The Condition of Tazkiya

Tazkiya is not just some technical science. Technical science can be expressed fully in words, whereas tazkiya is a science of realization and, as such can be only partially expressed in words. Every facet of tazkiya requires some addition which can only be produced by the seeker of tazkiya.

It is necessary for the attainment of tazkiya that the seeker of tazkiya be totally serious in his quest. This means that his mind should be prepared, that he should be very keen to learn, be free of all kinds of prejudices, be a complex-free soul, have the ability to see things as they are, be capable of rising above personal predilections, and have the ability to stand up to criticism, or should welcome criticism just as he welcomes praise; he should be ready to accept the truth without any preconditions and readily concede his mistakes. Finally, he must see things from the right angle.

Two parties are involved in the process of tazkiya—the teacher and the seeker. The role of neither is 100%: both have to perform 50% of the task. The role of the teacher is that of a guide in the real sense. He should have understood the subject so thoroughly by a deeper study of the Quran and the Hadith that he is able to explain it in the best possible way.

In this matter the other half role is to be played by the seeker. The seeker must be fully capable of acceptance; he must come out of his conditioning to understand the message; he must be able to rise above his fixed mindset and be able to give importance to the truth and not to ‘who said it’. One who has all these qualities can successfully follow the path of tazkiya.