A Commentary on Ibn Taymiyyah's: Essay On The Heart

by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

There are many books currently in circulation concerning the purification on the heart and soul. This text is a welcome addition to the Islamic English as it takes a unique approach to the subject.

There are many of this brief treatise, Ibn Taymiyah, systematically dissects the primary role of the heart in the life of a true Muslim. After discussing the heart's purpose and function, the author discusses the prominence given to the heart in all affairs by Allah and His Prophet (pbuh) in the various texts of the Qur'an and Sunnah. He then goes on to identify the right of the heart in relationship to Allah; remeberance and consciousness of its Lord. Ibn Taymiyyah also categorized the various types of the hearts that exist relative to their states and conditions and concluded his treatise with the worst state for the heart to be in, lost, along with advice on how to avoid it.

Dr. Bilal Philips has added an extensive commentary referencing verses and tranditiona and further elucidating the deep meaning alluded to by the author, making the final text a very enjoyable inspiring read.

Genres: Islam

131 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

About the author

Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips was born in Jamaica, but grew up in Canada where he accepted Islam in 1972. He completed a diploma in Arabic and a B.A. from the College of Theology (Usool-ud-Deen) at the Islamic University of Madeenah in 1979. At the University of Riyadh, College of Education, he completed a M.A. in Islamic Theology in 1985 and in the department of Islamic Studies at the University of Wales, U.K. he also completed a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology in 1994. He taught Islamic Education and Arabic in private schools in Riyadh for over ten years and for the past three year he has been lecturing M.Ed. students in the Islamic Studies department of Shariff Kabunsuan Islamic University in Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines. Since 1994 he has founded and directed The Islamic Information Center in Dubai, U.A.E. and the Department of Foreign Languages at Dar al Fatah Islamic Press in Sharjah, U.A.E. ' to 'Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but grew up in Canada where he accepted Islam in 1972. He completed a diploma in Arabic and a B.A. from the College of Theology (Usool-ud-Deen) at the Islamic University of Madeenah in 1979. At the University of Riyadh, College of Education, he completed a M.A. in Islamic Theology in 1985 and in the department of Islamic Studies at the University of Wales, U.K. he also completed a Ph.D. in Islamic Theology in 1994. He taught Islamic Education and Arabic in private schools in Riyadh for over ten years and for the past three years he has been lecturing M.Ed. students in the Islamic Studies department of Shariff Kabunsuan Islamic University in Cotabato City, Mindanao, Philippines. Since 1994 he has founded and directed The Islamic Information Center in Dubai, U.A.E. and the Department of Foreign Languages at Dar al Fatah Islamic Press in Sharjah, U.A.E.

Reviews

[Fatini Zulkifli · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a good book to understand the actual function of the heart. Heart is like a portal between physical and spiritual life. The cleaner the heart, the easier for us to be connected to spiritual life.

[wajiha · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prophet (‎ﷺ) said: "Indeed in the body there is a clump of flesh, if it becomes good, the whole body becomes good, and if it goes bad, the whole body goes bad. Indeed it is the heart."

[Rreze · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The heart was only created for the remembrance of Allah, may He be glorified." - Ibn Taymiyyah.

[Faidz Zainal Abidin · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the name of Allah
The All Compassionate
The All Merciful
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The author of this treatise, Ibn Tamiyyah elaborately discussed the primary role of the heart in the life of a true Muslim. After discussing the heart's purpose and function, he explained the prominence given to the heart in all affairs by Allah and his Prophet (pbuh) in the various verses of the Quran and Hadiths. Dr Bilal Philips have added a commentary, mostly composed of references from classic commentaries on the Quran, books on hadith and works of scholars who have written on the same subject.
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Apart from some editorial mistakes, this is a good reference book. A book you pick up whenever you need to 'work' on your heart. A brief biography on Ibn Taymiyyah in the beginning is an additional bonus.
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[ Excerpt and content from #dakwahbookcorner ]

[Bina Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing read.

The article "Essay on the Heart" by Ibn Taymiyyah is really thought provoking. It shows the extent of Ibn Taymiyyah's understanding the vital role this organ plays in bringing a person close to Allah. Moreover, the commentary written by Dr. Bilal Philips is interesting and informative.

This is the first Islamic text that I have read which is not categorized as biography and it has triggered my interest for islamic text.

[aliaareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If it is the right of the heart to know the truth, then Allah is the ultimate truth. Indeed, everything else besides Allah is false."

I started to read this book when I felt that my heart was so full with the worldly affairs that it became a bit more depending on them so I tried to find something to read and understand what is our purpose when it comes to the heart and methods in balancing the worldly affairs and hereafter.

Ibn Taymiyyah's approach in explaining how the heart works in relation to accepting knowledge and the truth is amazing to me. Dr. Bilal Phillips' commentaries are so helpful in understanding the context as well, that made someone that always skipped the footnotes part like me (🤭) have made sure to read the footnotes because they are equally important.

There are six chapters which discuss different aspect of the heart that not just present the theories, but also tackled the practical parts that we could ponder upon and apply them in our daily lives.

[Mohamed Asraf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A profound work on the heart by Ibn Taymiyyah using The Quran and The Hadeeth as the direct source. Allah had blessed him with powerful memory MasyaAllah.

It focuses on the heart as the center of all actions and emphasizes the need for sincerity, humility, and inner growth. Desires should be controlled by truth and not the truth moulded by desires.

“The Day when neither wealth nor children will be of any benefit except one who come to Allah with a healthy heart.” - Surah Ash-Shu'ara - 87-89, The Quran.

May Allah bless us with healthy hearts.

[Aysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has insights for a person to keep in mind and get his or her path straight towards Allah.

My favorite line from the book:
"For the gift of understanding the religion to be a blessing, the understanding would have to be accepted in the heart and manifest in the limbs."

A person with a striving heart for peace and Siraat-e-Mustaqim should get benefits by reading this masterpiece.

[Iman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend