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This book is awesome. Seriously, seriously awesome. It’s not something you can sit down and read in large chunks. I’m going to read a paragraph each night and then just reflect as I fall asleep inshaAllah. Awesomeness to the nth degree, mashaAllah.

How often do we just sit and think about Allah (swt)? How much of our day is devoted solely to Allah (swt)? How much of our day is taken up by the mundanities of the dunya? Get up, get dressed, go to work, go to the gym, come home, eat dinner, veg in front of the TV or computer. Make all your salat on time if you’re lucky. Time for dhikr or reading Qur’an? Phffft! Go to bed, get up and start it all over again.

an excerpt with some questions for reflection in purple:

God alone, and none other, is the true Deity, the Necessary Existent, who is Creator, Producer, Fashioner, Provider, Giver of life and death, and Wise Disposer (Think about each of these names. What do they mean in relation to you, to the world, to creation, to life itself?); who has perfected everything He has created, and excelled in everything which He has made; who directs all things with ultimate precision, and has determined everything He has decreed (Think about your life. Every action you’ve taken. Everything, good and bad, that has happened to you. How is each thing the best possibility for you?). He alone is the true God, Pre-existent and Eternal, worthy of inward and external worship (What are inward and external worship? Which of these do you do each day? What more could you do?), exalted above all blemish, who possesses the most exalted attributes and the most beautiful names. His are might and majesty; none shares in His essence, attributes or actions. There is no other God than He.

Anyone else have any other questions to spark reflection on this passage?

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November 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

rebecca

I have this book too; it is quite good.

Trying to get my hands on a copy of “Wayfarers to God” for my upcoming class. It is sold out everywhere : (

November 19th, 2008 at 4:00 am

Sabiha

I need to see if they have this book (and some of the others from your list) at the library here, insha’allah I can finally get some reading started!

November 19th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

rahma

rebecca – is it required reading? I’ve noticed a lot of books out there that must have been a small print. Unfortunately I’ve also noticed a lot of bookstores don’t say “out of stock.” I’ve been looking for “agenda to change our condition” and “content of character” for ages, and after a few abortive attempts to order, will now email before I order. Alas, nothing ever pans out.

Sabiha – it’s a great book. Maybe I could lend you some through the mail if you promise to take good care of them

November 21st, 2008 at 4:46 pm

Diane

I am not Muslim, but I must say this looks very interesting. I try to read a bit each day in some kind of spiritual book, to get me thinking in ways that my usual busy life doesn’t allow. I may get this to check out, because (aside from my in-laws bits of info and practice), I know very little about Islam. And my in-laws are secular Muslims, in the same way I am a secular Jew. I keep saying I am going to learn more, but then I don’t. Partly not knowing where to start.

Is this a good starting point for one who is not already knowledgable about Islam?

November 22nd, 2008 at 9:52 am

Hey Diane,

I don’t think this would be good as a first dip into tasawwuf (sufism/spirituality) without having a base built first. There are some other books that I think would be more accessible.

Submission Faith & Beauty – islamicbookstore.com/b9901.html – by far the best introduction to Islam book I’ve ever come across. The section on beauty covers spirituality.

Other good books:

Sufism & Good Character – islamicbookstore.com/b8226.html
Purification of the Heart – islamicbookstore.com/b8118.html

These two books are more “practical.” In the introduction to Sufism & Good Character, the author writes “sufism is entirely manners.” I was never very good with abstract concepts, and can’t read a lot of the masters of sufism (Rumi, ibn Arabi, etc) without a guide to help. But these books aren’t going on about the abstract. They provide simple things that the average person can to do purify themselves and improve their relationship with God.

Also, I’m still just starting this, but I’m loving it so far – Treatise for the Seekers of Guidance – islamicbookstore.com/b10002.html – Imam Zaid wrote this as a gentle introduction to the science of sufism for the skeptical muslim crowd here in the US.

I hope that helps. Let me know if you were thinking of something else and I’ll try to scrounge something up.

January 22nd, 2009 at 8:04 pm

Noorjahaan

my shaykh’s mother sent me this book after my conversion with a sweet note saying it was the best book she had ever read … and that she read it before her conversion … i agree it certainly isn’t something you can read for long sittings. i keep it in my purse and read a few paragraphs (and sometimes just a few sentences!) when ever i have a few minutes. it is so full of thought provoking words!

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