Motivational & Manners

Tazkiyyah, self-development, lies at the core of the Islamic life. Success in this life and the next depends very much on it. There are many works in Islamic literature on this subject, written from a variety of angles. This anthology has been compiled to meet the need of self-development from an authentic Islamic perspective. Mawlana Mawdudi, Mawlana Amin Ahsan Islahi and Ustadh Khurram Murad are the leaders of the Islamic Movement of the last century and their contributions are the bedrock for initiating the process of self-development.

Mawlana Faruq Khan, a well-known Islamic writer from India, while discussing self-development, brings out the importance and relevance of morals and motivation. Abdur Rashid Siddiqui in his contribution emphasizes the importance of making deliberate efforts to achieve self-development.

This anthology is a practical manual for those who want to achieve self-development by purifying their soul and actions.

In this motivational self-help book, Dr. Ahmad al-Bara’ al-Amiri explains how anyone can take practical steps towards an Islamic lifestyle by achieving ‘the six fitnesses’, that is, proficiency and fitness in six major areas: spiritual, psychological, mental, social, physical and, financial. These form the six major chapters in this book, and within each chapter, Dr. al-Amiri gives handy and practical tips that are useful for both those who are just embarking on embracing an Islamic lifestyle and those who already follow it and want to enhance its quality.

Among the many good deeds that the Prophet (S) guided us to and the evil that he (S) warned us about, are a set of manners that are comprehensive of worldly matters and religious matters, of worship and dealings – dealings with one’s family, children, acquaintances, and strangers. On this subject the writings of great scholars like Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyyah, Ibn Muflaih and As-Safaareenee have been summarized in this book.

The Etiquette of Seeking Knowledge … to adorn oneself with beautiful etiquette, noble manners, good behaviour, and pious conduct are distinguishing characteristics of the people of Islaam, and knowledge – the most precious pearl in the crown of the purified Shareeah – cannot be attained except by those who adorn themselves with its etiquette and those who leave evil qualities associated to it. For this reason the scholars devoted their attention to this etiquette, outlined its importance and wrote books solely on this topic; either pertaining to (general conduct] with all types of knowledge or to specific types of knowledge such as the etiquette of the carriers of the Noble Quireaan, the etiquette of the muhaddith, the etiquette of the muftee, the etiquette of the qaadee (judge), the etiquette of the muhtasib (the one who enjoins good and forbids evil for the sake of Allaah) and so on. The issue of this book is the general conduct of those who take the path of seeking the knowledge of the Sharee’ah.

This is the first English translation of the book Sharh Hadeeth Maa Dhi’baan Jaai’aan… written by the great scholar Ibn Rafab al-Hanbalee (d.795H) in explanation of the prophet. An excellent book , warning us about the dangers of expending our energies in chasing after the transitory things of this world at the expense of the rewards of the Hereafter. It shows the correct perspective that a Believer should have of this world in comparison to the Hereafter which is especially important in this age when the people’s vision have become so blurred and their priorities mixed up “wealth and children are the adornment of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last are better in your Lord’s Sight for rewards and better in respect of hope. And remember the Day we shall cause the mountains to pass away and you will see the earth as a leveled plain, and we shall gather them all together so as to leave not one of them behind.”

This book is a warning to believers about the dangers of expending our energies in chasing after the transitory things of this world at the expense of the rewards of the hereafter. It shows the correct perspective that a believer should have of this world in comparison to the hereafter, which is especially important in this age when the people’s visions have become so blurred and their priorities mixed up.