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Kalbin Simyası

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“Kalbi kararmış olanlar zulmederler; buna karşılık, saf kalpli kimseler kendilerine zulmedeni affetmekle kalmaz, onu itibar ve ahlaken yükseltirler. Kendimizi manevî olarak temizlemek için, önce bu gerçeğin farkına varmamız gerekiyor. İşte elinizdeki, tamamen bununla ilgili bir kitap: Kalbi arındırmanın ve kurtuluşun el kitabı.”

Neredeyse tamamıyla dış görünüş ve maddiyat odağında seyreden günümüzün dünyası, manevî gelişime daha fazla ihtiyaç duyar hale geldi. İnsanoğlunu boşluğa sürükleyen asıl neden ise manevî dayanak noktalarının kaybolması sonucunda nefsin isteklerinin doğru yönlendirilemeyip kalbin kibir, cimrilik, düşmanlık duygusu gibi birçok olumsuz nitelik tarafından kuşatılmış olması.

İşte; ABD’deki ilk Müslüman beşerî ilimler üniversitesi olan Zaytuna College’in kurucusu, dinî meseleleri samimiyetle, ulema-halk ayrımı yapmadan anlatabilen, aynı zamanda sosyal bilimlere dair entelektüel birikimi ve disiplinlerarası metoduyla, kadim İslam geleneğini esas alan bir âlim ve mutasavvıf olan Hamza Yusuf, bu anlam arayışına ket vuran kalbî rahatsızlıkları irdeliyor. Kendisi de önemli bir âlim olan İmam Mevlüd’ün manzum eserinden yola çıkarak, kalbin manevî hastalıklarını teşhis edip bu hastalıklara Kur’ân, gelenek ve ilim eksenli sürdürülebilir tedavi yöntemleri öneriyor.

272 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
Profile Image for Hafsa.
Author 2 books152 followers
July 20, 2019
This book has the potential to change your life--the way you think, the way you act, etc. I wish I had read it before or while I was in college--it would have saved me quiet a bit of grief. But better late than never. No need to sit around the self-help section of Barnes and Nobles--this book pretty much has everything you need to improve your relationship with God and humankind.

Buy a copy.
Profile Image for Ammena.
32 reviews12 followers
April 29, 2012
Im not a big Hamza Yusuf fan, there are many things he says that I dont really settle with but as this was a translation of a book and I think he has decent arabic masha'Allah I decided to give it a go.

Im glad I did!! I read it with an online group, making notes as I went along. I learnt many things from the book and felt like a more peaceful calm person after reading it :) There was so many references and ahadith to back up the things he was saying. It contains many paragraphs on totally relate able issues in our worlds today.
Profile Image for Ainun Najib.
6 reviews22 followers
May 25, 2012
I'm speechless when it comes to this book.
Reading is believing.

I loved the book so much such that when I misplaced the book and I thought I've lost it --it was for almost a year until I found it back-- I was so distressed; especially at that time they haven't reprint the book and everywhere is out of stock already.
Profile Image for alyymaas.
85 reviews
March 31, 2025
this book took me longer to finish then i thought it would i think bcz this book in a way was smthn that i had to rly think abt. in general w religious books i feel like i can't read so much bcz even one sentence is smthn that i have to reflect on. what i love abt this book is that each chapter talked abt a specific problem, the cause of it, and then the treatment for it. it went into many types of diseases (spiritual) such as ostentation, jealousy, negative thoughts, and wantonness. i defs wanna reread this one again and buy a physical copy of it so that i can rly highlight stuff and have it w me all the time. overall, this was a rly good read and is smthn rly good for people who have certain spiritual diseases and want to be purified.

quotes:

Be mindful of God, and God will protect you. Be mindful of God, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of God. If you seek help, seek help from God. Know that if the whole world were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that God had already prescribed for you. And if the whole world were to gather together to harm you, it would harm you only with something that God had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted, and the ink has dried.

Seeking to impress humans is a pathetic exercise, an utter waste of time and life, for humanity is in constant and total need of God. If one wants to be close to power and authority, then one should not chase men of position and station. Rather, one should seek closeness with God, the Master of the universe, the Creator of all things. There is absolutely no power or might except with Him.

“Do not find fault in others. If you find fault in them, God may take their faults away and give them to you.”

“It may be that you dislike something, though it is good for you. And it may be that you love something, though it is bad for you. And God knows, and you do not know” (QUR’AN , 2:216).

“I am in the opinion of My servant. If he thinks well of Me, he finds good, and if he thinks ill of Me, he finds evil.” Another hadith states, “If [someone] finds good, let him thank God, and whoever finds other than that, let him blame only his own soul.” The Prophet also said that the affair of believers is all good. Even if something unpleasant occurs, there is good in it.

the Prophet said that whoever makes someone’s path to knowledge easy, God will make his or her path to Paradise easy. And whoever covers the shortcomings of his brother, God will cover his shortcomings in the Hereafter. God, the All-Wise, placed this special reciprocity in this world.

The Prophet said the strong man is not one who can wrestle people, but the man who controls himself when he is angry.

“O humankind, there has come to you from your Lord counsel and healing for what is in the breasts, and a guidance and a mercy to the believers” (QUR’AN , 10:57).

The sixth type of arrogance is based on physical strength. A man once approached the Prophet and challenged him to wrestle. The Prophet agreed, and the Prophet threw him down to the ground twice! The man was astounded and declared, “I’ve never been thrown to the ground.” His arrogance had been rooted in his personal strength, which he thought none could match.

“Never mock any creature of God, for it might be beloved to He who created it.”


For example, the situation in occupied Palestine is extremely difficult and unjust. It is the Palestinians’ right to ask God to relieve them of the tyranny from which they suffer. However, it also important not to generalize and associate those who are peaceful with the true aggressors. The Prophet spoke well of the Jews, Mukhayraq and Rifāʿah, and his own wife Ṣafiyyah had Jewish relatives that she continued to visit on Sabbath. The idea that all Jews are evil is as absurd as the idea that all Muslims are terrorists. In our interdependent and pluralistic world, avoiding the pre-modern attitudes that set groups against one another has never been more important. Many Jewish thinkers have condemned the occupation and are among the most vociferous critics of Israeli injustice

Those who mock people in this life shall be mocked in the Hereafter, for it is a divine law that God recompends people with the like of what they have done.

Also there is the famous hadith of ʿĀ’ishah who said that the Prophet used to stand in prayer for so long that his feet would swell. She said to him, “O Messenger of God, why pray so long when God has forgiven everything you have done in the past and the future?” The Prophet said, “Should I not be a grateful servant?”

“Remember Me; I will remember you” (QUR’AN , 2:152)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~short rtc soon i got henna on one of my hands rn and it ain't dry yet lollll also it may or may not be 1am rn whoops!
Profile Image for Farah Cook.
Author 5 books444 followers
April 4, 2017
I read this book in two days. It delves into religious spirituality on how to clean your heart, and keep it free from, envy, hatred and arrogance. It also talks about how to control heavy thoughts that effect our mood and heart. For people interested in spirituality this books is a guide to good thoughts and happy thinking.

One feels good after reading it, as the messages are sincere and toward becoming a better person. a person of patience and tolerance and good thoughts. Beautifully written the book takes reference to some religious aspects and teachings.
27 reviews4 followers
January 5, 2010
Purification of the heart is a responsibility of every Muslim. Either you are doing well and wish to safeguard your pure heart, or your heart is ill and requires purification. If you think your heart is already pure and doesn't need purification, then your heart is most likely ill and needs the purification from the inherent arrogance.

This is a wonderful book that I shall read again and again for it's tremendous benefit!
Profile Image for India M. Clamp.
308 reviews
June 1, 2023

I am grateful to have been directed to this book and given the chance to review. Not just confined to the major religions of the world, one commonality is that they all had placed emphasis on the condition of the heart. The day of judgment will come for all. "Surely in the breasts of humanity, if sound, then the whole body is sound, and if corrupt, then the whole body is corrupt. Is it not the heart? الْمَلِكُ God bless him/grant him peace. Blessed are the pure at heart, for they shall see God (Jesus).

“The heart is an organ designed to be in a state of calm, which is achieved with the remembrance of God…this calm is what the heart seeks out and gravitates to..."
—Hamza Yusuf

Many cultures of the world use phrases like "hard hearted" to describe those who show no mercy to the state of others. On the other hand, believers are referred to as the living among us whose hearts are alive and full of the bounty of light. Others---those with a dead heart---are referred to similar as those who were "dead in their trespasses." Our physical heart beats about 100,000 beats per day, this blessed organ never has a day off. The brain and the heart communicate daily. A calm heart is believed to be one that is in a constant state of quotidian temperance and remembrance of the divine.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sahar.
361 reviews201 followers
May 6, 2021
An essential, popular read for anyone desiring to indulge in the profound spiritual process of tazkiyah, Purification of the Heart is a translated work by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf that expounds on the poem entitled Matharat al-Qulub by Mauritanian Imam Mawlud for an English-speaking audience. Delving into what makes our hearts so (spiritually) diseased in the first instance, he emphasizes how both our overt and covert sins contaminate the one organ we are told to safeguard – the heart. Intangible maladies that are of detriment to our most prized physical and spiritual possession include jealously, hatred, arrogance, and greed.

Allah states:

إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
“But only he [will prosper] who brings to Allah a sound heart.” (26:89)

Many people claim to have a “pure heart”, but little know what this actually entails. A pure heart does not simply involve being amicable and nice to people. The Qur’an describes the pure heart as one that turns to and submits fully to God. Qur’anic moral values remind us that it is “only in the remembrance of Allah that the heart finds peace” (13:28). Moreover, we have a responsibility to observe the limits and prohibitions that He has set.

“The Prophet of Islam spoke of the heart as a repository of knowledge and a vessel sensitive to the deeds of the body. He said, for example, that wrongdoing irritates the heart. So the heart actually perceives wrong action.”

The pure heart in the Islamic context is one that is purified from all forms of impurity, for it is these impurities that lead us away from Allah.

”One can say that Islam in essence is a program to restore purity and calm to the heart through the remembrance of God.”

The Islamic tradition is rich in approaches pertaining to tazkiyah and many works have been authored to encourage us to analyse and rectify the condition of our hearts. Though it may seem from the outset that these negative internal states are controlled and contained within our person, this work demonstrates how harm can manifest outwardly in subtle ways and have a destructive impact both on our psyche and that of others. Restoring the heart’s original, pure disposition requires constant effort and exertion in a world full of fitna and fasad.

Of the treatments detailed in this book, the most salient for curing ghaflah (heedlessness) of the heart is repentance and seeking forgiveness. Our beloved Prophet, who had never sinned a day in his entire life, begged for forgiveness abundantly. It is necessary for us more now than ever to seek as much forgiveness as we can to overcome our cyclical ailments. Other treatments include reciting the Qur’an, salawat, ziyarat, visiting graves and visiting the pious.
Profile Image for Noor.
87 reviews59 followers
April 5, 2016
'Purification of the Heart" is easy to follow, well-structured and profound in its advice. Hamza Yusuf not only translates Imam Mawlud's poem, but adds an insightful commentary that draws upon experiences with which we can all relate in this modern day and age.

The chapters are bite-sized and all contain relevant references from the Qur'aan and Hadith that provide us with practical solutions to our tribulations. It emphasises the Islamic principle of starting with rectifying the self before wanting to change the condition of others around us.

Although the book is easy in its format, I wouldn't recommend that one reads it in a single sitting, as it is the kind of text that requires deep reflection. Purification is a lifelong process, not a destination, so focusing on one or two chapters a day might better encourage us apply the small changes to our lives.
Profile Image for Opinionated Hijabi.
83 reviews5 followers
April 17, 2021
Imam Hamza Yusuf is one of America's most famous Imams, and a Sufi. He is well versed in the Arabic language and various Sufi lineage of tariqat (pathways for students of Sufism). This book goes over the pitfalls in life and the biggest challenges to avoid... because the bad we do is like a blackspot on our heart... he comes up with symptoms and cures for these diseases. A very good read, but better if reading a few chapters, then continuing after a night or two. It's pretty spiritually heavy.
Profile Image for Afifa.
31 reviews9 followers
July 8, 2022
A PHENOMENAL book! 🌟
Review to come soon on insta.
Author 13 books29 followers
October 13, 2012
A good book for self introspection not only for Muslims but also non Muslims. However, having said that the book has a major short coming in that it identifies spiritual diseases very well but does not always give adequate solutions for the cures.

I am not a proponent of Sufism and this book is seemingly geared for the Sufi reader, which is a flawed assumption. Spiritual ailments befall every single human alike, and it is not just the Sufi who seeks a cure from them. As a pragmatic and non-mystical Muslim, I found that I was aware of most, if not all of the concepts presented in the book and even though it served to reaffirm many issues, I did not always see pragmatic spiritual excercises for betterment. I only came across prayers at the end of the book. The prayers mentioned are the standard prayers and I am afraid prayer alone does not do much unless one takes concrete steps to address spiritual ailments such as anger and sloth etc.

It is still a great book, especially for those who may not have studied the essence of religion otherwise.
Profile Image for Nuruddin Azri.
385 reviews170 followers
September 4, 2015
Shaykh Hamza Yusuf has his own style of writing. Very unique. He can relate certain things or issues with sciences, poetry, philosophy and linguistics. Plus, most of his commentaries are quite related with what is happening in our world and ourself.

A good-read.
Profile Image for Sabrina Lye .
12 reviews
October 27, 2015
Buku tazkiyatunnafs tak pernah tidak memberi kepuasan, namun buku ini ada yang berbeza. Penulis membawa sudut pandang yang berbeza dari segi olahan dan lontaran, cara kita perlu beradab dengan Tuhan.
Profile Image for Reluctant Anesthetist .
45 reviews10 followers
Currently reading
October 10, 2015
"The Prophet once said to his Companions, “Do
you want to see a man of Paradise?” A man then
passed by, and the Prophet said, “That man is of
the people of Paradise.” One of Companion of the
Prophet wanted to find out what it was about this
man that earned him such a commendation from
the Messenger of God , so he decided to spend
some time with this man and observe him
closely. He noticed that this man did not perform
the night prayer vigil (tahajjud) or do anything
extraordinary. He appeared to be an average man
of Medina. The Companion finally told the man
what the Prophet had said about him and asked if
he did anything special. The man replied, “The
only thing that I can think of, other than what
everybody else does, is that I make sure that I
never sleep with any rancor in my heart towards
another.” That was his secret.”
Profile Image for nur elaika.
188 reviews26 followers
February 24, 2024
This had been a long-awaited moment for me; the decision to revisit a book last year was one that I had been contemplating for quite some time. This chosen book holds a timeless quality and an undeniable relatability. It has cemented its place as an evergreen gem in my collection, and I can envision myself returning to its pages every five years.

The act of re-reading is not a common practice for me, but I believe it's a worthwhile habit to cultivate. Revisiting a favourite book feels akin to returning home, yet there's a sense of anticipation as if something new is waiting to be discovered within its familiar passages. It's a testament to the depth and richness of the story that each reading unveils new nuances, making the experience both comforting and invigorating.
Profile Image for samar_reads.
167 reviews30 followers
December 31, 2017
This book will be one of my top favorites.

Such a profound and an enlightening book. One of those books that everyone should read and definitely re-read throughout life.

I have to purchase my own copy.
Profile Image for Riyana Baboo.
4 reviews5 followers
January 17, 2013
Many are concerned with their physical looks and appearance.
One knows how to consult a doctor when they are unwell.
but not much knows how to seek treatment when their hearts are unwell.
Unraveled in a systematic manner this book I found it to be a key tool for a person to transform themselves from the inside out.
It changed me as a whole. It changed my life and even my perspective.
Great book! Change begins within. When the heart heals the body does too.
مشاءالله ما احلى كتب أنا ممكن أقرء لمرة ثنية
Profile Image for Kamalia Kamalia.
Author 17 books77 followers
April 10, 2023
Bacaan terbaik untuk tahun ini. Aku membuat pilihan tepat membaca buku ini pada bulan Ramadan. Sangat baik untuk refleksi diri, refleksi hati. Terjemahan yang bagus dengan penerangan yang mudah sampai ke kalbu. Buku yang berbaloi dibaca berulang-ulang kali.

"Desakan utama kita berpunca dari perut. Jika kita mampu mengawal nafsu terhadap makanan, masalah disiplin lainnya akan mula teratur, kerana sifat lahap menyemarakkan keberahian, manakala puasa mengendurkan sifat lahap." (Penyucian Kalbu, Hamza Yusuf)
Profile Image for Yaqeen Sikander.
Author 1 book37 followers
September 8, 2013
This book is a wonderful read. It is a long poem written on purification of soul by Imam Maulud and then its Sharh or explanation done wonderfully by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. There is so much to learn from this book. It is very practical and a treasure of knowledge. I recommend everyone out there to get it or download it online and benefit from it. Personally, I benefited from its every word.
Profile Image for Tamkin.
3 reviews
June 14, 2009
I LOVED this book...and it has an amazing list of some great supplications to get you to think of God throughout the day!
A truly great read.


Profile Image for Fara.
235 reviews19 followers
April 14, 2025
Saya fikir buku ini perlu dibaca sekali seumur hidup. Ia boleh memberi panduan dan refleksi diri untuk hal-hal berkaitan penyakit hati. Ia juga peringatan yang menundukkan.

Kadang-kadang kita terlepas pandang mengenai hal-hal yang nampak mudah. Iri hati? Riak? Lalai? Menipu? Impaknya sangat besar jika perasaan itu tidak diurus dengan baik. Selain contoh di atas, banyak lagi penyakit hati dikupas. Ia dipisah-pisahkan dalam bab yang berbeza. Ini juga memudahkan kita membaca topik yang diperlukan mengikut kesesuaian (jika kesuntukan masa).

Huraiannya ringkas dan padat. Saya baca versi terjemahan. Mungkin juga kerana hasil terjemahan buku ini sangat baik, menjadikan isinya mudah difahami. Bacaan yang sangat disyorkan.
Profile Image for neen.
248 reviews4 followers
February 20, 2022
“How many a wrong action that leads to a sense of shame and impoverishment before God is better than obedience that leads to sense of pride and arrogance.”

-

Beautiful book!
Profile Image for Bushra.
17 reviews1 follower
May 6, 2010
I looooooooooooooooooovee this book! It is oficially my favourite book now. Highly recommended to anyone who wants to purify their hearts :)
Profile Image for Zainab Abdul Aziz.
96 reviews36 followers
March 14, 2021
Second time reading : Alhamdulillah. Was intended to finish it before Ramadhan.


Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Hande Yıldırım.
23 reviews9 followers
January 11, 2019
"Kalbin Simyası: Manevî Yaralara Çare Bulmak", "manevî boşluk" gibi kavramlarla karşılanmaya çalışılan günümüzün trendi kişisel gelişim arayışlarının asıl sebebine eğiliyor, bu nedeni "kalbin manevî hastalıklara yakalanması" olarak ele alıyor.
İnsanoğlunu bu boşluğa sürükleyen asıl sebep, manevî dayanak noktalarının kaybolarak nefsin isteklerinin iyi yönlendirilemeyip kalbin kibir, cimrilik, düşmanlık, şımarıklık gibi birçok olumsuz özellik tarafından kuşatılmış olması. İşte Hamza Yusuf, bu hastalıklara, çok önemli bir âlim olan İmam Mevlüd'ün şiirsel eserinden yola çıkarak tanı koyup onları teşhis ediyor ve bu manevî rahatsızlıklara yönelik tedavi yöntemleri öneriyor.

Fiziksel kalbimiz ile manevî kalbimiz aslında aynı yönde ilerler, fiziksel kalp ne kadar sağlıklıysa manevî kalp de yeme içme gibi rutinlerdeki adaba uygunlukla o denli sağlıklı olur ve yine, manevî kalp sağlıklı tutulursa fiziksel kalp hastalıkları da o denli azalır.

İslamî geleneğe yaslanan bu metin, "korku"dan ziyade "umut" vâdetmekle birlikte, okuru, bir kul, hataları olan bir Âdemoğlu olarak, noksan noktalarının farkına vararak içsel boşluğunu doldurma yönünde adım atmaya teşvik ediyor. Değindiği disiplinlerarası noktalarla da birçok sosyal bilim koluna kitap ediyor.

Hamza Yusuf, Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'ndeki ilk Müslüman beşerî ilimler üniversitesi olan Zaytuna College'in kurucusu, dünya çapında bilinen, hatrı sayılır takipçileri olan, dinî meseleleri samimiyetle, araya bir ulema-halk ayrımı koymadan anlatabilen bir İslam âlimidir. On yedi yaşında geçirdiği bir trafik kazasından sonra hayatının anlamını sorgulamaya başlayarak bu sürecin sonunda Müslüman olmuş, hayatını, dünyanın birçok ülkesini dolaşarak İslam'ı ve onun güleryüzünü, kapsayıcılığını anlatmaya vakfetmiştir. Halihazırda çalışmalarına devam etmektedir. Türkiye'de de hatrı sayılır bir takipçi kitlesi bulunan Hamza Yusuf, ülkemize de gelerek program yapmıştır.

Orijinal adı "Purification of the Heart" olan ve yıllardır alanında ilgi gören önemli referans kitaplardan olan bu çalışma, bahsi geçen kalbî / manevî hastalıkları, güncel tabirle, insana kötü enerji yükleyen özellikleri kısa ve özlü sözler formatındaki beyitler eşliğinde tanı-teşhis-tedavi ekseninde ele alıyor ve anlam arayışı içinde olan günümüz dünyasına bir geleneğe yaslanış ve yaratılış amacını anlama sürecine giriş bağlamında ayetlere, hadislere, nasihatlere dayanarak çözüm önerileri sunuyor. Bu nedenle kitabı okuyan herkes, neredeyse otuz başlıkta ele alınan, bu yıpratıcı özelliklerden en az birini kendinde bulacak, etkilerini kendiyle bağdaştıracaktır.
Profile Image for Arzu A.
22 reviews9 followers
August 3, 2020
I’ve never in my life read such a beautiful book. I tried to read everyday “a chapter”, through reflecting and thinking. When almost approaching the end of the book I felt sad, I didn’t want to end this book.

A definitely re-read after a few months.

“Examine your soul constantly in matters that you are obliged to do or are in beed to be done.”
Profile Image for hajr227.
67 reviews5 followers
January 16, 2023
Very easy read, I learned a lot about the subtle ways we can be influenced by sin. this book really helps you reset your ego and understand your intentions better. I think every muslim should read this book 😗
221 reviews
August 11, 2012


Good book - interesting that even though it's kind of like an essay it's still an overall enjoyable read. I q's half way through when I realized he was talking about the poem in every chapter. 4/5 stars because while the book was an had some interesting and thought-provoking points, I was expecting Te book or maybe I wanted the book to go into more detail and explain how and why as opposed to just do or talking in third person. I also was expecting some type of epilogue or ending like he had with the foreword. I would like to read more books about spirituality as I feel that is something lost in day to day life - further, it'd be great to find books that talk about living in the west or practicing religion while working and doing may other things. Hamza Yusuf is one of the few scholars I am aware about; he speaks well publicly, as I recall even though I haven't heard much of it - but I remember he has funny jokes, once :) I'd actually re-read this book or parts of this book, too - I usually won't like to re-read anything.
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