Character Archives

Translation from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) | The Station of the Sought (Al-Murad) | Part 1

The Seeker and the Sought Among the stations of iyyâka naʿbudu wa iyyâka nastaʿîn—You alone we worship and your help alone we seek [Sûrat Al-Fâti ḥah, 1:5]—is the Station of the Sought (Al-Murâd). The people [of sulûk, i.e. travelers upon the spiritual…

Translation from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) | The Station of Remembrance (Thikr) | Part 4

Heedlessness and Remembrance Dhikr Said The author of Manâzil Al-Sâ’irîn, Shaykh ʿAbdullâh Al-Anṣâri] Al-Harawi (d. 482/1089), said: “Remembrance (Dhikr) is to be rid of heedlessness and forgetfulness.” The difference between heedlessness and forgetfulness is that heedlessness is willful neglect whereas forgetfulness is…

When Addressing People, Make It Simple | Muhammad ibn Muflih Al-Maqdisi

IT IS GREATLY important when addressing a group of people with different capacities to make the speech plain and suitable for the least capable to follow what is being said. It is also recommended to avoid utilizing words that make it difficult…

Satan’s Ways to Men’s Hearts | Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali

THE EXAMPLE OF The heart is like that of a fortress, and Satan is an enemy who seeks to storm this fortress, to take control of it, and to rule over it. Moreover, any fortress cannot be said to be secure from…

Translation from Ibn Al-Qayyim’s Madarij Al-Salikin (Steps of the Seekers) | The Station of Remembrance (Thikr) | Part1

AMONG THE STATIONS of worship and reliance is the station of remembrance. Remembrance is the great station of the people [of the divine path]. From it, they take [provision] for their journey. In it, they deal. And to it, they constantly return.…

Translation from Ibn Al-Jawzi’s Sayd Al-Khatir (Quarry of the Mind) | Prophets—True and False

TRUTH IS NEVER confused with falsehood. It is only that falsehood plays a trick on the minds of those who have no understanding. The same applies to those who claim prophethood or miracles. As for prophethood, the fact is, many lay claim…

ibn jawzi books, Quarry of the Mind, Praiseworthy Heedlessness Translation from Ibn Al-Jawzi’s Sayd Al-Khatir

Translation from Ibn Al-Jawzi’s Sayd Al-Khatir (Quarry of the Mind) | Praiseworthy Heedlessness

ONE DAY, WE attended the burial of a young man. He had died when life was at its best for him. As we were waiting for the grave to be prepared I beheld the funeral goers engaged in much denouncement of the…

Translation from Ibn Al-Jawzi’s Sayd Al-Khatir (Quarry of the Mind) | Ignorant Ascetics

WHAT MADE ME esteem knowledge so? Here’s one experience. I beheld a group of people who distracted themselves from learning on the pretext that they had instead dedicated themselves to Allah’s worship. The result? They failed to attain to the practical realities…

Translation from Ibn Al-Jawzi’s Sayd Al-Khatir (Quarry of the Mind) | How to Prioritize Islamic Sciences Learning

IN MY EXPERIENCE, avidity in acquiring something tends to rob one of the benefit for which one so avidly sought to obtain it in the first place. So, for example, we see that one who covetously gathers wealth and acquires it in…

Calling the ‘Self’ to Account

ON THE DAY of Judgment, people will divide into two groups: Those who undergo an easy reckoning ( ḥisâban yasîran) and those subjected to a harsh one ( ḥisâban ʿasîran). The destiny of the former is all pleasure and bliss, that of…