Raising Hearts Connected to Allah: Starting Tazkiyah Early

In a world of growing distractions and competing values, nurturing a child’s inner world — their qalb (heart), iman (faith), and akhlaq (character) — is no longer optional, it's essential. At the core of this nurturing is the process of Tazkiyah.

What is Tazkiyah — and Why Start Early?

Tazkiyah refers to the purification of the soul — a central goal of Islamic upbringing. It’s the process of removing spiritual diseases like arrogance, jealousy, heedlessness, and cultivating virtues such as sincerity, patience, gratitude, and love for Allah. In the Qur'an, Allah swears by the success of the one who purifies their soul (Qur'an 91:9–10).

But how do we help children internalise such lofty concepts?

It starts from the home. From the way we teach our children to say Bismillah with awareness, to treat others with kindness, to seek forgiveness when they err, and to reflect on the world around them with awe and gratitude to Allah. These are the seeds of a heart connected to its Creator.

The earlier this process begins, the more natural and deep-rooted it becomes. Just as we teach children to brush their teeth and tidy up after themselves, we can guide them to recognise their emotions, correct their intentions, and build habits of dhikr and du’a.

So how can you do this at home this summer?

One resource helping parents do this beautifully is the Iman & Tazkiyah series by Quranic Tarbiyah – a series helping children to develop spiritual consciousness in an age-appropriate and engaging way.

Each level of the series is tailored to a specific stage of a child’s development:

• Level 1 (Ages 4+): Introduces the basics of the six pillars of iman using age-appropriate language and illustrations.
• Level 2 (Ages 6+): Deepens understanding of the six pillars of iman and introduces the basics of Tazkiyah with interactive activities.
• Level 3 (Ages 7+): Goes further into the pillars of iman and explores the names of Allah and foundation of Tazkiyah
• Level 4 (Ages 8+): Fosters a strong Islamic identity, emotional intelligence, and an understanding of the heart's journey to Allah. 

What makes this series powerful is that it isn’t just "Islamic information"; it’s tarbiyah. It nurtures the whole child and walks them gently through the inner work of building a meaningful relationship with their Creator.

This summer is the perfect time to take charge and invest in your child’s inner development. A heart that learns to turn to Allah early is a heart that will, insha Allah, always find its way back no matter how far it drifts.

The Iman & Tazkiyah book series can be your companion in this journey. Use it together with your child — read it aloud, reflect on the questions, and let it spark meaningful conversations about faith, values, and the state of the heart.

Whether your child is just beginning to explore faith or ready to dig deeper into self-awareness and purification, there’s a level for them. Shop levels 1 through 4 now at www.hadiyasouq.africa.