Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart

270 Pages·2013·1.29 MB·English

by  Yusuf

Purification
of the Heart

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND CURES OF THE
SPIRITUAL DISEASES OF THE HEART

Translation and Commentary
of Imam al-Mawlūds'Maṭharat al-Qulūb

Hamza Yusuf
Published by Sandala, Inc, 2012
www.sandala.org
[email protected]

Copyright 2012 by Hamza Yusuf. Some rights reserved.
Revised edition.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0
Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-
nc-nd/3.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 444 Castro Street, Suite 900, Mountain
View, California, 94041, USA.

Printed in the United States of America.
ISBN-10: 098556590
ISBN-13: 978-0-98556590-9

Cover Photography: Peter Sanders Cover Design and Layout: Abdallateef Whiteman
Managing Editor: Uzma Husaini
Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

NOTE TO THE READER

TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION

TRANSLITERATION KEY

TRANSLATION & COMMENTARY

Introduction to Purification

Miserliness

Wantonness

Hatred

Iniquity

Love of the World

Envy

Blameworthy Modesty

Fantasizing

Fear of Poverty

Ostentation

Relying on Other Than God

Displeasure with the Divine Decree

Seeking Reputation

False Hopes

Negative Thoughts
Vanity

Fraud

Anger

Heedlessness

Rancor

Boasting & Arrogance

Displeasure with Blame

Antipathy Toward Death

Obliviousness to Blessings

Derision

Comprehensive Treatment for the Heart

Beneficial Actions for Purifying the Heart

The Root of All Diseases of the Heart

APPENDIX ONE

APPENDIX TWO

APPENDIX THREE

QUR’AN INDEX

SUBJECT INDEX

ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR

Acknowledgments

On the Day of Judgment no one is safe save the one who returns to God with a pure heart.
(QUR’AN)

Surely in the breasts of humanity is a lump flesh, if sound then the whole body is sound, and
if corrupt then the whole body is corrupt. Is it not the heart? (Prophet Muhammad )

Blessed are the pure at heart, for they shall see God. (Jesus )

“Whoever has not thanked people, has not thanked God,” said the
Prophet Muhammad . This work is the result of the collaboration
of many people. I am honored to have studied the meanings of this
poem with my friend and pure-hearted teacher Abdallah ould
Ahmadna. I also thank the eminent scholar and spiritual master,
Shaykh Muhammad Hasan ould al-Khadim, for giving me license to
teach and translate the poem and whose outstanding commentary
on it was my constant companion during the classes and remains
so today. Thank you, Feraidoon Mojadedi, for your continued love
and support and for having the zeal to organize the classes and the
small, blessed school that would become Zaytuna. More gratitude
than can be expressed goes to Dr. Hisham al-Alusi, who humbly sat
on the floor against the window to attend the original classes that
would become this text. He saw from the start the importance of
this work and, through his extraordinary efforts, helped realize
more than I had hoped to with the Zaytuna Institute and now
Zaytuna College. I also thank my sister Nabila, who has worked
tirelessly through Alhambra Productions (now Sandala, Inc.) and
Kinza Academy to spread this message. I’m grateful to Hisham
Mahmoud for his careful editing of the translation of the poem, and
to my friend and artist Abdullateef Whiteman for his beautiful
design of the cover. I am also deeply thankful and appreciative to all
those who worked diligently on the transcription, proofreading and
editing of the text. Finally, my immense gratitude goes to the
mother of my children, Liliana, whose pure heart is fortunate
enough not to need the contents of this book.
Note to the Reader

I OFFER THIS book to you, the reader, in the spirit of gratitude just as I
was taught this text years ago by my teacher, Abdallah ould
Ahmadna in a similar spirit - gratitude and thankfulness to our
Lord. The purpose of this book, is not, and has never been, for
commercial gain, but to help us all along the path of purification, so
we can serve humanity, and ultimately God, in the best of ways. In
an age where dignity, nobility, and honor have become ideals of the
past, it is my sincere hope that works like this may help rekindle the
desire for self-improvement and introspection in all of us.
Staying true to this principle, the publishers and I have chosen a
Creative Commons copyright, which allows sharing of this book for
non-commercial purposes. Portions or excerpts may be scanned or
photocopied for use on internet mediums or written works, as long
it is not sold or used for material gains or profit.
We, at Sandala, ask in return that you keep us in your prayers
and give appropriate credit for the work wherever you may use it.
This credit is only so people can choose to help support more of our
publishing initiatives. Proceeds from any sales of this book will be
utilized for further educational projects and productions. It is our
deepest desire to present our sacred tradition in the most dignified
of ways, as it deserves, while maintaining affordability and
accessibility. Anyone who cannot meet the costs may contact the
publishing house, Sandala Inc., and we will be happy and honored
to gift them this book or any of our other products.
Such is the essence of our tradition, shukr (gratitude). Just as the
Prophet Muhammad said to Lady ‘Āishah in the midst of his
late night prayers, “Should I not be a thankful servant?”, so too do
we hope to always return to the station of gratitude in all of our
affairs.

If you are thankful, surely I will increase you. (QUR’AN , 14:7)
HAMZA YUSUF
Sandala, Inc.