RECONSTRUCTION OF TAZKIYATUN NAFS AS AN EMANCIPATORY PARADIGM: A CRITIQUE OF THE REDUCTIONISM OF TRANSCENDENTAL VALUES IN SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION Reconstruction of Tazkiyatun Nafs as an Emancipatory Paradigm: A Critique of the Reductionism of Transcendental Values in Social Transformation
Keywords:
transcendental values,, transformative tazkiyatun nafs, emancipatory tauhid, social transformationAbstract
The epistemological crisis in contemporary Islamic studies is marked by the marginalization of transcendental values due to the dominance of positivistic paradigms, which tend to reduce spirituality to merely ritualistic and individualistic dimensions. This condition results in a disconnection between personal piety and social transformation, causing the values of tauhid (divine unity) to lose their emancipatory capacity in addressing issues of injustice and dehumanization. Although studies on Sufism and tazkiyatun nafs (purification of the soul) have developed significantly, a critical research gap remains, particularly in the lack of theoretical formulations that systematically and operationally integrate self- purification with frameworks of social transformation. This article aims to reconstruct tazkiyatun nafs as an emancipatory paradigm grounded in tauhid, capable of bridging the spiritual dimension and social praxis. The theoretical approach employed is Transformative Tazkiyatun Nafs, which integrates the classical Sufi tradition with critical theory within the framework of emancipatory tauhid. This study adopts a qualitative method based on literature review, critical theory utilizing critical-hermeneutic analysis and conceptual synthesis. The main argument of this article asserts that tazkiyatun nafs should not be confined to an individual process of spiritual purification, but rather understood as a foundation for developing critical consciousness that drives transformative social action. In this sense, transcendental values can be revitalized as a liberative praxis. The scholarly contribution of this study lies in the development of an integrative epistemological model that connects revelation, reason, and social reality, while also offering an operational framework for applying transcendental values in contemporary contexts.
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