The Sunnah Way of the Sufis

"Al-Ghazali on the Condemnation of Pride and Self-Admiration" is the 29th book in Imam al-Ghazali's monumental work, Ihya’ Ulum al-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences). In this treatise, al-Ghazali delves into two fundamental spiritual ailments: pride (kibr) and self-admiration (ujb)

The book is divided into two parts:

1. Pride (Kibr): Al-Ghazali examines how pride is condemned in the Qur'an, its symptoms, outward manifestations, and seven causes, with self-admiration being the root cause. He emphasizes humility as the antidote and provides examples of true and false humility

2. Self-Admiration (Ujb): Al-Ghazali defines self-admiration, explores its inward manifestations, and discusses how it leads to negligence, delusion, and complacency. He offers remedies for each of these conditions

The translator, Mohammed Rustom, is an Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Carleton University and has provided a lucid and accessible English rendition of al-Ghazali's original Arabic text. His translation is noted for its scholarly accuracy and readability, making this profound work accessible to a wider audience.

"Ibn Khaldun on Sufism: Remedy for the Questioner in Search of Answers" is the first-ever English translation of Ibn Khaldun's treatise Shifa’ al-Sa’il li-Tahdhib al-Masa’il. In this work, Ibn Khaldun addresses a prevalent debate in fourteenth-century Andalusia regarding the necessity of a spiritual guide (shaykh) for the Sufi path. He examines whether reliance on written texts suffices for spiritual guidance or if direct mentorship is essential

The treatise delves into the nature of Sufism, its practices, and its role within Islamic spirituality. Ibn Khaldun, renowned for his contributions to sociology and historiography, applies his analytical acumen to assess the legitimacy and requirements of the Sufi tradition. His insights offer a nuanced understanding of Sufism's place in Islamic thought and practice

This translation by Yumna Ozer provides readers with access to Ibn Khaldun's perspectives on Sufism, shedding light on his views and the intellectual milieu of his time.