The sixth part of the study series describing the importance of purification of the heart (Tazkiyah) for travelers on the spiritual path (Suluk), who are preparing for their spiritual journey toward Allah by liberating their hearts from the illusions of worldly desires.
The spiritual lament of a soul, invisible to the world's clamor, yet burning within as the fire of divine love.
An article that inspires reflection, in the light of the Holy Qur'an, Sacred Hadiths, and the sayings of the saints, on the true face of this material world (Dunya) in which we are running and losing day and night.
How is it possible to purify the heart by bringing thoughts other than Allah into it? For that, is it necessary to look upon Dunya (the material world)—or rather, all creations other than Allah—as an enemy?"
"Heart purification means washing and cleansing the mirror of the heart from worldly thoughts, anxieties, materialistic desires, worries about wealth, and useless matters."
"Sufi scholars have categorized the four and seven states of the nafs (self/soul) by interpreting the verses of the Holy Quran. In addition to the four states explained initially, some Sufis have also detailed states of the nafs such as Radiyya (the well-pleased), Mardiyya (the well-pleasing), and Kamila (the perfect)."
Is Tazkiyat-an-Nafs (purification of the soul) something that can be achieved by oneself? Certainly not. The purification of the soul or spiritual refinement is not something that can be attained merely by gaining knowledge about it or by understanding its different classifications.
We are currently exploring the profound meanings within the opening verses of Maulana Rumi's (RA) Masnavi Sharif.
So far, we have discussed the literal meaning and detailed commentary of the first four lines.
Saying, “Ever since I was parted from the reed-bed,
my lament, has caused man and woman to moan
Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi's (RA) Masnavi Sharif is an immortal Sufi poetic work of world-class standard. It can generally be said that this magnificent poem is a sublime legacy of the spiritual and expressive grandeur of Persian language and culture following the advent of Islam.
