Disciplining the Soul by Ibn al-Jawzi

Disciplining the Soul by Ibn al-Jawzi is a classical Islamic manual for self-refinement and spiritual development. Written by one of the great scholars of Baghdad, it examines the inner workings of the human soul and shows how its natural impulses, left unchecked, can lead a person away from God, while disciplined and directed, they can become a means of drawing closer to Him.

The book addresses the spiritual diseases that afflict the soul, such as envy, greed, uncontrolled desire, arrogance, gluttony, anger, stinginess, extravagance and attachment to this world. It then sets out the qualities the seeker of God must acquire, including love, self-discipline, humility, self-criticism, improvement of character, patience and truthfulness, drawing on anecdotes from the early righteous predecessors to make each point vivid and practical.

Readers will explore:

• The nature of the soul and its inclinations, strengths and flaws
• Common spiritual diseases and how they take hold
• The virtues that discipline desire and steady the heart
• Introspection and repentance as steps towards spiritual growth

This book is well suited to readers studying tazkiyah, the purification of the soul, to students of classical Islamic scholarship, and to any Muslim seeking a serious, grounded guide to consistency in worship and character. Order online from Books Garden with cash on delivery in Dhaka and delivery across Bangladesh.