عصرِحاضر میں تزکیہ نفس : ایک فراموش شدہ فکری و اخلاقی سرمایہ

Tazkiyah al Nafs in the Contemporary Age: A Neglected Moral and Intellectual Capital

Abstract

Tazkiyah al-Nafs (self-purification) has historically constituted a central and comprehensive concept within Islamic thought and civilization, serving as a foundational framework for the inner reform, moral purification, and spiritual development of the human self. However, in the modern age—characterized by materialism, consumerism, technological dominance, and an accelerated pace of life—this profound moral and intellectual capital has gradually been marginalized. As a result, the contemporary human personality is increasingly confronted with deep ethical disorientation, psychological unrest, and spiritual emptiness. This article undertakes a historical, conceptual, and analytical examination of Tazkiyah al-Nafs, highlighting how its neglect has significantly contributed to moral decline and the crisis of meaning in contemporary society. It further argues that a context-sensitive reinterpretation and revival of Tazkiyah al-Nafs can play a vital role in addressing modern ethical, psychological, and social challenges. The study also explores the psychological, social, and civilizational benefits of self-purification and identifies possible practical pathways for its revival in the present age.