast in three essential spiritual practices:

First: Inabah (Constantly Returning to Allah)

Inabah entails continually returning to Allah and to the truth through sincere repentance. This return, however, must be accompanied by fulfilling one’s commitment to Allah. In other words, after seeking forgiveness and abandoning sin, the servant must turn back to Allah through diligent striving, sincere devotion, and steadfast obedience. Allah, the Most High, refers to such individuals as: “ … those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds” (25:70). He also says: “ … those who repent, believe, do righteous deeds, and then remain guided” (20:82).

Furthermore, this return must be accompanied by a sincere effort to reform oneself, as Allah, the Most High, also says: “ … those who repent and rectify themselves” (2:160). Thus, Inabah is an ongoing renewal of one’s commitment to the covenant with Allah and a reaffirmation of one’s determination to reform oneself, correct one’s shortcomings, and remain steadfast in obedience to Him.

Consistency in Inabah also requires continuous reflection upon the signs of Allah’s power and creation, drawing lessons from them that deepen one’s awareness of His greatness and strengthen one’s return to Him. Allah, the Most High, says: “If We willed, We could cause the earth to swallow them, or cause fragments of the sky to fall upon them. Surely, in that is a sign for every servant who continually turns back to Allah” (34:9).

This reflection also extends to contemplating the lives of the Prophets and The Righteous Ones, recognizing the honor Allah bestowed upon them and the qualities through which they attained His favor. Among them are Sulayman and Ayyub (peace be upon them), each of whom Allah describes by saying: “What an excellent servant! Indeed, he was ever-turning to Allah” (38:30, 44).

Cultivating this constant return to Allah requires regularly reciting His words, reflecting deeply upon their meanings, and allowing their guidance to shape one’s understanding, intentions, and actions. Through this sustained engagement with the Quran, reflection becomes a means of spiritual renewal, repentance becomes a path of continuous reform, and Inabah becomes a defining characteristic of the believer’s relationship with Allah.

Second: Patience (Sabr)

Patience (Sabr) is a noble character trait that strengthens steadfastness, deepens humility before Allah, and reinforces willpower and determination. Those who exercise patience are in the company of Allah, and whoever is in His company, Allah enables them to remember Him and makes their affairs easier.

Third: Reliance upon Allah (Tawakkul)

Tawakkul (reliance upon Allah) must accompany one when undertaking every action, for it is rooted in certainty, sincerity, and tranquility of the heart, and serves to strengthen and deepen these qualities.

Another essential quality is to combine patience with reliance upon Allah (Tawakkul) and put both into practice in every deed and every aspect of life until they become inseparable from the believer’s way of life. Through these two qualities, the believer seeks Allah’s assistance and attains His grace and goodness in this world and the Hereafter. Allah, the Most High, says in Surat Al-Nahl: “As for those who emigrated for the sake of Allah after having been wronged, We will surely settle them in a good place in this world, but the reward of the Hereafter is greater, if only they knew. They are those who patiently persevere and place their trust in their Lord” (16:41–42). He also says: “As for those who believe and perform righteous deeds, We will surely settle them in lofty chambers of Paradise beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will remain forever. How excellent is the reward of those who work righteousness! Those who patiently persevere and place their trust in their Lord” (29:58–59).

The foremost foundation for attaining a pure, tranquil, and purified soul — and for remaining steadfast in Inabah (continually returning to Allah), patience, and reliance upon Him with sincerity and excellence — is Tadabbur (deep reflection upon the Quran). Indeed, the Quran itself is the very foundation of Tazkiyah (spiritual purification). Allah, the Most High, says: “Just as We have sent among you a messenger from your own, reciting Our verses to you and purifying you” (2:151).

One scholar said: “This Quran consists of messages that have come to us from our Lord, Mighty and Majestic, containing His covenants. We reflect upon them in our prayers, contemplate them in solitude, and put them into practice through our acts of obedience.”

We conclude with the words of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, affirming that Paradise is the promised reward for the people of Taqwa. Allah, the Most High, says: “Paradise will be brought near to the righteous, no longer far away. This is what you were promised — for everyone who frequently returns to Allah and faithfully safeguards His commands; who fears the Most Merciful unseen and comes with a heart turned to Him in repentance” (50:31–33).

The Awwab is one who frequently returns to Allah in repentance and obedience, while the Hafiz is one who faithfully preserves and upholds Allah’s commands. These two noble qualities are cultivated and sustained through patience (Sabr) and reliance upon Allah (Tawakkul).

Allah’s words, “and comes with a heart turned to Him in repentance,” describe a heart that is humbled before its Lord, mindful of Him, sincere in its devotion, and continually returning to Him, Glorified and Exalted be He, at all times.

Whoever strives to live in this manner, seeking Allah’s guidance and mercy, may hope for a righteous end and a blessed encounter with their Lord. When the angels come to receive their soul, they welcome them with glad tidings of peace and divine acceptance: “Enter it in peace. This is the Day of Eternity” (50:34).