Glossary
Islamic Spiritual Concepts: A Glossary of Tazkiyah
1 min read
Tazkiyah, the purification of the soul, has its own vocabulary, and most people meet it in fragments: an Arabic word in a khutbah, a term in an article, a phrase repeated without its full weight. This glossary puts fifty-five of those words in one place, from the shifting states of the nafs to the everyday phrases that carry remembrance into ordinary speech. These are the working parts of self-accounting, and of tazkiyah itself, which lays out the process — both assume you already know what muraqaba, tafakkur, and ikhlas mean. Start here whenever a term stops you mid-article. Read the one-line meaning, then follow its link to the full guide, where you will find the Quran and hadith it rests on and how the concept shows up in daily practice. The entries are grouped so related ideas sit together, so read a section straight through or jump to the single word you need.
55 terms · grouped so related ideas sit together. Start anywhere.
The self
How Islam names what is happening inside you, and where it can go.
- Nafsالنَّفْس
- The inner self, moving through three states from commanding evil to tranquility.
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- Fitrahفِطْرَة
- The pure, innate disposition Allah created every human upon.
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- Ghaflahغَفْلَة
- Heedlessness of Allah while the heart is fully awake to everything else.
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- Imanإِيمَان
- Faith — belief held in the heart, affirmed by tongue, proven in action.
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- Taqwaتَقْوَى
- God-consciousness that guards you from sin; the Quran’s most-repeated virtue.
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- Ihsanإِحْسَان
- Worshipping Allah as though you see Him, knowing He sees you.
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The disciplines
The daily and lifelong practices that carry tazkiyah forward.
- Muhasabaمُحَاسَبَة
- Taking account of yourself before you are taken account of.
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- Muraqabaمُرَاقَبَة
- Sustained awareness of Allah’s watchfulness throughout the day.
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- Tafakkurتَفَكُّر
- Purposeful reflection on Allah’s creation, His signs, and your own soul.
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- Tadabburتَدَبُّر
- Deep Quranic reflection — pondering the Quran’s meanings and demands.
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- Khalwaخَلْوَة
- Intentional solitude — withdrawing from noise to be alone with Allah.
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- Dhikrذِكْر
- Remembrance of Allah through words, reflection, and heart.
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- Tawbahتَوْبَة
- Turning back to Allah with sincere repentance.
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- Istighfarاسْتِغْفَار
- Seeking Allah’s forgiveness.
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- Niyyahنِيَّة
- Intention — the inner orientation that turns ordinary acts into worship.
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- Khushooخُشُوع
- The humility and presence that turns salah into an encounter.
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- Tazkiyahتَزْكِيَة
- Purification of the soul — the Quran’s command, not a self-help reframe.
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The virtues
The character that tazkiyah is meant to produce.
- Ikhlasإِخْلَاص
- Sincerity — doing deeds purely for Allah’s sake.
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- Sabrصَبْر
- Active patience through hardship, obedience, and temptation.
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- Shukrشُكْر
- Gratitude expressed through heart, tongue, and limbs.
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- Tawakkulتَوَكُّل
- Complete reliance on Allah while still taking the means.
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- Zuhdزُهْد
- Heart-detachment from the dunya while fully inhabiting it.
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- Qanaaقَنَاعَة
- Contentment with Allah’s provision — the antidote to envy.
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- Husn al-Dhanحُسْن الظَّنّ
- Having a good opinion of Allah.
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- Istiqamahاسْتِقَامَة
- Steadfastness on the straight path — small deeds, sustained.
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- Hikmahحِكْمَة
- Wisdom — knowing how and when to apply knowledge rightly.
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- Amanahأَمَانَة
- The trust Allah places upon you over body, time, wealth, and knowledge.
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- Akhlaqأَخْلَاق
- Good character — the prophetic foundation of virtue.
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Provision and destiny
What Allah gives, decrees, and promises.
- Barakahبَرَكَة
- Divine blessing that multiplies what is given.
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- Rizqرِزْق
- Divine provision — everything Allah has decreed for you.
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- Qadrقَدَر
- Allah’s decree — His pre-existing knowledge of all things.
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- Jannahجَنَّة
- Paradise — the eternal abode of the believers.
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Everyday phrases
The short Arabic phrases that carry remembrance into ordinary speech.
- Bismillahبِسْم الله
- “In the name of Allah” — said before every meaningful act.
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- Alhamdulillahالْحَمْد لله
- “All praise belongs to Allah.”
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- Subhanallahسُبْحَان الله
- “Glory be to Allah” — declaring His perfection.
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- Mashallahمَا شَاء الله
- “What Allah has willed” — said in appreciation and protection.
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- Inshallahإِن شَاء الله
- “If Allah wills” — a command of humility, not a soft no (18:23–24).
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- Astaghfirullahأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّه
- The fuller phrase of istighfar — “I seek Allah’s forgiveness,” said in humility.
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Law and practice
The rulings and pillars that structure a Muslim’s obligations.
- Halalحَلَال
- Permitted — across food, income, speech, and all of life.
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- Haramحَرَام
- Forbidden or unlawful in Islamic law.
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- Sunnahسُنَّة
- The way of the Prophet ﷺ — his words, actions, and approvals.
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- Sadaqahصَدَقَة
- Voluntary charity — any act of giving for Allah’s sake.
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- Zakatزَكَاة
- The obligatory 2.5% annual almsgiving — the third pillar of Islam.
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- Ummahأُمَّة
- The worldwide community of Muslims, united by faith.
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Other terms
Everyday vocabulary, occasions, and pillars that round out the list.
- Sayyidul Istighfarسَيِّد الاسْتِغْفَار
- “The master of seeking forgiveness” — the supreme istighfar (Bukhari 6306).
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- Shahadaشَهَادَة
- The testimony of faith — the first pillar of Islam.
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- Hadithحَدِيث
- The recorded sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet ﷺ.
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- Laylatul Qadrلَيْلَة الْقَدْر
- The Night of Power — better than a thousand months.
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- Eidعِيد
- Festival — the celebrations that follow Ramadan and Hajj.
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- Hajjحَجّ
- The pilgrimage to Mecca, obligatory once in a lifetime — the fifth pillar.
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- Kalimaكَلِمَة
- The six core declarations of Islamic belief, recited word for word.
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- Ramadanرَمَضَان
- The ninth month of the Islamic calendar — fasting, Quran, and Laylatul Qadr.
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- Salam Alaikumالسَّلَام عَلَيْكُم
- “Peace be upon you” — the greeting the Prophet ﷺ called a means of loving one another.
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- Islamإِسْلَام
- Submission to Allah — the religion of the six pillars of faith and five of practice.
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- Sawmصَوْم
- Fasting from Fajr to Maghrib — the fourth pillar of Islam.
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Put the words into practice
Definitions are where reflection starts, not where it ends. Islamic journaling is muhasaba made visible on a page — and these 30 prompts turn terms like tazkiyah and shukr into tonight's self-accounting.