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PHILOSOPHY
Achieving Clarity of Soul Through Sufism
A spiritual path relevant in the modern era
During this life packed with demand and anxiety, I many times feel dislocated amidst the hustle bustle of the world. Fast-moving and stressful life erodes peace of mind quite frequently, which has left a state of restlessness that cannot be defined. I believe that we all have faced that a feeling of being at an edge, a state of incompleteness resulting even after attaining all the desired things. This is why I became interested in Sufism, a branch of Islamic spirituality that teaches how to draw closer to God while cleansing the soul. The teachings of the Sufis invite us to purify the heart from despicable traits and replace them with noble traits that bring us closer to God and inner peace.
To me, Sufism is not only a teaching of religion but more about the path to clarity of the soul. The Sufis taught that the essence of Sufism itself is tazkiyatun nafs, or purification of the heart from bad traits and lusts. I increasingly realize that purity of the heart is the main foundation for achieving true peace. A clean heart is thus capable of reflecting the divine light, much like how a mirror reflects light once it is cleaned of dust and dirt. Unfortunately, we are often preoccupied with greed, anger, and hatred that make our hearts…
