Introspection: The Basis of Tazkiyah

INTROSPECTION: THE BASIS OF TAZKIYAH The reason is that, in the beginning, being in error is a matter of deviation. Later on it becomes a matter of conditioning. At the time of the first deviation, a person’s conscience alerts him to his wrongdoing. But if he fails to reform himself with this initial warning, this deviation from the truth gradually ceases to be alien to his thinking and ultimately takes a permanent place in his unconscious mind. When this happens, rectifying of one’s mistakes becomes almost impossible. INTROSPECTION: THE BASIS OF TAZKIYAH Man is the only creature who has the capacity for conceptual thought. Man is his own engineer or maker. Introspection, self-appraisal, reforming oneself, not giving justification for one’s faults play a role in man’s personality development. There is a saying of Umar Faruq, “Introspect yourself before you are subjected to introspection.” (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, Athar No. 34459) Introspection is the basis of tazkiyah. It does not come about through a training camp. No formal course can serve this purpose, nor will any repetition of certain words be of any help. The only way to tazkiyah is through introspection, that is, self-appraisal, or reforming oneself, and by giving deep thought to how tazkiyah is to be attained. Man is the only creature who has the capacity for conceptual thought. Indeed, man is defined as an animal capable of conceptual thought. You can shape wood, and you can