Discovering God

In the first stage of realization the scientists of the 19th and 20th centuries have played a very great role in providing a scientific framework for the realization of God. As we learn from the Quran, in the life Hereafter, the believers will be supported by the angels in their journey of realization: “We are your companions in this life and in the Hereafter.” (41:31) The Criterion of Tazkiya The Quran states: “He who purifies it (soul) will indeed be successful and he who corrupts it is sure to fail.” (91:9-10). We learn from this verse of the Quran that purification (tazkiya) means saving one’s God-given personality from corruption or defilement. As for man’s nature, he is born with it. Every human being comes into this world with the purified personality desirable by God. But in leading his life in this world, he never ceases to corrupt his God-given nature. In modern terminology this is called environmental or societal conditioning. In this respect, the criterion of purification is for a person to learn about his fall from grace through introspection. And on the principle of self-reform he should rehabilitate himself and return to the natural state bestowed upon him by his Creator. The purified personality in other words is restored to pristine virtue. One who purifies himself in this way is the one who will be held deserving of entry into Paradise in the Hereafter.