Tazkiyah

Some people on the Day of Judgement will say that they were bound into following the practice of others, but Allah SWT will say on that Day that the excuse that you bring forward is not a valid reason for going astray from the straight path. You have your own brain and do not share it with another, you can think and decide for yourself, therefore you had a choice and still have a choice in what you decide to follow. 

"Who made [as equal] with Allah another deity; then throw him into the severe punishment. His [devil] companion will say, 'Our Lord, I did not make him transgress, but he [himself] was in extreme error'. [Allah] will say, 'Do not dispute before Me, while i had already presented to you the warning'."

[Qur'an: Surah Qaf 50, verses 26-28]

 Even Shaytan will stand up on the Day of Judgement saying,

"Indeed, Allah had promised you the promise of truth. And I promised you. But I had no authority over you except that I invited you, and you responded to me. so do not blame me; but blame yourselves. I cannot be called to your aid, nor can you be called to my aid. Indeed, I deny your association of me [with Allah] before. Indeed, for the wrongdoers is a painful punishment." 

[Qur'an: Surah Ibrahim 14, verse 22]

Ultimately the reward or the punishment will be yours because only you can decide what you follow, what you do, what you say, what you put into your bodies, etc. That choice you pick will  either lead you to success or to failure (in this life and/or the Hereafter).

"That Day, the people will depart separately [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds. So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it, and whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it."

[Qur'an: Surah Al-Zalzalah (The Earthquakes) 99, verses 6-8]

Only you can take charge of your life and what you aim to do with it. Only you can accomplish with differentiation, to appreciate and take advantage of the astounding human potential, Allah SWT has gifted us with.

"We have certainly created man in the best stature; then We return him to the lowest of low, except for those who believe and do righteous deeds, for they will have a reward uninterrupted."

[Qur'an: surat at-Tin (The Fig) 95, verses 4-6]

The key to success is to have true faith and to use this faith, we require sound knowledge of Islam by dedicated study of the Qur'an and Sunnah. Then you must use that knowledge to benefit you, by practice, implementing into your life. this requires a strong determination, motivation and enthusiasm, if you are to achieve a righteous conduct.

Seeking the company of others who are devoted to Allah and who are seeking beneficial knowledge and striving hard to please only Allah. These are the people you need around you, these are the people who will encourage you to do good and correct you when you err, fall into sin or deviate from the straight path.

Just a reminder that a company does not always fall in the category of people, a company also consists of your mental and psychological company; the ambitions you nurture, the ideas you entertain, the books you read, the things you watch and listen to, all of your thoughts [positive/negative]. All of these are your companions in solitude, and Allah is All-Watching, All-Knowing.

According to the Qur’an

– A person who has Taqwa; is pure.

– A person can purify themselves through Tauba.

& the name in Qur’an for that person who purifies themselves: taubah.

So, there are two ways to get tazkiya:

1. Taqwa

2. Tauba

[The next post will be tips on how to gain Taqwa and to become Taubah...]