Books XXII and XXIII of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din) (The Islamic Texts Society's Ghazali Series) - Softcover

Al-Ghazali, Abu Hamid

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9780946621439: Books XXII and XXIII of the Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din) (The Islamic Texts Society's Ghazali Series)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0946621438 ISBN 13: 9780946621439

Publisher: The Islamic Texts Society, 1995

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The spiritual life in Islam begins with 'riyadat al-nafs', the inner warfare against the ego. Distracted and polluted by worldliness, the lower self has a tendency to drag the human creature down into arrogance and vice. Only by a powerful effort of will can the sincere worshipper achieve the purity of soul which enables him to attain God's proximity. This translation of two chapters from "The Revival of the Religious Sciences" ("Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din") details the sophisticated spiritual techniques adopted by classical Islam. In the first step, "On Disciplining the Soul," which cites copious anecdotes from the Islamic scriptures and biographies of the saints, Ghazali explains how to acquire good character traits, and goes on to describe how the sickness of the heart may be cured. In the second part, "Breaking the Two Desires," he focusses on the question of gluttony and sexual desire, concluding, in the words of the Prophet, that 'the best of all matters is the middle way'. The translator has added an introduction and notes which explore Ghazali's ability to make use of Greek as well as Islamic ethics. The work will prove of special interest to those interested in Sufi mysticism, comparative ethics, and the question of sexuality in Islam.

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Product Description:

In this work Ghazali explains how to acquire good character traits, and how the sickness of the heart may be cured. He then discusses gluttony and sexual desire, concluding, in the words of the Prophet, that 'the best of all matters is the middle way'.

Synopsis:

The spiritual life in Islam begins with "riyadat al-nafs", the inner warfare against the ego. Belief is that, distracted and polluted by worldliness, the lower self has a tendency to drag the human creature down into arrogance and vice, and that only a powerful effort of will can lead the worshipper to purity of soul. This translation of two sections from "The Revival of Religious Sciences" details the sophisticated spiritual techniques adopted by classical Islam. In the first, citing anecdotes from Islamic scriptures and lives of the saints, Ghazali explains how to acquire good character traits. In the second, entitled "Breaking the Two Desires", he focuses on the questions of gluttony and sexual desire, concluding that the best solution is the middle way. The translator includes an introduction and notes which explore Ghazali's ability to make use of Greek as well as Islamic ethics. This work is designed to appeal to those interested in Sufi mysticism, comparative ethics and the question of sexuality in Islam.

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