Disciplining the Soul by Ibn al-Jawzi
About the Book
Ibn al-Jawzi addresses the inner struggles of the soul and provides guidance on how to discipline oneself to lead a righteous and moral life. Knowing the facets of mankind's disposition are for our benefit, such as the desire for food, the capacity for anger, etc. However, when these natural impulses are not moderated it culminates in harm. If the desire for food is excessive it leads to gluttony. Similarly when anger is uncontrolled it leads to transgression.
The aim should be to achieve equilibrium of the soul, to allow the faithful to approach God without distraction.
The author addresses many spiritual diseases, such as envy, greed, uncontrolled lust, sexual desire, arrogance, gluttony, anger, stinginess, extravagance, vanity and attachment to this world. He also discusses the qualities that the seeker of God must acquire, such as love, self discipline, humility, self- criticism, improvement of character, patience and truthfulness.
In a simple yet effective way he shows the wayfarers how to cure their spiritual diseases and acquire the necessary qualities for their journey to Allah SWT. This masterpiece has been divided into thirty chapters to facilitate the reader's comprehension. Important points are highlighted using anecdotes from the early righteous predecessors.
112 pages
This book includes:
- Identifying One's Flaws
- Averting: Stinginess, Extravagance, Envy, Anger, Excessive Sadness & Happiness, and many more spiritual illnesses
- Self Discipline
- Flawlessness of Character
About the Author
Ibn al-Jawzi was a medieval Islamic scholar, jurist, and prolific author. He was born in 1116 CE in Baghdad, Iraq, and he passed away in 1201 CE. Ibn al-Jawzi belonged to the Hanbali school of Islamic jurisprudence.
His contributions to Islamic scholarship were extensive and covered a wide range of disciplines, including theology, history, ethics, and spirituality. Ibn al-Jawzi was known for his critical approach to Hadith (sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and for his emphasis on the moral and spiritual aspects of Islam.