As we journey through this month of joy, we will inevitably need support. Humans were created weak and we're designed to be dependent on the Creator and His assistance. This is the reason tazkiyah is a recurrent theme in Islaam.

Tazkiyah comprises of two components:
1. Purification (تطهير)
2. Beautification (تحلية)

Suppose the clothe you are wearing gets soiled. How will you clean it?

You wash off the stain first and then begin adorning it with scent and perfume.
In the same way, our soul needs constant purification and beautification. We must be persistent in removing its impurity and increase the beauty of piety that is already present.

To do this, we need to cling on to four spiritual oxygen; also known as Qur'an, Salaah, Dhikr and Dua.

1. Qur'an:
Qur'an is by far our biggest and most important tazkiyah tool. Its significance is especially amplified in this blessed month. Hence, let the first oxygen we hold onto in tazkiyah be that of Qur'an. Allah says,

لَوۡ أَنزَلۡنَا هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٖ لَّرَأَيۡتَهُۥ خَٰشِعٗا مُّتَصَدِّعٗا مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَٰلُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought.
-Surah Al Hashr, Ayah 21

Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah SA said, “I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you hold to them: the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of his Prophet.”
(al-Muwaṭṭa’ 1661)

Al-Nawawi reported: Al-Hasan ibn Ali RA said, “Verily, those before you viewed the Quran as letters from their Lord, such that they would contemplate it by night and yearn for it by day.”
(al-Tibyān fī Ādāb Ḥamalat al-Qur’ān 1/54)

2. Salaah:
A wise person once said, "Hold onto Salaah; if you lose it, you lose everything else."

This statement couldn't have been more true. Salaah is so imperative in a Muslim's life that it is the second pillar of Islaam. It confirms Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism), is the first act to be taken into accountabilty and the distinguishing factor between a believer and unbeliever. Allah says,

وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتُواْ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱرۡكَعُواْ مَعَ ٱلرَّٰكِعِينَ

And establish Salaah and give zakah and bow with those who bow [in worship and obedience].
-Surah Al Baqarah, Ayah 43

Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The delight of my eyes is in Salaah.”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī 3939, authenticated by Ahmed Shakir)

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The first action for which a servant of Allah will be held accountable on the Day of Resurrection will be his Salaah. If they are in order, he will have prospered and succeeded. If they are lacking, he will have failed and lost. If there is something defective in his obligatory Salaah, then the Almighty Lord will say: See if my servant has any voluntary Salaah that can complete what is insufficient in his obligatory Salaah. The rest of his deeds will be judged the same way.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 413, authenticated by Ahmed Shakir)

3. Dhikr:
An act so tiny yet so potent. Each dhikr carries a virtue that surpasses the other. In fact, it is narrated that dhikr is more precious than jihaad in the cause of Allah.
Allah says,

فَٱذۡكُرُونِيٓ أَذۡكُرۡكُمۡ وَٱشۡكُرُواْ لِي وَلَا تَكۡفُرُونِ

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.
-Surah Al Baqarah, Ayah 152

Abu Darda reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Shall I not tell you of the best of your deeds, which is the purest to your King, which raises you among your ranks, which is better for you than spending gold and money in charity, and which is better for you than meeting your enemy and striking the necks of each other?” They said, “Of course!” The Prophet said, “It is the remembrance of Allah Almighty.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3377, authenticated by Ahmed Shakir)

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “To declare the glory of Allah, the praise of Allah, the oneness of Allah, and the greatness of Allah [i.e. dhikr] is more beloved to me than anything over which the sun rises.”
(Saheeh Muslim 2695, authenticated by Ahmed Shakir)

4. Duaa:
Miracles are just a duaa away. You can never complain of incapacity when you have duaa with you.
Allah says,
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدۡعُونِيٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدۡخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ

And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
-Surah Ghafir, Ayah 60

Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet ﷺ said, “Nothing is more honorable to Allah Almighty than supplication.”
(Sunan al Tirmidhī 3370, authenticated by Ahmed Shakir)

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Let one of you ask his Lord for his needs, all of them, even for a shoestring when his breaks.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3973, authenticated by Al Suyuti)

Just like we need oxygen to survive, we need spiritual oxygen to truly thrive; especially in this blessed month of joy, the month of Ramadhan.