Ramadaan: pursuing taqwa through tazkiyah

by SHAIKH SA’DULLAH KHAN

‘TAZKIYAH’ in the Arabic language implies purification, growth, advancement and to bring the self to the height of excellence.

The highest level of such excellence is to reach nobility in the estimation of the Divine, as Allah states, ‘The most honourable of all in the sight of Allah are those with the highest degree of taqwa.’ (Quran 49:13)

Attaining taqwa (piety/ Allah-consciousness) is in fact the primary objective of fasting the month of Ramadaan. ‘O you who proclaim faith! Fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, in order that you may attain taqwa.’ (Quran 2:183)