Tazkiyyah Lesson: Purifying Intentions

11th August 2014

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Purifying Intentions

Purification of the Heart | Tazkiyyah Lessons تزكية

The Niyyah for Knowledge

We must purify our intention before seeking knowledge as knowledge can lead us either to Jannah or Jahanam. Knowledge is a weapon that even the devil uses. People gain knowledge to argue, they memorise Qur’an Ayaat and Hadith to prove a point or to show their opinion is right. People also use knowledge so others can think good of them, or even so they feel good about themselves. These are not correct reasons to seek knowledge. These are corrupted intentions. Wrong intentions lead to the fire. Islamic knowledge is a blessing and is only given to pure hearts.

Scholarly teachers in the past would not teach students who committed sins even if they were minor, or if they missed Nafl actions. As this clearly shows that those students are not seeking knowledge with the correct Niyyah. They stayed away from those individuals and did not spend time with them. Think! Are you worthy to receive knowledge?

Action is through intention

Before opening up your Qur’an, before picking up your pen, before leaving your home to travel to Islamic classes, just stop for a moment and think. Make the Niyyah to seek knowledge from your heart. Let your heart make the decision to come for Allah swt only, so you see this Niyyah on Qiyama, the day all secrets and veils are revealed. Does your heart want people in this Dunya to be pleased with it or in the Akhirah? Ask yourself, why do I want to become knowledgeable? Why do I want to become an ‘Alimah a Hafidha, or an ‘Ustadha? Is it for Allah swt? Is it for people? Or is it for myself? Some scholars will be dragged into hellfire as they did not practise what they preached and they studied and taught to look good in people’s eyes. [Hadith Qudsi in Muslim, Tirmidhi]

Purifying Intentions

The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said, ‘The intention of the believer is better than his deed.’

The intention is a secret that only Allah swt understands. Actions are outward and only people see these. In Islam actions done for the sake of God secretly are better.

The Prophet said  (ﷺ) , "Seven (people) will be shaded by Allah by His Shade on the Day of Resurrection……….a man who gives in charity so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given." [Bukhari]

‘This is how you ought to understand the effect of all pious acts what is sought is to solely change the heart and to convert its attributes, and not the attributes of the limbs.’ Imam Ghazali.

All actions turn to dust on Qiyama except those that were done to please Allah ta’Ala.

‘And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, etc.) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust’. Holy Qur’an [25:23]

All your hard work, revising, memorising and seeking ‘ilm will have no reward if the intention is not present. And vice versa, you might never achieve the things you want in this life. You might never become as knowledgeable or pious as you desire. But Allah swt sees your heart and He sees your desire and you will be rewarded for that. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said ‘A good deed is written for the person who means to perform a good deed but does not.’

How to purify my intention?

If your heart desires to please Allah ta’Ala the rest of your body will follow and your intentions will also be pure. The heart is like the leader of your body, and the rest of your organs follow it. Our hearts are the strongest organs in our bodies, and it is true in a spiritual sense also.

Take for example a person who has just found out someone has died. Their body reacts to that internally and externally, tears emerge, their face drops, and they may even fall.

We all have feelings and desires in our heart. We study Islam and want to gain knowledge. Allah swt puts this desire in you, to learn more about Islam, to attend Islamic classes. You being here shows what is in your heart; that love for religious knowledge. The outward is a reflection of the inward. As an Imam once said, ‘You are like a vessel, and a vessel can only pour out what is poured in it.’

Our Niyyah is important as it is the key to how our mind and heart will function. Our Niyyah will also affect how well we learn and study. If the intention is corrupted, the rest of the body will be corrupted, and instead of benefitting you will lose out and even gain sins. Intention is vital.

THINK! Be conscious; be aware of what you are doing. Muslims are encouraged to reflect. Think before you speak. Make your Niyyah before you pray. Why? To consciously make a decision. Muslims should be intelligent mindful people. Do you stop and think before putting the television on and watching useless programmes? Do you stop and think before talking to your friend? Do you stop and think before doing Ibadah? We live in a world of dead people, who don’t think but simply follow what the world tells them.

Make the decision now, to purify your heart and make your Niyyah to seek knowledge only for Allah. One pure good Niyyah can literally change your life.

 {May Allah ta’Ala purify our intentions, cleanse us of wrong desires and only make us desire Him, love Him, please Him and seek knowledge for His seek. Ameen.}