The Perfect Sublime Attribute of Allaah: At-Tazkiyah’ – Purification

Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat An-Nisaa’ (4:49):

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يُزَكُّونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ ۚ بَلِ اللَّهُ يُزَكِّي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَلَا يُظْلَمُونَ فَتِيلًا
 

“Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allaah purifies whomsoever He Wills, and they will not be dealt with injustice even equal to the extent of a Fatilah (a scalish thread in the long slit of a date stone).”

Also, Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat An-Noor (24:21):

وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَىٰ مِنْكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۗ وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ

“If not for the Favor of Allaah upon you and His Mercy, not one of you would ever have been pure, but Allaah purifies whom He Wills, and Allaah is Hearing and Knowing.”

The Attribute of At-Tazkiyah in the Prophetic Sunnah:

The Du’aa of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in which he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “…O Allaah! Grant me the sense of piety and purify my soul as You are the Best to purify it. You are its Guardian and its Protecting Friend.” [Saheeh Muslim no. 2722]

Linguistic Meaning:

Az-Zakaat means growth acquired due to Barakah (Blessing) of Allaah. It is said: ‘Zakaa az-Zar’a Yazkou (the plantation has grown)’ when the plantation grows and increases.

Az-Zakaat: Purification – and it is this meaning in the Statement of Allaah: “not one of you would have been pure” i.e., none of you would be pure – and the purification is attributed to Allaah – for He is the One Who caused it to occur in reality. ¹al-Mufarridaat (380), Umdatul-Huffaz (142/2), Maqaais al-Lugha (386)

Az-Zakaat also means to become upright/ reformed. It is said, ‘Zaka ar-Rajul’ when he becomes upright.

‘Zakaahu-Allaah’ and ‘Azkahu’ – i.e., Allaah reformed him, or he became upright.

It is said the word actually means, ‘the good praise’ – and in this context (it is said), ‘Zukiya Fulan inda al-Qadhi’ – i.e., He was praised with the judge.²Kitaab al-Ayn (2/189), al-Qamoos al-Jadeed (567), wal-Masaabeh al-Minbar (149).

The meaning in the Shari’ah: Allaah – Tabarak wa-Ta’ala – is the Zaki (the One, Who is Pure) in all aspects and form. None is described as ‘Az-Zaki’ unless all forms and characteristics of goodness are gathered in him and its effects are seen on the outside and the inside – and this cannot be true except for Allaah Alone – He Alone is Az-Zaki in the absolute sense – Al-Quddoos (the Most-Pure), As-Salaam (One, Who is free of all imperfections), At-Tahir (Pure), At-Tayyib (Pure)³This is a practical Attribute of Allaah. in all His Attributes, and praised in all His Names.⁴Al-Amani (281)

The Impact of His Attribute At-Tazkiyah:

It is Allaah, Who purifies His Awliyaa’, and He purifies them from ills/ evils and the apparent and hidden blameworthy characters– so that they deserve the praise and grace in accordance with their efforts in establishing the Shari’ah and taking the legal means that necessitate praise. Allaah purifies those who are upright for their faith and righteous actions, by ridding them of bad traits and acquiring good traits – and therefore, Allaah says: “Allaah purifies whomsoever He Wills,” who He knows is fit for that; hence, He says, “and Allaah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”⁵Tafseer as-Saadi

Source:

At-Ta’aliq Al-Ulaa fee Sharh Asma’u Allaahu Al-Husna wa Sifaatihi Al-Ulaa, by Maahir Muqaddim

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