What do you think?
Rate this book
The Principle of Love and Desire
The Principle of Love and Desire is one of Ibn Taymiyyah’s many important works on ‘aqīdah. In it, he explains how love is the basis of every movement that occurs in the universe and every action of Bani Ādam. He explains that love necessitates hate for the things that oppose what one loves, and that this love and hate is the foundation of Islām, tawḥīd, and īmān. He also discusses the many sects that strayed from Allāh’s straight path due to their misunderstanding of this fundamental principle.
291 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1328
10 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
About the author
Ibn Taymiyyah
70 books45 followersTaqī ad-Dīn Aḥmad ibn Abd al-Halim ibn Abd al-Salam al-Numayri al-Ḥarrānī (Arabic: تقي الدين أحمد بن عبد الحليم بن عبد السلام النميري الحراني, January 22, 1263 - September 26, 1328), known simply Ibn Taymiyyah (ابن تيمية), was an Islamic jurist scholar, muhaddith, theologian, judge, philosopher, and whom many considered as the renewer of the Islamic 7th century. He is known for his diplomatic involvement with the Ilkhanid ruler Ghazan Khan and for his involvement at the Battle of Marj al-Saffar which ended the Mongol invasions of the Levant. A member of the Hanbali school, Ibn Taymiyyah's iconoclastic views on widely accepted Sunni doctrines of his time such as the veneration of saints and the visitation to their tomb-shrines made him unpopular with many scholars and rulers of the time, under whose orders he was imprisoned several times.
A polarising figure in his own times and in the centuries that followed, Ibn Taymiyyah has become one of the most influential medieval writers in contemporary Islam, where his particular interpretations of the Qur'an and the Sunnah and his rejection of some aspects of classical Islamic tradition are believed to have had considerable influence on contemporary ultra-conservative ideologies such as Salafism, and Jihadism. Particular aspects of his teachings had a profound influence on Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of the Hanbali reform movement practiced in Saudi Arabia, and on other later Wahabi scholars. Moreover, Ibn Taymiyyah's controversial fatwa allowing jihad against other Muslims is referenced by al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups. Their reading of Ibn Taymiyyah's thought has been challenged by recent scholarship.
A polarising figure in his own times and in the centuries that followed, Ibn Taymiyyah has become one of the most influential medieval writers in contemporary Islam, where his particular interpretations of the Qur'an and the Sunnah and his rejection of some aspects of classical Islamic tradition are believed to have had considerable influence on contemporary ultra-conservative ideologies such as Salafism, and Jihadism. Particular aspects of his teachings had a profound influence on Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab, the founder of the Hanbali reform movement practiced in Saudi Arabia, and on other later Wahabi scholars. Moreover, Ibn Taymiyyah's controversial fatwa allowing jihad against other Muslims is referenced by al-Qaeda and other jihadi groups. Their reading of Ibn Taymiyyah's thought has been challenged by recent scholarship.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 1, 2023
How does one begin to give a review of Shayk-ul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah? He is such a legend of Islamic Scholarship and I am truly in awe and left with so much to think about.
The Principle of Love and Desire captures the position of Ibn Taymiyyah in accordance with Islam on the catalyst for actions, all while he refutes the people of kalam and innovation effortlessly.
Ibn Taymiyyah emphasizes that the most knowledgeable (knowledge as defined Islamically) are those whose opinions (istihsan, istilah and qiyas) are in accordance with textual evidence. He distinguishes al-uluhiyya and rububiyyah and re-emphasises the position that worshiping the Creator and glorifying Him is the final objective of the creation and is the source of benefit to the creation (this being a direct refutation to the philosophers who neglect this aspect in their writings).
The Sheikh states, worship combines complete love and complete submission. Unlike the submission of one to an oppressive ruler out of fear - no person with good sense would call this love (hence this cannot be worship since obedience is there but not love). In this same vein, a declaration of love without action or submission cannot be called worship (since love is there but no obedience). The two must go together to necessitate worship.
This too uncovers the mindset of some when they try to critique Islam, some say "you are scared of your God and that's why you obey - that's why I don't like your religion" but this exposes their own fallacy - it exposes how they view obedience. They view obedience as something that can only be accomplished via ruthlessness because by nature they reject obedience and will unconsciously vehemently reject being obedient to anything or anyone. This type of person thinks very highly of themselves and may suffer from the illness of holding their own intellect or perceived value higher than anyone else, proudly and arrogantly all while following their vain desires.
The second accusation against Islam is the one who says "I love God but don't believe in rules... live an let live" (essentially love without action or expectations of actions) Perhaps this group of people dislike to be held accountable for anything, dislike to complete an action that they don't "feel like doing" because they want to never be condemned for not doing something, they never want to be accountable so they will perpetuate a doctoring that will influence everyone around them to have no expectations of actions thereby creating an environment without rules or expectations (maybe even an environment of perpetual indulgence in pleasures without thinking of any harmful effects it may have on themselves and others) - to be free of burdens of responsibility that shackle them. This fallacy of the mind is essentially an addiction to "feeling good" since they never derive pleasure from doing things that may not be pleasant - they are obsessed with their feelings and hold themselves and their feelings as devine guidance besides God.
- or the person may fear people and being disliked or care too much about how people perceive them, whichever it may be, it's focus is self pleasure and dislike for being critiqued.
There is so much more to ponder and I will certainly be back to update this review.
The Principle of Love and Desire captures the position of Ibn Taymiyyah in accordance with Islam on the catalyst for actions, all while he refutes the people of kalam and innovation effortlessly.
Ibn Taymiyyah emphasizes that the most knowledgeable (knowledge as defined Islamically) are those whose opinions (istihsan, istilah and qiyas) are in accordance with textual evidence. He distinguishes al-uluhiyya and rububiyyah and re-emphasises the position that worshiping the Creator and glorifying Him is the final objective of the creation and is the source of benefit to the creation (this being a direct refutation to the philosophers who neglect this aspect in their writings).
The Sheikh states, worship combines complete love and complete submission. Unlike the submission of one to an oppressive ruler out of fear - no person with good sense would call this love (hence this cannot be worship since obedience is there but not love). In this same vein, a declaration of love without action or submission cannot be called worship (since love is there but no obedience). The two must go together to necessitate worship.
This too uncovers the mindset of some when they try to critique Islam, some say "you are scared of your God and that's why you obey - that's why I don't like your religion" but this exposes their own fallacy - it exposes how they view obedience. They view obedience as something that can only be accomplished via ruthlessness because by nature they reject obedience and will unconsciously vehemently reject being obedient to anything or anyone. This type of person thinks very highly of themselves and may suffer from the illness of holding their own intellect or perceived value higher than anyone else, proudly and arrogantly all while following their vain desires.
The second accusation against Islam is the one who says "I love God but don't believe in rules... live an let live" (essentially love without action or expectations of actions) Perhaps this group of people dislike to be held accountable for anything, dislike to complete an action that they don't "feel like doing" because they want to never be condemned for not doing something, they never want to be accountable so they will perpetuate a doctoring that will influence everyone around them to have no expectations of actions thereby creating an environment without rules or expectations (maybe even an environment of perpetual indulgence in pleasures without thinking of any harmful effects it may have on themselves and others) - to be free of burdens of responsibility that shackle them. This fallacy of the mind is essentially an addiction to "feeling good" since they never derive pleasure from doing things that may not be pleasant - they are obsessed with their feelings and hold themselves and their feelings as devine guidance besides God.
- or the person may fear people and being disliked or care too much about how people perceive them, whichever it may be, it's focus is self pleasure and dislike for being critiqued.
There is so much more to ponder and I will certainly be back to update this review.
Displaying 1 of 1 review