Refinement of The Souls by Ibn ‘Ata Allah al-Sakandri

The Refinement of Souls is a translation of Imam ibn Ata Allah Sakandari’s, may Allah be pleased with him, Taj al-Arus al-Hawi li Tahdhib al-Nufus. It is a concise manual consisting of spiritual instructions, aphorisms and private discourses with the Divine from a Sufi Master of the Shadhili Order. The author has included numerous references to the Qur’an and Sunnah, as well as illuminating stories and similitudes, in the course of explaining religious themes such as repentance, the effects of sin, the nature of the struggle against the lower self, envy, reliance on divine planning and many others. The work concentrates on the practical steps and the essential states of being for a novice to realise, and as such, serves as a beneficial guide for both Sufis and non-Sufis, both beginners and more advanced students.

About The Author

Abu al-Fadl Ibn ‘Ata’ Allah al-Iskandari (d.709), May Allah be pleased with him, was born in Alexandria, Egypt. He was one of the great Sufi Imams who was also known as a muhaddith, preacher, and Maliki jurist. He is the author of ‘al-Hikam’ (Aphorisms), ‘Miftah al- falah ‘ (The Key to Success), ‘al-Qasd al- mujarrad fi ma’rifat al-ism al- mufrad ‘ (The pure goal concerning knowledge of the Unique Name), amongst others. This pious and extraordinary contemplative figure left behind a spiritual legacy no less impressive than those of his own beloved Shaykh, and the eminent founder Shaykh Abu’l-Hasan ash-Shadhili, May Allah be pleased with him. All the biographers refer to Ibn ‘Ata Allah with illustrious titles and reverence and mention how marvellously he spoke and how uplifting his words were. In spite of the fact that he followed the Maliki madhbab, the Shafi’is laid claim to him, most probably because some of his earlier teachers had been Shafi’i scholars, not to mention some of his students.