The Alchemy of Happiness – al-Ghazali

KNOW, O beloved,
that man was not created in jest or at random,
but marvelously made and for some great end.
Although he is not from everlasting,
yet he lives for ever;
and though his body is mean and earthly,
yet his spirit is lofty and divine.
When in the crucible of abstinence
he is purged from carnal passions
he attains to the highest,
and [...]

Repel the thought…

 Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimahullaah) wrote: “Repel the thought, for if you don’t, it becomes an idea. So repel the idea, for if you don’t it will become a desire. So fight against that (desire), for if you don’t, it will become a determination and a passion. And if you don’t repel that, it will become an [...]

Five Barriers

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said:
“…The heart’s safety and soundness cannot be perfected, absolutely, until it is secure from five things:
(1) From shirk which nullifies tawheed
(2) From innovation which opposes the Sunnah
(3) From a desire/lust that opposes the command (of Allaah)
(4) From Heedlessness that contradicts remembrance (of Him)
(5) From a desire that nullifies purity [...]

On Spiritual Fasting

Extracts from the book titled, ‘The Secrets of Secrets’, by Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), which has been translated to english (and interpreted) by Shaykh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi al-Halveti:
On Fasting Prescribed the Religion and On Spiritual Fasting
Shaykh Abdul-Qaadir al-Jilaani (may Allaah be pleased with him)
The fasting perscribed by the religion is to abstain from eating [...]

Why we don’t have visions of Rasoolullaah (saws)…

Compliments of: http://damascusdreams.wordpress.com/ 
A Persian poet relates the story of a young man who was devoted to worship and who sincerely loved the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam). This young man wished to see the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wa salam) in his dreams. But, night after night, even though he prayed and hoped for it, he [...]