Purification of the Soul

Allah, The Most High Says: "Those who purify their souls have succeeded and those who corrupt their souls have failed." [Qur'an (91): 9-10]

Purifying the soul is the key to reforming the believer and succeeding in the daily battles against the diverse facets of the lower self, such as: pride, selfishness, arrogance, greed, lust, miserliness, and other destructive tendencies.

The true servant of Allah pays great attention to his inner thoughts and feelings. He works hard to rein them in, and not run headlong into disobedience of Allah, the Most Exalted.

Rectification of the heart is the only way to withstand the relentless onslaught of materialism and overcome the various challenges we face, leading to a happy and purposeful life and the Pleasure of our Lord Allah, the Most High.

For this reason the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: "Beware, in the body there is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound and if it is corrupt the whole body is corrupt, and verily it is the heart." Muslim # 1599

In this fourth instalment, the author Imam Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi - may Allah have mercy on him - discusses how to purify the soul and remove the rust of desire and heedlessness which encapsulates the heart. He quotes from the Qur'an, Sunnah, the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and stories from the salaf.

This powerful work will awaken the soul from procrastination and heedlessness, with the permission of Allah, and lead to a pure and wholesome life - away from sins and vain desires. The reward is the Pleasure and Protection of Allah the Most High, in this life, the grave and the afterlife.