dawah talim tazkiyah by shaykh al-hadith fazlur rahman azmi

7/31/2019 Dawah Talim Tazkiyah By Shaykh Al-hadith Fazlur Rahman Azmi

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DA'WAH, TA'LIM AND TAZKIYAH

THE THREE TAS KS OF R ASULULLAH

S h a y k h u l Ha d it h Ha d r at M a u la n a F a d h lu r R a h m a n Azmi

Sa h ib v&!

T r a n s la t e d By:

Ma u la n a F a r id P a t e l

P u b li s h e d By :

M a d r a s a h D a wa t u l H a q 2 4 L im b d a S t r e e t - Az a a d v i lle 1 7 5 0

( H i : d\j~* Jl)

By:

P. O. Box 93 6 2 , Aza a d v i lle 175 0 Te l: 0 1 1 4 1 3 2 8 5 4 Fax: O i l 4 1 3 3 6 3 4

Ce ll: 0 8 2 6 9 3 8 9 2 4


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CONTENTS

Introduction.........................................................................3

The Responsibilities of the Ambiyaaga.....................................4

Commentary on These Three Duties....................................... 8

The Commentary of Maulana Ashraf 'AN Thanw i^ ................... 8

An Extract from the Lecture of Maulana Inamul Hasan .........9

The First Duty of the Ambiya a was Da'wah..........................10

The Commentary of Allamah Shabbir Ahmad Uthmani J k , ......10

Other Verses & Ahadith explaining the Missions of the Ambiya

12

Conclusion......................................................................... 15


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UwL~ j J

Introduction

Allah st has made Nab! s such a role model, that the person who isclosest to him will be the most beloved in the eyes ofAllahSt.

The booklet before you is an introduction to three tasks ofNabiMwhichAllahSt ordained upon him as his responsibilities in the Noble Qur'an.

The first responsibility of the Nabi iw a s to recite the verses of the

Qur'an to the Ummah. This is the propagation ofDin. The second wasto purify the souls of the believers. This is Tazkiyah. The thirdresponsibility was to teach the Ummah the Qur'anand Al-Hikmah.

In this booklet these tasks have been explained in some detail in the

light of the commentaries of reliable and respected Ulama.

It is hoped that by means of this work, Allah St blesses us with thecorrect understanding of these responsibilities and the ability to fulfil

the rights of these responsibilities. These blessings will enable us toemulate Nabi s and to attain perfection by adhering to his Sunnah sothat we attain the proximity of Almighty Allah H.

Every believer, together with propagating Dm and encouraging others

to do so, should also be concerned about his own spiritual reformationas well as that of others. It is essential that a person adorns his own

life with good actions by studying the knowledge of the Qur'an and the

Sunnah and one should encourage others to do the same.

May Allah st grant us the divine ability to take as much part as possiblein these three domains and may He make us the the firm adherentsand devotees to every Sunnah ofRasulullah s, hence granting us love

and acceptance. Amin

(Shaykh) Fadhlur Rahman Azami

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The Responsibilities of the Ambiya1

AllahSt says:

j 42UT ^ Jl m h k jjlm jil ^Js- M 'j* lu ]

(\ m . d \ ^ s ^ ) %0Q- d*>Ub Jli [>s jl j ^ j LjIxSnJI j

/\//a/? St has shown great kindness to the believers, when He sent aMessenger to them from among themselves to recite His Signs to themand purify them and teach them the Book and Wisdom, before that

they were clearly misguided.2

This theme is also mentioned in Surah Jumu'ah:

LjIsSnJI ^ j A

(T:51)%09~*i d*>Ijd(_PJ-8 jl J J

It is He who raised among the unlettered people a Messenger fromamong them to recite His verses to them, purify them and teach themthe Book and Wisdom, before that they were clearly misguided.3

Allamah Alusi4jife, mentions jn Ruhul Ma'am (1:386) the Tafstr(commentary) of the following Ayah5:

h e r e u n d e r , t h e a u t h o r p r e s e n t s t h e v e r s e s d ea li n g w i t h t h e s u b j e ct o f d i s cu s s io n . Th e s e

v e r s e s h a v e a l m o s t i d e nt i ca l w o r d s a n d i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s , a lt h o u g h t h e s e q u e n c e o f w o r d s

in one o f t h em i s s l i gh t l y d i f f e r en t .

2Surah A l ' Im ran, V e r s e 1 6 4

3Surah Jum u'ah , V e r s e 2

4 A ll a m a h A b u l Fa d h l S h i h a b u d D in A s - S a y y i d M a h m u d A l- A l u s i a g r e a t Co m m e n t a t o r

o f t h e Qur 'an an d M u f t i o f B a g h d a d , p a s se d a w a y i n 1 2 7 0 A . H .

5 T h e e x e g e s i s o f t h i s p a r t i c u l a r v e r s e h a s b ee n b r o u g h t ; a l t h o u g h t h e e x p l a n a t i o n a p p l i es

t o al l t h e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d v e r s e s .

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Our Lord! Raise up among them a Messenger from them to recite YourSigns to them, to teach them the Book and Wisdom and to purifythem.6 (2: 128)

The Messenger will recite to them what is revealed upon him of theSigns which point towards the Oneness o f Allah, Prophet hood and theHereafter.

Some scholars have interpreted the same section of the verse in thefollowing manner:

The Messenger will inform them of the people before him and thosewho will come af ter him until the Day o f Judgement.

The Messenger will teach them the book by explaining to them itswords, the m anner o f its recitat ion and by enlightening them o f itsapparent and hidden meanings.

[Here Allamah Alusi has given four different explanations for theword Al-Hikmah (Wisdom)]

6 Surah Baqarah V e r s e 1 2 8

He will recite to them Your Signs)

He will teach them the Book)

[Al-Hikmah}

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The placing of objects where they belong7.1. Someth ing that ext inguishes the flame o f Hubbud Dunya8 fromthe heart s ( of the Believers).

2. The explanation and understanding o f Din3. The Sunnah o f thje Messenger1 which is a manifestation of the

Book.

4And will purify them)

The Messenger will cleanse them o f the filth o f polytheism, the impurit y

of doubt and the pollut ion o f sins.

3) alludes to At-Takhliyah whilst tu\s&\ to At- Tahliyah.9

Perhaps the reason for At-Tahliyah being ment ioned before At-Takhliyah in t his verse is to show its importance and rank over At-Takhliyah10. [Ruhul Ma'an?Volume 1, Page 387]

7 T h e a c t u a l t e x t f r o m t h e c o m m e n t a r y i s t** a n d i s n o t r e s t r i c t e d t o o b j e c t s . I t

r e f e r s t o b o t h t h e a n i m a t e a n d i n a n i m a t e , i .e . t r e a t p e o p l e a n d o b j e c t s ac c or d i n g t o t h e i r

n a t u r e .

8 t h e a d o r a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d l y l i f e

9 At -Takh l i yah l i t er a ll y m e a n s ' t o e m p t y ' a n d At -Tah l i yah m e a n s ' t o a d o r n o r t o b e a u t i f y ' .

H e r e t h e s e w o r d s a r e u se d t o e x p l a in t w o s t a g e s o f Tazkiyah ( p u r i f i c a t i o n ) . At -Takh l i yah

h e r e r e f e r s t o t h e s t a g e w h e n a p e r s o n r i d s h is s ou l a n d m i n d f r o m t h e i m p u r i t y a n d f il t ho f p o l y t h e i s m a n d d o u b t . At -Tah l i yah r e f e r s t o a d o r n i n g t h a t s a m e so u l a nd m i n d w i t h t h e

t e a c h i n g s a n d a c t i o n s o f I s l am.

10 T h i s t e x t i s q u i t e t e c h n i c a l . H e r e t h e c o m m e n t a t o r i s t r y i n g t o a n s w e r a q u e s t i o n w h i ch

a r i s e s w i t h r e g a r d s t o t h e se q u e n c e o f p u r i f i c a t i o n an d e d u c a t i o n . U n d e r s t a n d t h i s w i t h a

s i m p l e e x a m p l e . I f a p e r s o n w a n t s t o f il l a d i r t y g l a ss w i t h p u r e m i l k , h e h a s t o f i r st c le an

t h e g l a ss an d t h e n p o u r t h e m i l k . I t d o e s n ' t m a k e a n y s en s e i f t h e p e r s o n p o u r s t h e m i l k

f i r st . I n t h e s a m e w a y p u r i f i ca t i o n i s a m e a n s o f r i d d i n g t h e s ou l a n d m i n d o f im p u r i t i e s

a n d e d u c a t i o n i s a m e a n s o f a d o r n i n g t h e so u l a n d m i n d , s o t h e se q u e n c e o f t h e t e r m s

s h o u l d b e t h e o t h e r w a y r o u n d , i .e . At -Takh l i yah s h o u l d p r e c e d e At-Tah l i yah. Th e

c o m m e n t a t o r e x p l ai n s t h i s s e q u e n c e . H e s a y s t h a t At -Tah l i yah i s m e n t i o n e d f i r st d u e t o i t be i n g n o b l e r t h a n At -Takh l i yah . ( A l l ah k n o w s b e st . )

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The previously mentioned verses of both Surah Jumu'ah [62:2] andSurah Al 'Imran [3:164] have identical words. The only difference isthe sequence; therefore the interpretation is similar.

Allah st accepted the Du'a of Ibrahim asa and Isma7l asa and after adesignated time, sent a Messenger who possessed these three

attributes. Allah St has mentioned these attributes of this Messenger sin the Noble Qur'an-.

(1) In Surah Baqarahverse 151(2) Surah Al 'I mran, Verse 164(3) And in Surah Jum u'ah, Verse 2

In the aforementioned verses11, the order of the attributes are the

same, i.e. firstly, recitation of the Ayat (verses) is mentioned, thenTazkiyah (Purification) and lastly, Ta'lim (teaching) of the Book and Al-Hikmah.

In the verse where the Du'a12 of Ibrahim sssi is mentioned [SurahBaqarah\128] the sequence changes slightly. In this Ayah, recitation ofthe Ayat is mentioned first, then Ta'lim of the Book and Al-Hikmah andlastly, Tazkiyah13.

11 T h e s e v e r s e s h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n m e n t i o n e d a n d t r a n s l a t e d o n p a g e 3 .

12 Sup p l i ca t ion o r p r aye r .

13 Fo r t h e r e s t o f t h e b o o k l e t , t h r e e t e r m s w i ll b e u s e d o v e r a n d a g a i n . Ea ch t e r m r e f e r s

t o a p a r t i c u l a r p a r t o f t h e v e r s e .

1 . T il a w a h ( r e c it a t i o n ) o r D a ' w a h ( p r o p a g a t i o n ) r e f e r s t o >i)

2 . T a z k i y a h ( p u r i f i c a t i o n ) r e f e r s t o } >

3. T a' l i m ( t e a ch i n g / e d u ca t i o n ) r e f er s t o '3ot&' i

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Commentary on These Three Duties

The Commentary of Maulana Ashraf AM Thanwi14 ;

Allamah Alusi jsfe, states that the first duty of recitation means thatRasulullah i should recite and propagate the verses of Tauhid andRisalah and other important matters (such as the hereafter) to theSahabah .

Maulana Ashr af Ali Thanwi has mentioned in Bayanul Qur'anafter theTafsfrofSurah Al-'I m ran in Masa' ilus Suluk15-.

In these verses there is firstly a confirmation of 'Ilmul Asrar16and ofTuruqus Suluk17. This has been explained in Ruhul Ma'ani. It statesthat recitation refers to propogating the verses of Tauhid and Risalah(Prophethood). Tazkiyah (Purification) involves calling people towardsthe Kalima Tauheed & -u* & hi & n which in itself is an expression of

Tauhid and Risalah (as this is a means of purification from polytheism).

'Teaching the Book' refers to teaching the words of the Noble Qur'an,and teaching Al-Hikmah refers to explaining the hidden meanings of theNoble Qur'an.

Tilawah is mentioned first as this is the introduction. Tazkiyah ismentioned next as purity [from polytheism etc.] is the firstcharacteristic a Believer is adorned with. Ta'lfm follows next which isone's need after Iman. The sequence of the last two attributes showsthat At-Takhliyah (of which Tazkiyah is a component) precedes At-Tahliyah (of which Ta'lfm is a component). Now the question arises as

to why At-Tahliyah is mentioned before At-Takhliyah in Surah Baqarah,

14 H a k fm u l U m m a h M a u la n a A s h r a f ' A l t Th a n w i, g r e a t sc h o l a r f r o m I n d i a. Co m p i l e d o v er

1 0 0 0 b o o k s i n c l u d i n g Beh ish t i Zewar . P assed aw ay i n 1362 A . H .

15 Masa' i lus Suluk: T h i s i s a sec t i on devo t ed t o d i scuss i ss u e s r e l at i n g t o t h e m e t h o d o f

a t t a i n in g t h e r ec o g n it i o n o f t h e A l m i g h t y . T h e A u t h o r b r i n g s s u c h asec t i on a f t e r e v e r y

Surah.

16 K n o w l e d g e n o t a t t a i n e d b y m e a n s o f a m o r t a l b e i n g .

17 Pa t hs t o t h e r ecogn i t i on o f t he A l m i gh t y .

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this is perhaps to highlight the rank ofAt-Tahliyah above At-Takhliyah.[ Ruhul Ma'ani]

Maulana Ashraf'AI/ Thanwi says further:

The changing of the sequence in the verses shows that At-Tahliyah can

precede At-Takhliyah if the circumstances demand that. According tothe Sufis both are practiced upon18. [Bayanul Qur'an volume 1, page292]

An Extract from the Lecture of Maulana Inamul

Hasan19

Hadhratj f Maulana I n'am ul Hasan , :v.. once gave a lecture to the Ulamaregarding Da'wah, Tazkiyah and Ta'lim during an I j t ima ' held inChandpurwhich is in the province ofBajnur, on the 15th Shaban 1395AH (23rd August 1975). This is an extract from his lecture;

AllahSt has said:

s o o

Allahs sent Rasulullah1 with three duties;(1) Da'wah(2) Tazkiyahand(3) Ta'lim.

Da'wah was the primary duty of the Messenger as the existence of theother two depends on it. During the era of Rasulullah s and theSahabah4, it was Da'wah that gave life to Tazkiyahand Ta'lim. Da'wah

18 Ac c o r d i n g t o t h e Su f i s o n e ' s T a z k i y a h c an o c c u r b y e i t h e r c l e a n s in g t h e s o u l f ir s t a n d

t h e n a d o r n i n g i t w i t h g o o d d e e d s i . e. At -Takh l i yah t h e n At-Tah l i yah. An d i n c e r t a i n

c i r c u m s t a n c e s T a z k i y a h c an o c c u r b y f i r s t l y ca r r y i n g o u t g o o d d e e d s an d t h e n c l ea n s i n g

the sou l i .e . At -Tah l i yah t h e n At -Takh l i yah . H e r e Maulana Ashra f 'AH Thanwi m e n t i o n s

t h a t t h e s e c o n d p r o c e s s o f T a z k i y a h i s a ls o e st a b l i s h e d f r o m t h e Q u r ' a n .

19 Mau lana In am u l Hasan w a s t h e A m i r o f t h e T ab l i g h i ef f o r t . A n e f f or t w h i c h h a s

h e lp e d r e v i v e t h e e f f or t o f c o m m a n d i n g t o w a r d s g o od a n d f o r b i d d i n g e v il .

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is essential in this day and age for the very same reason. ( D a ' w a t k i Bas ira t Au r Us ka Fahm wa Id raak , Pages 27 an d 28 , Mau lana Muh am m ad Shahed

Saheb)

The First Duty of the Ambiya was Dawah

From the aforementioned works ofAllamah Alusi, Maulana Thanwi andMaulana Inamul Hasan it is evident that the first duty ofRasulullah1 was Da'wah. By reciting the verses of the Noble Qur'an to theSahabah4 , Rasulullah 1 called them towards the oneness ofAllah sand Islam. The Sahabah20 4 were native Arabs and therefore easilyunderstood the verses ofTauhid, Risalah and the Akhira (Hereafter).

It was by means of this Da'wah that their hearts were cleansed from

the impurity of disbelief and polytheism, purified from doubt anduncertainty. Furthermore, this Da'wah purified them of all their pasthabits and sins. This is Tazkiyah, the second duty of the Messenger 1 .Finally, by studying the literal and intricate meanings of the NobleQur'an together with the blessed sayings ofRasulullah1 , the Sahabah4 were adorned with the complete Shari'ah and the beauty of theSunnah. As a result, the Sahabah4 became beautified with all kinds ofwonderful attributes and were free from all evil traits.

Ta'lim of the Book entails understanding the literal meanings of thewords of the Qur'an and it entails learning how to recite it correctly.Ta'lim ofAl-Hikmah entails understanding the laws mentioned in its

verses, its intricate meanings and wisdoms. This is apparent from thecommentary ofAllamah Alusi

The Commentary of Allamah Shabbir Ahmad Uthmani

Allam ah Shabbir Ahmad Uthm ani ^ commentated on the verse ofAl-' Imranas follows:

20 T h e Co m p a n i o n s o f t h e M e s s e n g e r s

21 A ll am a h S h a b b i r Ut h m a n i w a s a s ch o l a r o f g r e a t st a t u s . A m o n g s t h i s a c h i e v e m e n t s

w a s t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f Tafs i r U thmani , a g r e a t e x e g e s i s o f t h e Noble Qur 'an a n d i n i t i a t i n g o f a c o m m e n t a r y o n Sahih Musl im ( t h i s w a s la t e r co m p l e t e d b y M u f t i Ta q i Ut h m a n i ) .

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To summarise this verse four aspects from the life of the Messenger shave been mentioned:

(1) Reci ta t ion o f t he verses (to the Sahabah). Due to Arabic beingthe mother tongue of the Sahabah, they understood the literalmeanings and acted upon the verses.

(2) Pur i f icat ion of the souls . (To rid the soul from all types ofegoism, polytheism and sins.22)

(3) Teaching the Book (explaining the intricate meanings of the NobleQur'an). The need for such explaining arose when doubts occurred in

the minds of the Sahabah due to them relying on the common usage ofcertain words. Rasulullah s would thereafter explain the true meaning

and context of the verse. By means of which the doubts of hiscompanions would be cleared.

To cite an example of the above scenario Allah Ta'ala says in SurahAn'anr .23

* ji $ 00 ' $ *

. . . \ .*-! j l

There were a few verses which needed the clarification of theMessenger s.

(4) Teaching A l - H i k m a h (To teach the deeper meanings of Al-Hikmah) and to explain the hidden meanings and intricacies and informthe Sahabah of the deep wisdoms of Shari'ah. This was either doneexplicitly or implicitly. Through the grace of the Almighty and His helpthat a naive nation, who for centuries were in gross ignorance and weredrowning in clear misguidance were saved. Within a few years, bymeans of the teaching and company of Rasulullah s they becameguides and teachers for the entire humanity. For the abovementioned

reasons it is crucial that they recognise this great bounty and nevereven forgetfully sadden the heart of the Messenger s. ( F aw a i d s h a b b i r iy y a h - S u r ah A! - ' I m r a n )

22r e f e r s t o e x e r t i n g o n e s e l f i n t h e p u r i f i c a t i o n o f so u l s .

23 Th i s is Surah An 'am : 8 2 : " T h o s e w h o b e l i e v e a n d o b s c u r e n o t t h e i r b e l i e f b y

w r o n g d o i n g , t h e i r s is s a f e t y ; a n d t h e y a r e r i g h t l y g u i d e d . "

T h e Co m p a n i o n s u n d e r s t o o d w r o n g d o i n g t o r e f e r t o g e n e r al s i n s w h i ch m e a n t t h a t e v en

t h e s m a l l es t o f si n s w o u l d d e n y a b e l ie v e r f r o m s a f et y a n d w o u l d d e p r i v e a p e r s on f r o m

b e i n g r i g h t l y g u i d e d . T h i s c a u s ed t h e m t o b e g r e a t l y p e r t u r b e d . R as u l u l la h l a t e r e x p l a i n ed t o t h e m t h a t in t h i s v e r s e w r o n g d o i n g r e f er s t o a sc r i b in g p a r t n e r s w i t h A ll ah

a n d n o t g e n e r a l si n s. T h i s e x p l a n a t i o n r e m o v e d t h e i r an x i e t y .

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Other Verses and Ahadith explaining the Missions of

the Ambiya

In all the aforementioned verses of the Noble Qur'an, the first duty ofthe Messenger 1 is to propagate by means of reciting the verses of the

Noble Qur'an.

Imam Bukhari ^ mentions in his Al- Jam i'24, that the first revelationconsisted of the first five verses ofSurah 'Alaq (Iqra'). These versesare an introduction to Allah St. They mention that He is the Creator.They explain that Allah st created man from a clot of blood, He is thetrue Cherisher of man and that Allah St provides the creations'necessities and helps them reach their decreed potential. He is most

Kind, He taught man by means of the Pen and taught Man what heknew not. Read in the name of that Lord!

After the first revelation, a lengthy intermission prevailed. Thereafter,

the verses ofSurah Muddathir were revealed. It was in this Surah25that Rasulullah1 received the command ofDa'wah.

Stand up and warn the people, and express the greatness of you rCherisher.

In other words, now inform others of the Rabb you have recognised.

After this revelation, the message from Allah came continuously for ten

to twelve years. During these years, revelation was confined to Tauhid,Prophethood and the Hereafter. Rasulullah i used to propagate theseverses to the people by reciting them.

By reciting the verses of the Noble Qur'an, he would reinforce the faithof the people, purify their hearts from the impurities of doubt and

24 Refer in g to a Hadi th o f Bukhar i .

25 Surah Mud da th i r Verse 3

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polytheism, cleansing their hearts of the false beliefs of the polytheists

and the People of the Book. [Ruhul Ma'am 4:114]

After this period of ten to twelve years, when the Ahkam (commands ofSalah, Saum etc) were revealed, the details of these Ahkam wereexplained to the Sahabah 4$ and were practically demonstrated to

them. As the verses were revealed, their words, meanings, purposes,intricacies and wisdoms were explained to the Sahabah &>. In thismanner, their hearts and minds were adorned with the knowledge andunderstanding ofDm.

One stage of Tazkiyah was that which was achieved only throughlistening to the verses of the Noble Qur'an being recited upon them andby means of propagation. Through this method of Tazkiyah, they

achieved:

the conviction of the attributes ofAllah. the certainty that success lies only in the Sunnah ofRasulullah

St- the true belief and reality of the Hereafter, faith in the existence ofJannah and Jahannam, the belief that none other than the Almighty wasresponsible for

every gain and every setback,

the knowledge that only the Almighty gave life and took it away, the understanding that true life was the life after death,

the realization that this world was merely a temporary abode,

purity from the uncertainty and polytheism and from the falsebeliefs of the people of the past.

By virtue of these attributes the Sahabah 4 overcame and enduredmountains of calamities and remained steadfast.

The Sahabah were elevated to another stage of Tazkiyyah after therevelation ofAhkam pertaining to refraining from sin.

Refrain from both apparent and inconspicuous sins.26

26 Su r ah An 'am : 120

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The Sahabah4 immediately complied when the orders came from AllahS to refrain from malice, enmity, miserliness, lethargy, arrogance andother maladies of the heart. Likewise, when the prohibitions ofadultery, theft, alcoholism, false accusation, backbiting, harbouring ill-

thoughts, evil glances and other sins were revealed, the Sahabah4 didnot hesitate to comply. When the Sahabah 4 were prohibited from

abstaining from good deeds, they complied to this and were purifiedeven further. This final stage of not abstaining from good deeds is the

highest level ofTazkiyah.

If we take this meaning ofTazkiyahfrom the supplication ofIbrahim sssi(2:128), then the point made by Allamah Alusijsfe, (below) with regardsto the sequence ofTa'lim and Tazkiyah will be understood and held inhigh regard.

Allamah Alusi jsfe, says in the TafsirofSurah Baqarah, verse 151:

Allah st placed Tazkiyah before Ta'lim in this verse (2:151) and in thesupplication o f I brahim (2: 128) aft er Ta'lim to show that in both places

the intended meaning is different. For both sequences there is anexplanation. (Ruhul Ma'am Volume 2 Page 128)

Where Tazkiyah is mentioned before Ta'lim the first meaning of

Tazkiyah is intended i.e. purification from the impurities of doubt andpolytheism from the false beliefs of the Polytheists and the People of

the Book. Where Ta'lim succeeds Tazkiyah the second stage ofTazkiyah is intended i.e. conviction in the attributes of Allah and theHereafter etc.

From this, we learn that in both places Tazkiyah has differentimplications and there is an explanation for its position in both verses.

Allamah Alusi jsk, explains in Volume 2 page 18

Ibrahim m\ placed Tazkiyah after Ta'lim referring to the higher stage ofTazkiyah and this stage can only be attained after Ta'lim of the Bookand Al Hikmah. The remaining verses from the various Surahs refer to

the lower stage of Tazkiyah, i.e. pur ification from polytheism etc. I t isfor this reason that Tazkiyah was mentioned before Ta'lim in those

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verses, because Ta'lfm of the Book and Al-Hikmah can not be achievedwithout this purification. Disbelief would be an obstacle in this Ta'lfm. 27

Conclusion

Further on Allamah Alusi brings a few other interpretations and thenconcludes as follows:

The most that can be said about this is: Since Ta'lfm removeduncertainty and all t ypes o f evil from the lives of the Sahabah s it wasa m eans o f pur ificat ion for them. So this sequence [ Ta'lfm beforeTazkiyah] shows that the action which leads to the consequence isbrought to represent the consequence. Like the exam ple of an archerand death in the technicalities of the Arabs when they say: "He shothim, thus killed him ." Understand like so! 28

It is for this reason that in the Tafsfr of Surah Baqarah verse 151,Allamah Alusi holds Tazkiyah to mean the negation of doubt andpolytheism or the falsification of the beliefs of the polytheists andbeliefs of the People of the Book.

However, in his Tafsfr of (2:128), he has decided to combine bothstages ofTazkiyah:

He will pur ify t hem from the impurit ies o f polytheism, the filth o funcertainty and the stains o f sin 29.

Here Allah Ta'ala mentions one additional explanation of purificationviz. purity from the stains of sin.

Glory be to Allah, What an excellent explanation!

27 Ruhu l Ma 'am Vo lum e 2 , Page 18

28 I n t h e A r a b i c l a n g u a g e , w h e n a p e r s o n s a y s , " H e s h o t h i m , t h u s k i l l ed h i m " s h o o t i n g i s

m e t a p h o r i c a l l y a ss o ci a t e d w i t h k i l l i n g, w h e r e a s s h o o t i n g d o e s n o t a l w a y s n e ce s si t a t e

k i l l in g . I n t h e l i k e m a n n e r s i n c e t h e e r a d i c at i o n o f u n c e r t a i n t y a n d s in i s a s s o ci a t e d w i t h

Ta' l im, h e r e i t is m e n t i o n e d t h a t i t d o e s e r a d i c a t e t h e a b o v e e v il s .

29 Ruhu l Ma 'am V o l u m e 1 , Pa g e 38 7

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Final Note

From the excellent commentary of these verses, we learn that a perfect

adherent to the Sunnah is that person who as well as giving Da'wah, isalso devoted to 'Ilm30 and is involved in the Tazkiyah of himself and

others.

Students of Din and Ulama should pay special attention to this. Weshould continue taking part in both the efforts ofDa'wah and Tazkiyah.Ideally we should fulfil the rights of all three activities (Da'wah, Ta'lfmand Tazkiyah). Shari'ah promotes accumulation (of all these

responsibilities) and does not encourage the distribution (of theseresponsibilities).31

May Allahs grant us the ability to bring these attributes into our lives!

(Shaykh) Fadhlur Rahman Azami

15th Jumadal Ula 1426 AH

22nd June 2005

30 T h i s r e f e r s t o I s l am i c K no w l edge

31 H e r e t h e S h a y k h c o n c l u d e s b y s a y i n g t h a t S h a r i ' a h e n c o u r a g e s t h a t e v e r y o n e s h o u l d

t r y t o t a k e p a r t in al l t h e r e s p o n s ib i l i t i e s o f t h e M e s s e n g e r Si- Sh a r i ' a h d o e s n o t t e a ch u s

t o a l l o ca t e t h e d i f f e r e n t r e s p o n s i b i l it i e s on d i f f e r e n t i n d i v i d u a l s or u p o n p a r t i c u l a r g r o u p s .

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dawah talim tazkiyah by shaykh al-hadith fazlur rahman azmi

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