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Lecture
for Filipino workers on 23rd March 2012 by Professor Omar Hasan
Kasule Sr.
INTRODUCTION
Character is an inner dimension
relating to the basic personality. Its outward manifestation is behavior.
Consistent observation of behavior may give a clue to character because it is
difficult to keep up the pretence for long period of time. The relation between
character and behavior is complex. A person with a good character may have bad
behavior because of the temporary influence of the environment. A person with a
bad character may behave well because of the temporary environment like out of
fear of punishment.
PERSONALITY, Al Nafs
Personality is the totality of
behavior of an individual. People’s personalities differ. An individual has
both positive and negative personality traits. The exceptionally good and
strong personalities are rare. The essence of a person and personality is the nafs
and not the physical body. A human being is born in a natural state of purity, fitrat
al Islam. The potential to do good or bad exists at the beginning. It is
the early environment that determines how those potentials are enhanced. The
states of the nafs in increasing grades of perfection are: nafs ammarah, nafs lawamah, and nafs kamilat that manifests in 5 ways: nafs
mulhamah; nafs qanu’ah, nafs
mutma’inna, nafs radhiyah, and nafs mardhiyat. Besides the nafs, personality is determined by
biological inheritance, the physical environment, the culture, socialization,
group and unique individual experiences. Basic personality is established early
in life and only minor modifications can be made to it in later life. This
underlies the importance of education and training in childhood when personality
is still malleable. Personality improves through spiritual and intellectual
development. Personality can be polluted by diseases of the heart such as
covetousness, passion, pride, evil, hiwa
al nafs, and waswasat. These
pollutants may have inner promptings within the human that are encouraged by
external social influences.
CONCEPT OF Tazkiyat
Prophets were sent to ensure tazkiyat
for humans. Tazkiyat is fulfillment
and return to the first covenant between humans and Allah. Tazkiyat, as a basis
for development and improvement of personality, is a long, pro-active, and
uphill task whose road map is the Qur’an. Correct and firm ‘aqidat, ‘ibadat,
avoiding the forbidden, generally being conscious of the creator, and constant
meditation about creation are paths to tazkiyat that lead to development
and improvement of personality, good character, good behavior, assertiveness,
and self-confidence. Living in a righteous community is necessary to motivate
and encourage tazkiyat. Islam is a practical religion. Achievement of
purity is through action.
METHODOLOGY OF Tazkiyat
Tazkiyat is based on ikhlaas, sidq, istislam, and tadharu'u. Tazkiyat is answering the call of Allah by sticking to the straight path, renouncing
materialism, constant vigilance against shaitan. Tazkiyat can be
achieved by dhikr, isti'adhat, istighfar, tasbiih, tahmiid, tahliil, dua,
and physical ‘ibadat: salat, saum, and infaq.
MODELS OF TAZKIYAT: Prophets and Khulafa
Prophets were sent as human
models of tazkiyat whose practical life experiences showed
that a human can overcome inner weaknesses and evil tendencies to
succeed in attaining a high level of purity. The Prophet Muhammad lived an
exemplary life so that the companions could see and emulate the best behavior.
He had the best character and his character was the Qur’an. He lived a simple
life. Abubakr was the best person after the Prophet. He was siddiq and his faith was so strong that
it would outweigh the faith of the rest of the ummat. Omar comes after
Abubakr in virtue. Omar was so strong that the shaitan feared to follow
his path. He lived a simple and hard life away from luxuries. Othman was a
generous and pious who was so modest that the angels were shy of him.
MODELS OF Tazkiyat: BELIEVERS
Believers of all generations and
all places have manifested noble traits of purity of personality than can be
emulated. The Qur’an has described traits of believers because Allah wanted to
put before all humanity a model that could be emulated. The believers have the
following spiritual traits: believing Allah's signs, responding to the call of
Allah, obedience of Allah, repentance, reform, surrender to Allah, commitment,
reliance on Allah, and fear in the hearts.
The believers have the following social traits: keeping away from lahw, keeping the private parts from
sinning, keeping promises and trusts, humility, enjoining good, forbidding
evil, attesting the truth, patience, kindness, forgiving when angry;
undertaking jihad, and mutual consultation. They avoid
the following evil acts: homicide, fornication, false witness, friendship for
those who fight Allah and the Prophet, and committing major sins. The ‘ibadat
traits of believers are: dua to Allah
only, establishment, maintaining, and regularity of salat, khushu'u in salat; salat at night, giving zakat and sadaqat
to the poor while being moderate in giving.