The modern era is characterized by two things: the use of technology and the
development of sciences. Along with the entry of modernity in people‟s lives, some
impacts affect the quality of that society, such as decreasing morality and losing noble
values. As a result, there are many crimes such as corruption, fraud, harassment, greed
and etc. Therefore, an effort is needed to return the society to a civilized human being to
create a good civilization. This effort is also one of the apostles‟, mission to mankind
through what is called tazkiyat al-nafs (purification of the soul). One of the figures who
has thought about tazkiyat al-nafs is Sa‟īd Ḥawwā. He is a preacher and politician who
is active in a movement organization called al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun. His study of
tazkiyat al-nafs was written in a book called al-Mustakhlaṣ fī Tazkiyat al-Anfus. Besides
that, he also wrote an interpretation called al-Asās fī al-Tafsīr. In this study, the author
will research how the interpretation of Sa‟īd Ḥawwā on the tazkiyat al-nafs verses and
its relevance for building the generation od Indonesian nation?. These two things are
exciting to be studied considering the background of Sa‟īd Ḥawwā‟s life and his writing
of this interpretation and it is entirely related to the situation in this modern era.
This study used a descriptive-qualitative methodology with a figure thematic
interpretation approach. The primary data used is the book al-Asās fī al-Tafsīr. As for
the analysis techniques used inductive and deductive methods.
Based on the data analysis conducted, this study concludes that there are
fundamental values found in Sa‟īd Ḥawwā‟s interpretation of the tazkiyat al-nafs verses.
These values are; 1) purification of the soul from disbelief and disgraceful traits; 2)
Tawḥīd and its realization; 3) purification of the soul towards taqwā; 4) increasing work
ethic and being polite in the various relationship. Meanwhile, the relevance of these
values can be seen in several programs of the government and the community in
Indonesia today, namely the existence of character education curriculum based on imtaq
and the existence of the national movement of mental revolution.