Surah Al-Shams, Ayah 9-10

Reflection

These verses present the fundamental choice that determines human success or failure: the purification or corruption of the soul. "Purifying" the soul (tazkiyah) involves developing good character, performing righteous deeds, seeking forgiveness, and following divine guidance. "Corrupting" or "burying" the soul (dassaha) means suppressing its natural inclination toward good, engaging in sins, and following destructive desires. The verses teach that the ultimate measure of success is not worldly achievement but the spiritual state of one's soul. Success comes from nurturing and purifying the soul, while failure results from corrupting and degrading it. This emphasizes the importance of spiritual development and moral character as the true determinants of human success.