The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Praise is to God whom we glorify, seek His help and forgiveness

And we seek refuge in Allah from the evils of ourselves and our bad
deeds
The one whom Allah guides is never to be misled and he whom Allah
misleads is never to be guided.

And I bear witness that there is no God but Allah Alone with no
associates and that Mohammad is Allah's slave and His Messenger May
peace and blessings be upon Muhammad and his family

I ask God to make this gathering showered with mercy and our splitting
afterwards an infallible one.
I also ask him not to make amongst or around us anyone who is miserable
or deprived.
Oh Allah! Forgive, have mercy upon us and obliterate what you know
Guide us and shower us with your generosity O' you The Almighty and
All Noble

This is the beginning of the (rectification and purification) series.

We will need in the introduction of this issue to talk about "purification",
its importance, and the outcome that the slave gains from purification…
we will also discuss the ways by which the person can purify themselves.

We indeed need purification at this time more than any other time, and if
we ask any of those in charge of fixing the governing defects in the
society, he will surely answer that it's from ourselves. So the problem isn't
about knowledge weakness, neither financial, nor political weakness, or
others … as all that is not the core of the real problem, the core of the
problem is ourselves.
If we want to build a generation which knows its lord, a generation that
rules the world, the cornerstone of this building should be
"purification"…so our motto should be:

Purification comes first

As it's one of the most important missions to which Allah -The Almighty-
has sent the messengers

Purification Introduction 1
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

(Abraham) may Allah's blessings be upon him said:

"Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own (and indeed
Allah answered their invocation by sending Muhammad ‫)صلى ال عليه وسلم‬,
who shall recite unto them Your Verses and instruct them in the Book
(this Qur'an) and Al-Hikmah (full knowledge of the Islamic laws and
jurisprudence or wisdom or Prophet Hood), and purify them. Verily! You
are the All-Mighty, the All-Wise." (Al-Baqarah 129)

Allah has answered his prayers by sending Prophet Muhammad (May

peace and blessings be upon him) to us to undertake this mission.

We can also find 3 verses in the Qur’an, in which Allah the Almighty
said:

In Al- Baqrah " Similarly (to complete My Blessings on you), We have

sent among you a Messenger (Muhammad ‫ )صلى ال عليه وسلم‬of your own,
reciting to you Our Verses (the Qur'an) and purifying you, and teaching
you the Book (the Qur'an) and the Hikmah (i.e. Sunnah, Islamic laws and
Fiqh - jurisprudence), and teaching you that which you used not to know."
(151) look at the sequence

And in Al - `Imran he the Almighty said:

" Indeed Allah conferred a great favour on the believers when He sent
among them a Messenger (Muhammad ‫ )صلى ال عليه وسلم‬from among
themselves, reciting unto them His Verses (the Qur'an), and purifying
them (from sins by their following him), and instructing them (in) the
Book (the Qur'an) and Al-Hikmah [the wisdom and the Sunnah of the
Prophet ‫( صلى ال عليه وسلم‬i.e. his legal ways, statements, acts of worship)],
while before that they had been in manifest error" (164)

And in Al- Jumu`ah, He the Almighty says:

"He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger (Muhammad
‫ )صلى ال عليه وسلم‬from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses,
purifying them (from the filth of disbelief and polytheism), and teaching
them the Book (this Qur'an, Islamic laws and Islamic jurisprudence) and
Al-Hikmah (As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship of Prophet
Muhammad ‫)صلى ال عليه وسلم‬. And verily, they had been before in
manifest error;"(2)

These verses make it obvious that Allah clarifies that purification comes
before Knowledge.

Purification Introduction 2
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

And (Moses) said to (Fir`awn)Pharaoh: "Would you purify yourself

(from the sin of disbelief by becoming a believer)? And that I guide you
to your Lord, so you should fear Him?"
An-Nazi`at verses 18 to 19
For if he purifies himself he will be guided. Purification comes with
knowledge and fear is the consequence of knowledge
“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.”
Fatir verse 28
Therefore, fear is the fruit of knowledge.

Purification cleans the heart and makes it ready to receive knowledge and
act upon it, then it frees it from the diseases that comes as a result of
misdeeds; among which is arrogance which is derived from looking down
to people as a result of the knowledge acquired.

Knowledge consists of three spans

Whoever acquires the first one, becomes arrogant
And he who acquires the second, becomes humble
And he who acquires the third, knows that he is ignorant
On the way of guidance, the diseases of the soul stand as an obstacle
therein and don't allow one to continue, which is the main reason of
deviation from their way. For these diseases may drive them to admire
their work which may cause them to stop.

The sign of admiration is stopping

Any person usually takes a lot of steps at the beginning in a short time,
and then starts to admire themselves, for no one else has done what they
have. As a result, they stop, and that should be the evidence of their
admiration for their work, but unfortunately their work is worth nothing…
Look into what the soul does! This is how it is (the soul), as it has
stinginess and doesn’t desire to do work, whatever one hears will not do,
and will start to get lazy…all these are obstacles in the way. That’s why if
you don’t purify your soul and if the heart is not being purified, the
knowledge gained will be worthless.
And for that are these stages “Similarly (to complete My Blessings on
you), We have sent among you a Messenger (Muhammad ‫ههه هههه‬
‫ )هههه هههه‬of your own, reciting to you Our Verses (the Qur'an)
and purifying you, and teaching you the Book (the Qur'an) and the
Hikmah (i.e. Sunnah, Islamic laws and Fiqh - jurisprudence), and
teaching you that which you used not to know.”
Al-Baqara verse 151

Purification Introduction 3
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Knowledge of Allah’s book (the Qur’an) and the wisdom which is the
Sunnah of Prophet Mohammed (may peace and blessings be upon him)
come first, then it's followed by purification, which is followed by
knowledge.
So these are the duties of Allah's Messengers and their successors, which
are:

Da`wah comes first (which is to call for Islam)

Secondly, transmission of Allah's Messages
And third, transmission of the levels of (rectification and purification)

So for example, if one of the preachers delivers knowledge to people and

at the same time is not acquiring knowledge himself, then by that he will
have only achieved one third of the matter, for he teaches others
disregarding himself.

He is supposed to satisfy the equation which is “to learn and to purify

himself and at the same time fulfill his duty as a preacher”
All this has been mentioned in Surat Al-`Asr." Except those who believe
(in Islamic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and recommend
one another to the truth [i.e. order one another to perform all kinds of
good deeds (Al-Ma`ruf) which Allah has ordained, and abstain from all
kinds of sins and evil deeds (Al-Munkar which Allah has forbidden], and
recommend one another to patience (for the sufferings, harms, and
injuries which one may encounter in Allah's Cause during preaching His
religion of Islamic Monotheism or Jihad)." (3)

So they believed which is the step of knowledge, they preformed

righteous good deeds which is the step of self purification, and then
recommend one another to patience which is the Da`wah (Call to Islam).

An example on the first spiritual discipline is how Allah (May He be

Exalted and Glorified) disciplined the Sahabah (Companions of the
Prophet) (may Allah be pleased with them)

As it is mentioned in the beginning of Surah Al-`Alaq:

"Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). He has
created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). Read! And
your Lord is the Most Generous. Who has taught (the writing) by the pen.
He has taught man that which he knew not." (1-5)

Purification Introduction 4
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

This Surah informs them of Allah. It is also entitled as the first

acquaintance document between Allah (May He be Glorified and Exalted)
and the Prophet (peace be upon him)

Then after that comes the revelation of Surah (Al-Muddathir) which

establishes the fundamentals of Da`wah as it includes all that which a
Da`y (caller to Islam) needs:

{Arise and warn!(2) And magnify your Lord (Allâh)!(3) And purify your
garments!(4) And keep away from Ar-Rujz (the idols)! (5) And give not a
thing in order to have more (or consider not your deeds of obedience to
Allâh as a favor to Him) (6) And be patient for the sake of your Lord (i.e.
perform your duty to Allâh)!(7)}

The verses: {Arise and warn and magnify your Lord} means glorify Allah
and fear not anyone, while {And purify your garments} means clean up
your outside appearance as well as your heart inside. Also {And keep
away from Ar-Rujz} means abandon all sins, and {And give not a thing in
order to have more (or consider not your deeds of obedience to Allâh as a
favor to Him)} means don’t boast before Allah of the good deeds that you
observe

Then there comes Surah Al-Muzzamil:

{O you wrapped in garments (i.e. Prophet Muhammad peace be upon
him)!(1) Stand (to pray) all night, except a little(2) Half of it or a little
less than that (3) Or a little more. And recite the Qur’ân (aloud) in a slow,
(pleasant tone and) style (4) Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty
Word (i.e. obligations, laws)}

In which the spiritual discipline is being firstly established by offering

Qiyam-ul-Layl (standing for optional Prayer at night) for the whole night
except a little, or for half of it or a little less or more than that and recite
the Qur’an aloud in slow in pleasant tone and style. Afterwards He
mentioned “Verily, We shall send down to you a weighty Word” This is
why Qiyam-ul-Layl -which denotes the Tazkiyah (purification of the
heart and soul)- was mentioned theretofore.

As before teaching him and revealing to him this weighty saying, he

should have purified himself first. For this is the first priority above all, to
start purifying yourself, looking into the diseases of your heart,
identifying your faults and fixing them

Purification Introduction 5
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

**The essence of Tazkiyah:

Linguistically, it is originated from the word “Zakah” which means
growth, prosperity and praise.
According to Shari`ah (Islamic law): it means kind of purification,
development and goodness…

There are two pillars upon which Tazkiyah is based:

1. Takhliyah (clearance) or getting rid of (ill-heartedness) and faults.
2. Tahliyah (beautification) which involves instilling good morals and
replacing the existing bad ones

These two pillars will consequently result in the achievement of

purification, prosperity and goodness
As Tazkiyah involves purification, achievement and acquirement
Purification takes place from diseases and faults. While Achievement
involves ranking, and acquirement is meant with names and attributes…

** Ways of purification:

It all involves acts of worship; “Salah(Prayer), Hajj (Pilgrimage)

expenditures, Sawm (Fast), reciting Quran, meditation, evaluating one's
self, and remembering Death.”

There are two types of worship: heart worship and body worship, both of
which affect the soul.

** The consequences of purification:

1. The heart reaches monotheism and devotion, which is achieved by:

being patient, thankful, fearful, hopeful, and loving to Allah, in
addition to Glorifying Him and being honest with Him. As well as
abandoning dissimulation, self-conceit, arrogance, and anger”

* Abd-ul-Rahman Ibn Al-Qasim was a Maliky scholar, (one of the

students of Imam Malik), used to say:

Purification Introduction 6
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

I used to serve Imam Malik for twenty years; I spent eighteen of which
learning good deeds, and two years just to gain knowledge.

* Imam Malik also used to say: “Knowledge is not by preaching a lot, but
knowledge is what its acquirer learned and acted upon.”

What is most important regarding knowledge is to use it and act upon it,
but whoever doesn’t act in accordance with what they have learned, will
fall a prey to laziness and incapability.

Incapability occurs when a person has the intention to do something but

their will doesn’t help them, so they wish to but are incapable of.

On the other hand, laziness occurs when a person doesn’t have the will to
do the task.

This incapable person can be strengthened by a strong push of Iman

(faith/belief).

* Imam Mohammad Ibn Idris Al Shafi`y says: Imam Malik told me:

“O Mohammad! Make your acts be like the flour and your knowledge is
like the salt”

But what is the weight of flour versus salt; it’s just drops of salt on plenty
of flour.

* And Abdullah Ibn Al-Mubarak used to say: “Whoever learns and

possesses the Qur’an then leans with their heart to life; will have taken
Allah’s verses jestingly."

And if a Qur’an holder disobeys his deity, Qur’an will cry out from their
throat saying:

“By Allah! This is not the purpose I have been possessed for, where are
my preachments and prohibitive?? Every letter of me cries out telling you
don’t disobey your Lord...”

* Imam Ahmad used to refrains from teaching whoever doesn’t pray at

night. One of his students called Abu Esma slept over at his house, so
Imam Ahmad placed some water by him for Wudu’ (ablution), but when
he passed by him before going to pronounce the Adhan (call for Prayer)
of Fajr (morning) prayer he found him asleep leaving the water as is.
Thereon, he woke him up and told him: “Why did you come Abu
Esma??” The former replied: “I came to learn Hadith”.

Purification Introduction 7
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Imam Ahmad said: “How would you learn Hadith when you don’t
observe night prayer, go back to where you came from.”

* Imam Al Shafi`y used to say: “the scholar must have a good hidden
deed between himself and Allah as whatever is apparent to people from
knowledge or good deeds is of little reward in the hereafter, and it hasn’t
been seen in a dream that someone has been forgiven by Allah for their
knowledge but few ….”

Hence, purification is needed before knowledge.

As Allah the Al-Mighty has said:

{Indeed whosoever purifies himself (by avoiding polytheism and

accepting Islamic Monotheism) shall achieve success, And remembers
(glorifies) the Name of his Lord (worships none but Allah), and prays
(five compulsory prayers and Nawafil - additional prayers)} (Al-A`la
14,15)}

Then, you should take it as a motto:

Success is based on purification before knowledge.

And Allah the Al-Mighty has sworn by seven verses in Surah Ash-Shams
saying:

{By the sun and its brightness.(1) By the moon as it follows it (the sun).
(2) By the day as it shows up (the sun's) brightness.(3) By the night as it
conceals it (the sun).(4) By the heaven and Him Who built it(5) By the
earth and Him Who spread it.(6) By Nafs (Adam or a person or a soul),
and Him Who perfected him in proportion;(7) Then He showed him what
is wrong for him and what is right for him(8)}

Then the answer to these previous oaths was:

{Indeed he succeeds who purifies his own self (i.e. obeys and performs all
that Allah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism
and by doing righteous good deeds).(9) And indeed he fails who corrupts
his own self (i.e. disobeys what Allah has ordered by rejecting the true

Purification Introduction 8
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism or by doing

every kind of evil wicked deeds). (10)}

As if the self has all what Allah has sworn with -and Allah knows best-;

It is as the self contains the following:

{By the sun and its brightness} this oath refers to the time at which the
sun is the brightest and has the most heat.

{By the moon as it follows it (the sun) (2) By the day as it shows up (the
sun's) brightness}
So the self has an inner preacher who enlightens its way.

{By the night as it conceals it (the sun)}:

As if this is the darkness that comes to the self which is darkness above
darkness.
Surat Al-Balad confirms this meaning as well, as there's a link between
Surah Al-Balad and that of Ash-Shams:

Allah the Al-Mighty says:

{Verily, We have created man in toil. (4)}
the toil herein is the striving in the Cause of Allah, and purification is
only achieved through that.
{I swear by this city (Makkah) (1)} i.e., the honor of the place (Makkah)

{And you are free (from sin, and to punish the enemies of Islam on the
Day of the conquest) in this city (Makkah) (2)} this is the Prophet
Mohammad (May peace and blessings be upon him) and he is the most
honorable person on earth.

{And by the begetter (i.e. Adam peace be upon him) and that which he
begot (i.e. his progeny).(3)} Adam May Allah's blessings be upon him,
the forefather of all human.
Afterwards, He the Al-Mighty said:
{Verily, We have created man in toil.(4)} and this refers to the fruit …this
can also imply that purification needs Jihad (striving in the cause of
Allah)

Hence Allah the Al-Mighty says:

{As for those who strive hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide
them to Our Paths (i.e. Allah's religion - Islamic Monotheism). And
verily, Allah is with the Muhsinun (good doers)} (Al-`Ankabut 69)

Purification Introduction 9
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Striving one's self in the cause of Allah is much harder and more difficult
than fighting the outer enemy. As striving the outer enemy is done at
once, but striving one's self may succeed once and fail another time.

The rest of the verses of Surah Al-Balad talk about this meaning :
{But he has not attempted to pass on the path that is steep (i.e. the path
which will lead to goodness and success). And what will make you know
the path that is steep? (It is) freeing a neck (slave)} (11-13)
And the path that is steep: is the high mountain that no one can climb,
except the one who is light in his movements due to the regimen that he
follows. Moreover you are the one who controls himself in being light in
your movements by being far from anything that is related to sins.
Hence, the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him said):
"In front of you lies an insuperable obstacle, heavy ones are not to cross
it, I am lighting myself for it" (classified as Sahih "authentic" by Al-
Albani).

The opposite of self-purification is "self-foist ion" as Allah the Al-Mighty

said

"And indeed he fails who corrupts his own self (i.e. disobeys what Allah
has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by
following polytheism or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds).
(10)}"

And foist is to hide something. However it has been expected that it

means the opposite of "purification" which is impurification.

But scholars stated that "foist" is to hide one's self inside the righteous.

However, the self may drive its owner to deception and illusion because it
is between the righteous…

The basics on which self purification and discipline rely:

There are two kinds of basics:

1- Dogmatic basics

Purification Introduction 10
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

2-Scientific basics.

First: The Dogmatic basic:

You have to discipline your self to these matters,,

1- Al-Tawhid (belief in the Oneness of Allah/ monotheism):

When we talk about heart spoilers, the most dangerous among which
that causes Shirk (Associating others in worship or divinity with
Allah) with no doubt is the devotion to anything rather than Allah.

However, Heart spoilers are five "attaching to anything rather than

Allah, - excess of food, talk, sleep and overabundance in mixing with
people …. And the most dangerous amongst all is the attachment of
heart towards anything but Allah.

This has a lot of forms, one of which is, when a man loves a woman
not for the sake of Allah even if she is his wife, we can't say that it is a
forbidden form of love, but he is deeply attached to her or even if this
attachment turns to include his kids he becomes stingy and refuses to
spend for the sake of Allah in order to make his child live in an
adequate level …this is considered a disparaged attachment as it
hampers his obedience to Allah.

Among the forms of devotion also is when someone minds about

people so much that if they started to praise him, he will be satisfied.
But he becomes angry when they don't recognize his work. Such
person will always seek their flattering… So, he becomes attached to
something rather than Allah. He then starts to fall in minor Shirk
(Associating others in worship or divinity with Allah)… till he reaches
the major one that Allah forbids.

So we have to discipline ourselves by the three types of Tawhid:

Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Allah's Lordship),

Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship),
And Tawhid-ul-Asma' wal-Sifat (Oneness of Allah's Names and
Attributes)

Tawhid-ul-Rububiyyah means: that the slave becomes certain that

Allah is the Lord and owner of everything and that He is the only
Creator, the Master of the entire Universe, the Provider, the One who
gives life, and causes death.

Purification Introduction 11
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

So if a person doesn't purify himself, these definitions will only be

memorized in his mind. For example; when one accomplishes his
academic education then starts to search for a job, he finds nothing but
violations, yet he doesn’t leave it for the sake of Allah and be certain
that Allah will compensate him…as He is the Provider… Why?!
Because, these words are only kept in mind, without reaching the heart
what about the practical application?! If one suffers from a disease,
they should say, “I am content with Allah as my Lord”. "Tawhid Al
Rububiyyah"

Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah means: There is no deity but Allah (may He be

Glorified) who deserves worshiping and that anything else that is
worshiped but him is fake, worship is the complete submissiveness as
well as the perfect love. one may deceive his boss, and humiliate
himself to take more money at the end of the year…this is the case
with anyone who didn’t displine himself with "Tawhid-ul-Uluhiyyah"
as he humiliates himself in front of someone rather than Allah, it is
also an issue of love
{Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides Allah, as
equal (with Allah. They love them as they should love Allah. But those
of Faith are overflowing in their love for Allah. If only the unrighteous
could see, behold, they would see the penalty: that to Allah belongs all
power, and Allah will strongly enforce the penalty} Al Baqarah , 165

As for Tawhid-ul-Asma' wal-Sifat: it means that Allah is attributed

with perfection that is free from any defection

What do you know about Allah's Names? For example what do you
know about Allah's Name " Al-Muqīt" the Nourisher?

"And Allah is Ever All-Able to do (and also an All-Witness to)

everything." (An-Nisa’ 85)

The Nourisher is derived from nourishment. So He's the one who

provides you with nurture for your body and heart. Thus, if your heart is
led astray and is not pounding with Love for Allah; you will not have any
share of that name. However, if you always seek to feed your heart with
knowledge and love for Allah; only then you will realize that there's a
Nourishing Lord. Also, whoever seeks for subsistence knows very well
that Allah is the Nourisher.

Purification Introduction 12
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If
you truly put your trust in Allah, He will sustain as He sustains the birds,
for they go out in the morning with their bellies empty and come back
with their bellies full” (classified as Sahih " authentic ")
However, Nourishment is different from subsistence; as it's for the basic
and necessary things. while subsistence is much boarder…so where are
these names in your life?

2. Adhering to the Qur’an and Sunnah

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: {And hold fast, all of you together, to
the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur'an), and be not divided among
yourselves} (Aal-`Imran 103), the Rope of Allah herein is the Qur’an and
the Sunnah (Whatever is reported from the Prophet)
Allah the Al-Mighty says: {O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the
Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him), and those of you (Muslims)
who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves,
refer it to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), if you believe in
Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final
determination} (An-Nisa' 59)

So we have to turn back our dispute to the Qur’an and Sunnah even if
it is against our desire

3. Believing in predestination and decree

{Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and on the
earth? Verily, it is (all) in the Book (Al-Lauh-al-Mahfuz). Verily that
is easy for Allah} (70 Al-Hajj)

Prophet Mohammad (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“O young man, I will teach you some words (of advice); Be mindful of
Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find
Him before you. If you ask, ask Allah; if you seek help, seek help from
Allah. Know that if the whole nation were to gather collectively to benefit
you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah
had already prescribed for you, and that if it gathers collectively to harm
you with anything, it would harm you only with something that Allah had
already prescribed on you. The pens had been lifted and the pages had
dried.” This Hadith was classed as Sahih (authentic) by Al-Albany.

Purification Introduction 13
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Believing in predestination and decree is not achievable except with the

five previous things:
Believing in Allah, his angles, books, messengers, and the Day of
Resurrection.

The one who's satisfied with Allah's predestination shall live peacefully in
the heaven of gratification, while the opposite happens on dissatisfaction.
Among the forms of anger is that shown towards Allah, wherein the
dissatisfaction is being hidden, as when a person talks about satisfaction
but their heart does not taste it.
Ibn Al-Qyam said: "the benefit is thereupon where Islamic law exists"

The Companions of the Prophet (may peace be upon him) used to raise up
their children on this meaning.

Bilal Ibn Rabah said:

I asked Al Walid Ibn Al-Samet: “What was your father's bequest when he
was dying??”
He answered: “He told me O' son! be God- fearing and be sure that you
will not gain this and will not achieve knowledge unless you worship
Allah alone and believe in His predestination and decree (with respect to
that which is good and bad), he said: “I told him; O' father! How do I
reach this level of believing in Allah's predestination regarding that which
is good and bad?” He said: “Be certain that whatever befalls to you is not
to miss you and whatever misses you is not to befall you, if you die with
this belief you will enter the Jannah (Paradise)”.

If this belief is established, integrity of the heart occurs to set it free from
spite and envy. Moreover attains the courage. Therein, impatience
became less at the time of crisis. Also among its fruits is paying effort and
driving away desperation during work.

4. Believing in the Day of Resurrection

Allah the Al-Mighty said: {Did you think that We had created you in play
(without any purpose), and that you would not be brought back to Us?}
(Al-Mu`minun 115)

So Allah the Al Mighty has reminded His slaves of the hereafter. One of
the most important things that keep you away from sins is remembering
the Day of Resurrection, death, grave and Reckon.

That is why Omar Ibn Abu- Al Aziz used to gather the preachers
everyday to remind himself.

Purification Introduction 14
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Second: The knowledgeable basis:

The Beneficial knowledge is a knowledge, which approaches you from

GOD (Allah), increases your awareness of Him, and pushes you to

perform good deeds. However, if you don’t find anything from the

previous condition then you should know that this is an unbeneficial

knowledge.

There are conditions for a beneficial knowledge:

1: learning monotheism

2: learning what is Haram (prohibited) and what is Halal (lawful). Which

known as” Fiqh” (Islamic Jurisprudence)

3: this knowledge should bear the fruit of GOD-fearing.

The practical acts of worship

Zakah (Obligatory Charity), which purifies human inner-self from

Scarcity.

Siyam (fasting) which strengthens the will and provides one with

patience.

Hajj (pilgrimage), which is a practical training to obey Allah’s

Commands, and strive for his sake.

Nawafil (Voluntary prayers), Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted)

says in the Hadith Qudsy (Revelation from Allah in the Prophet's words):

Purification Introduction 15
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

"I declare war against Whoever feuds a pious Slave of Mine, and My

slave cannot draw closer to Me with anything that is more beloved to Me

than what I have made obligatory upon him, and My slave keeps drawing

nearer to Me with Nawafil (supererogatory acts of worship) until I love

him. Such that when I love him, I become his hearing with which he

hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he seizes, and his

foot with which he walk, and If he asks me, I will surely respond, and if

he seeks My Refuge, I will surely protect him. And I do not hesitate about

anything as much as I hesitate about [seizing] the soul of My faithful

Slave: for he hates death and I hate hurting him.” This Hadith Qudsy was

related by Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.]

5/Self-accounting and conversion: Allah (may He be Glorified) says in

Surah Al-Qiyamah:” And I do call to witness the self-reproaching spirit”

The attentive is the one who accounts himself all the time and works hard

for the hereafter, while the impotent is the one who follows their desires

and wants every thing from Allah without working.

Al Hassan said: "the slave is the one who has a preacher and accounting

himself is his purpose…"

Amongst the things that help one to account himself:

• Feeling that Allah is watching you and remembering the

Resurrection Day, along with patterning after those who are faithful

and sincere.

Purification Introduction 16
 The First Lesson Academy of Faith

• Offering Tawbah (Repentance) of sins and having a strong

determination not to return to these sins ever,

• Adhering to the Righteous friends.

1The ten destructive diseases

1- Shirk,
2- Love of fame,
3- Envy, 4-
Self-conceit,
5- Arrogance,
6- Avarice,
7- Pride,
8- Anger,
9- Attachment to the worldly life,
10- Following one’s personal lust

It was narrated that prophet Mohammad (may peace and blessings be

upon him) said: “There are three things which cause safety (from Hellfire)
and three which cause ruin (by entering it), as for the three which cause
safety; Justice in times of content and anger, Fear of Allah in private and
public, and moderation in wealth and poverty. Whereas those which cause
ruin: Unrestricted avarice, followed desire, and self-conceit” (classed as
Hassan By Al Albany)

These diseases cannot be noted or identified except through practice;

therefore, every lesson in this educational series will be associated with
assignments to see whether you have this disease or not, and if you have it
we will help you to get rid of it.

Glory and Praise be to You, O Allah! I bear witness that there is

no deity except You, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to
You, may peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad,
his family, and Companions
Purification Introduction 17
The First Lesson Academy of Faith

Purification Introduction 18