God says

…God loves those who turn to Him in repentance, and he loves those who keep themselves pure. - Q.2:222

For action in the case of a state of ceremonial impurity, see Q.5: 6 next Friday.


To a happy state shall indeed attain he who causes his [self] to grow in purity, and truly lost is he who buries it [in darkness]. -- Q.91:7-10

* The reference to man and that which constitutes the “human personality”, as well as the implied allusion to the extremely complex phenomenon of a life-entity in which bodily needs and urges, emotions and intellectual activities are so closely intertwined
as to be indissoluble, follows organically upon a call to consider inexplicable grandeur of the universe (verses 1-6) – so far as it is perceptible and comprehensible to man – as a compelling evidence of God’s creative power.

** Lit., “and [consider] that which has inspired it with its immoral doings (fujraha) and its Gid-consciousness (taqwaha)”—i.e., the fact that human being is equally liable to rise to great spiritual heights as to fall into utter immorality is an essential characteristic of human nature as such. In its deepest sense, man’s ability to act
wrongly runs parallel with his ability to act rightly: in other words, it is this inherent
polarity of tendencies which gives to every “right” choice a value and, thus, endows man with moral free will.




Prophet said


“Cleanliness is half the faith*…” – H: Muslim. N: Abu Malik al Ashari

*Because faith destroys physical as well as mental impurities and also makes redemption of minor as well as major sins.


“Cleanliness is the key to prayer” -- H: Abu Daud, Tirmizi and Darimi. N: Ali. (Ibn Majah reported it from Abu Sayeed)


“God looks not at your appearance, nor at your wealth; but he looks at your hearts and deeds” – H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah

3.09. LOVING GOD AND HIS APOSTLE

God says

… those who have attained to faith love God more than all else. -- Q.2: 165

And when you have performed your acts of worship, [continue to] bear God in mind as you will bear your fathers in mind – nay, yet with a keener remembrance. -- Q. 2: 200

…God loves those who are conscious of Him.* -- Q. 9: 4

* “God-conscious”

Word ‘Muttaqeen’, (singular: Muttaqi) from Arabic ‘Taqwa’ appears again and again in the Qur’an vitally linked to a Believer’s life. Muhammad Asad uses ‘God-consciousness’ as the translation for ‘Taqwa’ and explains its comprehensive meaning below:

“Conventional translation of Muttaqi as “God-Fearing’ does not adequately render the positive content of this expression -- namely, the awareness of His all-presence and the desire to mould one’s existence in the Light of this awareness; while the interpretation adopted by some translators “one who guards himself from evil” or “one who is careful of his duty”, does not give more than one particular aspect of the God-consciousness.

(God said to the Prophet) Say: ‘If you do love God, follow me, God will love you and forgive you your sins.’ -- Q.3: 31

Say: “If it be that your fathers, your sons, your mates, your clan; the wealth you have acquired, the commerce in which you fear a decline; or the dwellings in which you delight- (if all these) are dearer to you than God and His Apostle and the struggle in his cause, then wait until God brings about His decision: and God does not guide the rebellious. ” -- Q.9: 24

Prophet said

A man came to the Holy Prophet and asked about the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet enquired him what preparation he had made for it. The man said: I am not prepared for it except that I love God and His Apostle. The Holy Prophet said, “You will be with those whom you love.” Muslims were never so happy as they were after hearing it. – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Anas

“Nobody has truly attained to faith till I become dearer than his parents, his children and all mankind.” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Anas

“The best of you are those who, when seen, remind of God.” – H: Ibn Majah. N: Asm`a-b-Yezid

3.08. BASER PASSIONS

God says

Behold, Satan is a foe unto you: so treat him as a foe…. Q.35: 6

But as for anyone who chooses to remain blind to the remembrance of the Most Gracious, to him We assign an [enduring] evil impulse, to become his other self: whereupon, behold, these [evil impulses] bar all such from the path [of truth], making them think that they are guided aright! -- Q.43: 36--37

Most of you love the fleeting life of this world and give no thought to the life to come [and judgment Day]! -- Q.75: 20--21

But unto Him who shall have stood in fear of His Sustainer`s presence, and held back his inner self from base desires, paradise will truly be a goal! -- Q.79: 40--41

To a happy state shall indeed attain he who causes his [self] to grow in purity, and truly lost is he who buries it [in darkness]. -- Q.91: 9--10


Prophet said

“The most fearful of what I fear for my followers is baser passion and prolonged hope…” -- H: Baihaqi. N: Jaber

Fragment of a long Tradition quoted by Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurairah: of the seven (catagories) of persons whom God will take under the shade of His Throne on the Day when there will be no other shade, one will be, the Prophet said, “Whom a young girl of accomplishment and beauty tempts and who says : certainly I fear God.”

3.08. BASER PASSIONS

God says

…. (O mankind!) follow not Satan’s footsteps: for, verily, he is your open foe, and bids you only to do evil, and to commit deeds of abomination, … Q.2: 168--169

And tell them [O Prophet] what happens to him to whom We conveyed Our messages and who discards them: Satan catches up with him, and he goes astray, like so many others, into grievous error.*Now had We so willed, We could indeed have exalted him by means of those [messages]: but he always clung to the earth and followed but his own desires…. Q.7: 175--176

*In the original this whole verse is in the past tense; but since its obvious purport is
the statement of a general truth (cf. Razi, on the authority of Qatadah, ‘Ikrimah and Abu Muslim) and not as some commentators assume a reference to a particular person, it is best rendered in the present tense. The kind of man spoken of here is one who has understood the divine messages but, nevertheless, refuses to admit its truth because – as pointed out in the next verse above – he “clings to the earth”, i.e., is dominated by a materialistic, “earthly” outlook on life.


Prophet said

“The (Hell) fire is surrounded by passionate desires” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah

3. 07. THE OTHER JIHAD (concluded)

God says

Whoever strives hard, strives for his own soul, for, verily, God does not stand in need of anything in all the world! As for those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds, We shall most certainly efface their [previous] bad deeds, and shall most certainly reward them in accordance with the best that the ever did. -- Q.29:6

But as for those who strive hard for Us – We will most certainly guide them to Our paths: for , verily God is with those who are doers of good. -- Q.29:69

…And how excellent a reward will it be for those who laboured [in God’s way]! -- Q.39: 74

….But all who take Satan rather than God for their master do indeed, most clearly, lose all: he holds out promises to them, and fills them with vain desires: yet whatever Satan promises them is but meant to delude the mind.* Such as these have hell for their goal: and they shall find no way to escape there from. Q. 4:118-121
* The term ghurur signifies anything by which the mind is beguiled or deceived – for instance, utter self-abandonment to earthly joys, or the absurd belief that there is no limit to man’s aims and achievements.


Prophet said

“Performing the ablution properly, going to the mosque frequently for prayers even in difficult and distressing circumstances and waiting for the next prayer after one is over: This is your Jihad in the cause of God” – H. Muslim (excerpt). N: Abu Hurairah. (‘Riyadh-us-saleheen’, vol. 1, page 91, H:131.)

A man came and asked the permission for Jihad. The Holy Prophet enquired, “Are your parents still alive?” He said: yes. The Holy Prophet said, “Then you strive hard in serving them.” – H: Bukhari. N: Abdullah-b-Omer

The headstrong condition of self called ‘Ammara’, seeks satisfaction in the base desires leading to spiritual ruin. If ever it becomes aware and conscious of sin, then it starts struggle to resist it. This becomes the hopeful sign.

3. 07. THE OTHER JIHAD (To be cont.)

God says

-- He it is who has made you inherit the earth, and has raised some of you by degree above others, so that He might try you by means of what He has bestowed upon you.* Verily, thy Sustainer is swift in retribution: yet, behold, He is indeed much- forgiving, most gracious. -- Q.6: 165
*Lit., by way of character, strength, knowledge, social position, wealth etc.

Strive hard in God’s cause with all the striving that is due to Him….. Q.22:78

And say: “O my Sustainer! I seek refuge with Thee from the promptings of all evil impulses;* (98) and I seek refuge with Thee, O my Sustainer, lest they come near unto me!” -- Q.23:97,98
* Lit., “of the satans” or “satanic forces”. Satans (shayatin, pl. of shaytan). In accordance with ancient Arabic usage, this term often denotes people “who, through their insolent persistence in evildoing, have become like satans” (Zamakhshari): However, the term shaytan is often used in the Qur’an to describe the “satanic” (i.e., exceedingly evil) uncontrollable tendencies in man’s own soul, and especially all impulses which run counter to truth and morality (Raghib).

…. the Day on which neither wealth will be of any use, nor children, (and when) only he (will be happy) who comes before God with a heart free of evil! -- Q.26:88,89


Prophet said

“One who strives for the widows and the poor is like one who struggles (jihad) in the way of God”, said the Prophet, “I shall regard him as one who stands up (for prayer) without rest and as one who fasts without break” * – H: Bukhari, Muslim and other compilations. N: Abu Hurairah

3. 07. THE OTHER JIHAD

God says

Say: “My Sustainer has [but] enjoined the doing what is right; and [He desires you to] put your whole being into every act of worship, and to call unto Him, sincere in your faith in Him alone. As it was he who brought you into being in the first instance, so also [unto Him] you will return: some [of you] He will have graced with His guidance, whereas for some a straying from the right path will have become unavoidable:* for, behold, they will have taken [their own] evil impulses for their masters in preference to God, thinking all the while that they have found the right path!” -- Q. 7:29,30
* Lit., “will have becomeincumbent upon them”(haqqa ‘alayhim), implying that this straying was an inevitable consequence of their doings and attitudes.

Indeed, man’s inner self does incite him to evil, … Q.12:53

And [on the Day of Judgment] when everything will have been decided, Satan will say [to the sinners]: “Behold, God promised you something that was bound to come true!* I, too, held out [all manner of] promises to you – but I deceived you. Yet I had no power at all over you: I but called you – and you responded unto me. Hence, blame not me, blame yourselves.** It is not for me to respond to your cries [for help now], nor for you to respond to mine***: for, behold, I have [always] refused to admit that there was any truth in your erstwhile belief that I had a share in God’s divinity.**** -- Q.14:22
* Promise of resurrection and last judgment
** In his commentary on this passage, Razi remarks: “This verse shows that the real Satan is [man’s own] complex of desires (an-nafs): for, Satan makes it clear [in the above] that it was only by means of insinuations (waswasah) that he was able to reach [the sinner’s soul]; and had it not been for an already-existing [evil] disposition due to lusts, anger, superstition or fanciful ideas, these [satanic] insinuations would have had no effect whatsoever.”
*** I.e., “I cannot respond to your call for help, just as you should not have, in your lifetime, responded to my call.”


Prophet said

The Holy Prophet said to the people who returned from war: “Welcome to you all; you have come from the smaller fight to the greatest one.” They enquired about the greatest one. He said, “Fighting against (baser instincts of) the self” – H: Baihaqi. N: Jaber