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Morals & Behaviours - Al Akhlaq Wa Al-Siyar [English]
I have gathered together in this book numerous ideas which Allâh, the provider of intellect, has enabled me to profit from as day succeeded day, [and year succeeded year] and circumstances altered, permitting me to understand the vicissitudes of fate and to control its fluctuations, to the extent that I have devoted the larger part of my life to it. I have chosen to master these problems by study and contemplation rather than throw myself into the various sensual pleasures which attract most souls on this earth, and rather than amass unnecessary wealth. I have gathered together all my observations into this book in the hope that the Almighty may allow it to benefit whichever of His servants He wishes who has access to [is capable of understanding] my book, in the matters over which I have slaved, devoting all my efforts to them and reflecting at length upon them. I hope that it will be well received, and I present it with good intentions and blessings [with a good heart].
This book will benefit a person more than financial treasures and possessions of property, if he meditates upon it, and if Allâh enables him to make good use of it. As for myself, my hope in this enterprise is to win the greatest reward from Allâh, since my intention is to help His servants, to remedy whatever is corrupt in their character, and to heal the sickness of their souls. I beseech the assistance of Allâh [Almighty, we wish only for God, the best of defenders].
Ibn Hazm Al Andalusi
Contents
A Brief Biography of Ibn Ḥ azm
1. Introduction
2. Treatment of the Souls
3. The Mind and Repose
4. Knowledge
5. Morals and Behaviour
6. Brothers, Friends, and Advice
7. Different Kinds of Love
8. Physical Beauty
9. Practical Morality
10. Treatment of Corrupt Character
11. Characteristics of the Soul
12. Man’s Desire to Know
13. Attending Study-Sessions
This book will benefit a person more than financial treasures and possessions of property, if he meditates upon it, and if Allâh enables him to make good use of it. As for myself, my hope in this enterprise is to win the greatest reward from Allâh, since my intention is to help His servants, to remedy whatever is corrupt in their character, and to heal the sickness of their souls. I beseech the assistance of Allâh [Almighty, we wish only for God, the best of defenders].
Ibn Hazm Al Andalusi
Contents
A Brief Biography of Ibn Ḥ azm
1. Introduction
2. Treatment of the Souls
3. The Mind and Repose
4. Knowledge
5. Morals and Behaviour
6. Brothers, Friends, and Advice
7. Different Kinds of Love
8. Physical Beauty
9. Practical Morality
10. Treatment of Corrupt Character
11. Characteristics of the Soul
12. Man’s Desire to Know
13. Attending Study-Sessions
- GenresIslam
110 pages, Paperback
Published January 24, 2018
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 5, 2024
I was preposterous ” she confessed, “to think I am perfect and I only needed my good vibes to be admitted into paradise.
My dear, let me tell you something.
Ibn Hazm said:
“There is no nobility in anyone who lacks faith. The wise man knows that the only fitting price for his soul is a place in Paradise.”
Know that these religion of ours cannot be practiced except with knowledge and that’s why these book was written. The author reiterated that if we meditate upon it, and if Allāh enable us to make good use of it, this book will remedy whatever is corrupt in our character, and heal the sickness of our souls.
Not only does he preach, he was vulnerable and honest that his journey towards piety was not an easy one but a continuous constant reform of self.
He said: “I myself had faults, and I tried continually to correct them, by discipline, by studying the words of the Prophets عليهم السلام and also the words of the most virtuous sages among the ancients who are more advanced in morality and self-discipline, until Allāh helped me overcome most of my faults, thanks to His guidance and grace.
It is an act of perfect virtue, of self-discipline, a sign that one controls the truth, to confess such faults in order that one day someone may learn from them, if Allāh wills.
One of my faults was that I tended to an extreme of self-satisfaction when I was in the right and an extreme bad temper when I was in the wrong. Ever seeking to cure myself of this, I decided that I would never again display any irritations in my remarks, my actions, or my discussions.
He also said there is no knowledge without practice:
‘When al-Ḥasan [al-Baṣrī] رضي الله عنه forbade something [bad], he never did it himself, and when he ordained something [good], he himself put his orders firmly into practice. Wisdom requires that we do the same, for it has been said that: nothing is more odious than to preach something and not practise it, or to preach against an action and then to do it.’
Towards the end of this book, the great Imam said:
“Anyone who does not know where to find virtue should rely on the commandments of Allāh and His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. All the virtues are contained in these commandments.”
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this AlhamduliLlah, may Allah perfect our characters, and keep our feet firm upon goodness. Aameen
My dear, let me tell you something.
Ibn Hazm said:
“There is no nobility in anyone who lacks faith. The wise man knows that the only fitting price for his soul is a place in Paradise.”
Know that these religion of ours cannot be practiced except with knowledge and that’s why these book was written. The author reiterated that if we meditate upon it, and if Allāh enable us to make good use of it, this book will remedy whatever is corrupt in our character, and heal the sickness of our souls.
Not only does he preach, he was vulnerable and honest that his journey towards piety was not an easy one but a continuous constant reform of self.
He said: “I myself had faults, and I tried continually to correct them, by discipline, by studying the words of the Prophets عليهم السلام and also the words of the most virtuous sages among the ancients who are more advanced in morality and self-discipline, until Allāh helped me overcome most of my faults, thanks to His guidance and grace.
It is an act of perfect virtue, of self-discipline, a sign that one controls the truth, to confess such faults in order that one day someone may learn from them, if Allāh wills.
One of my faults was that I tended to an extreme of self-satisfaction when I was in the right and an extreme bad temper when I was in the wrong. Ever seeking to cure myself of this, I decided that I would never again display any irritations in my remarks, my actions, or my discussions.
He also said there is no knowledge without practice:
‘When al-Ḥasan [al-Baṣrī] رضي الله عنه forbade something [bad], he never did it himself, and when he ordained something [good], he himself put his orders firmly into practice. Wisdom requires that we do the same, for it has been said that: nothing is more odious than to preach something and not practise it, or to preach against an action and then to do it.’
Towards the end of this book, the great Imam said:
“Anyone who does not know where to find virtue should rely on the commandments of Allāh and His Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. All the virtues are contained in these commandments.”
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this AlhamduliLlah, may Allah perfect our characters, and keep our feet firm upon goodness. Aameen
July 19, 2024
Finally completed this book :/
Must read (short and precise)
Must read (short and precise)
January 28, 2026
Feels more like La Rochefoucauld than Ibn Qayyim
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews