Ibn Daud - A Handbook of Spiritual Medicine

INITIATING A C O N T I N U A L
CYCLE OF SELF-PURIFICATION
Step 1: Accept your Inner Truth
In order to purify yourself, you must accept the truth that such
characteristics are present in your own inner and outer behaviour.
You can then open your heart and mind and begin to understand
and apply the ‘academic’ remedies, in terms of better understanding
the principles of your faith and what constitutes right and wrong,
before implementing the ‘practical’ remedies in earnest.
SELF-PURIFICATION
The ultimate objective of self-purification (and therefore this text)
is to seek the divine pleasure (ridwān) of Allāh , by undergoing
a spiritual struggle to adorn the heart with the lofty attributes of
perseverance, gratitude, fear of Allāh , hope, abstention, unity,
trust, love, truthfulness, remorse, reflection, reckoning, contemplation,
and so on.
Indeed, Allāh says, “Indeed, Allāh would never change a people’s
state (of favour) until they change their own state (of faith).” [Ar-Ra’ad
13:11]
The Prophet said:
• “There is no disease that Allāh has created except that He
also has created a treatment” [%a#ī# Al-Bukhārī 5678]
• “The one who sent down the disease sent down the remedy”
[Al-Muwa{{a 744:3474]
Step 2: Make a Commitment
Once you have accepted the truth, you need to make a commitment
and a firm resolution to tread the path to purification (a lifelong
endeavour). Make constant du’ā to Allāh that He eradicates
spiritual illnesses from your heart, for in reality He is the real healer
of the illnesses.
The Prophet said:
• “O Allāh! 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” [Musnad A#mad 19308]
• “There is a remedy for every malady, and when the remedy is
applied to the disease it is cured with the permission of Allāh,
the Exalted and Glorious” [%a#ī# Muslim 2204:69]
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