Session: On Tazkiyah and Companionship

تزکیہ اور صحبت

Tazkiyah of the Nafs — Two Ways (تزکیہ نفس — دو طریقے)

Tazkiyah al-nafs (purification of the self) takes place in two ways. Attention (tawajjuh khass) — the murshid directs his spiritual energy and awareness upon the murid, thereby transmitting purification. Sohbat-e-nek (good companionship) — the murid's sustained proximity to the murshid, absorbing his light, manner, and spiritual state through the sheer power of company. Both are legitimate and both produce results. The Naqshbandi method emphasises tawajjuh; the Chishti method emphasises sohbat and love; the Qadiri method channels its attention from the Shaykh's own station.

The Pond and the Stone — An Analogy (تالاب اور پتھر)

Sahibo! I will set a parable to your attention — a pond of water — there a proprietor threw a stone into it — a bubble appeared — another proprietor threw a large stone — another bubble appeared — a forceful bubble appeared and in it a compressed huge circle formed — in that circle the thought absorbed all thoughts — 'Your thoughts will be erased like the waves of this stone' — in this way the effect of a perfect faqir's company will absorb your harmful thoughts — 'In the way of the company of a disbeliever, from its effect, your weak good thoughts will be changed to bad — and in this way they say (this is the means).' Persian verses: 'Sohbat salih tura salih kunad / Sohbat talih tura talih kunad' — 'The company of the righteous makes you righteous / The company of the corrupt makes you corrupt.'