The Soul of Souls - New Publication Available Now
Announcing 'The Soul of Souls' by Imam Ibn al-Jawzi — a rhetorical masterpiece of admonition, stories, and poetry, now available from Dhikr.
We are happy to present ‘The Soul of Souls’, a new publication from Dhikr. This one-of-a-kind work by Imam ibn al-Jawzi, is a rhetorical masterpiece in its original Arabic. It is a book of general admonition and preaching urging the reader to repent and return to God. Alternating between stern admonisment, inspiring stories, and poetry, Imam al-Jawzi prods the reader continuously, urging them to see the reality of this passing life for what it is. How it is not the place of enjoyment but an arena of duty, hard-work, and trial.
Below is a short excerpt taken from the book:
The praise belongs to Allah who brings the clouds to tears, thereby coaxing flowers to smile, and the cheeks of gardens to become rosy with hues of red, yellow, white, and black. Meadows beam with an array of greenery, a visage delighting sights and minds, while the gentle breeze’s fingertips softly caress their branches.
The singers of the birds call out to each other in response. The bulbul’s song is like a flute’s, the ringdove joins in harmony, and the nightingale delivers its chorus. Tree limbs fall into hypnotic dance, clapping their leaves in lively applause, all the while the blowing gale puts instruments to shame. The reaching roots of the cactus make way for water, uniting in celebration at channels and rivers.
Spring adorns rich forests gilded with green, treasured saffron above and likely gold below. It entices the branches to let down their locks of leaves, knitting upon them threads of blossoms. Fine balance and exquisite taste merge, leaving the foremost artists dazed in the delight of perfection being achieved! The embroideries on spring’s robe are embellished, thus rendering exquisite the spectacle of existence. The finely-tuned balance of night and day wards off monotony. So completely does this world captivate, for it men will lose their minds, and women, their hearts.
On still nights, the gentle breeze quietly opens a vial of flowery fragrance, earthly incense, and pure musk. By morning, rows of roses are neatly arranged, and elegance prances down well-trodden paths carved by tears on the cheeks of longing gardens.
Ah! How splendid is this life – if not for the looming swallow of death and trading all above the earth for the drowning darkness beneath it!
- Imam Ibn al-Jawzi
Extracted from The Soul of Souls
Available Now
Originally published on the Dhikr Substack.