The Sunday Guardian | December 14, 2025
The mind of people differs from age to age. One accepts something only when it is in accordance with one’s way of thinking. This is what is called addressing the mind. Just as making concessions to the human mind is necessary in other matters, it is likewise necessary in the matter of tazkiyah as well.
In ancient times, thinking was traditional but the modern age is that of scientific thinking. To bring about tazkiyah in people of the present times, it is essential to speak to them in a way that addresses their minds. The source of tazkiyah in present times is exactly the same as it was in ancient times. However, there is a difference of approach between the two––that of manner of speech and reasoning. In ancient times the traditional ways were effective for people of that age, but, in present times, for effective tazkiyah, it is essential to change the style of speech. Only then will it be possible for the modern man to understand the importance of tazkiyah and adopt it in his life.
For instance, in ancient times, the word “purification” or ‘reform’ of the self was used. This word could address the ancient traditional mind.
However, modern man can understand this subject better if we change our wording and mode of presentation. In other words, every individual, for various reasons, is subject to mental conditioning. For genuine human reform, it is essential to de-condition the mind—that is, to re-engineer the mind —so that a person becomes capable of seeing reality as it is and forming accurate judgments.
To address the human mind in this manner of tazkiyah, it is essential that the guide or teacher possess a broad knowledge of both classical and modern learning. Without this, the task of tazkiyah cannot be carried out effectively for the modern mind.
