Breaking of the Two Desires
Learn about breaking the two desires, gluttony and lust, based on Imam Al-Ghazali's magnum opus Ihya 'Ulum ad-din.
The spiritual life in Islam begins with 'riyadat al-nafs', the inner warfare against the ego. Distracted and polluted by worldliness, the lower self has a tendency to drag the human creature down into arrogance and vice. Only by a powerful effort of will can the sincere worshipper achieve the purity of soul which enables him to attain God's proximity.
Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1058-1111) theologian, logician, jurist and mystic, was born and died at the town of Tus in Central Asia, but spent much of his life lecturing at Baghdad or leading the life of a wandering dervish. Because of his success in revealing the compatibility of the outward forms of religion with the inner experiences of Sufi tradition, he is commonly regarded as the 'Renewer' of the fifth Muslim century, and the most influential thinker of medieval Islam.
In this course we will study from his book "The Revival of the Religious Sciences" (Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din), it details the sophisticated spiritual techniques adopted by classical Islam. In the chapter of "Breaking the Two Desires," he focuses on the question of gluttony and sexual desire, concluding, in the words of the Prophet, that 'the best of all matters is the middle way'.
Life of Imam Ghazali & His Contribution to the Science of Sufism
Lesson 1 Quiz
Five Dimensions of Islam
Lesson 2 Quiz
Two Main Desires Mentioned by Imam Ghazali
Lesson 3 Quiz
SPY244 Quiz
Feedback Form
This course covers the following topics:
The biography of Imam Ghazali & his contribution to the science of Sufism
Practical tips on breaking the two desires: Gluttony and Lust
Various types of spiritual orders
Five dimensions of Islam
Benefits of hunger
All Courses, Rayyan Courses, Islamic Essentials Certificate Program, Qur'anic Sciences
An introductory course providing a detailed overview of the Qur’anic sciences (Ulum al-Qur’an).
All Courses, Islamic Essentials Certificate Program, Hadith Sciences
An introductory course on mustalah al-hadith (hadith terminology) and the fundamentals of the science of narrator criticism with an extensive overview of the famous hadith collections.
All Courses, Rayyan Courses
An important course about how to prepare for marriage, and the importance of separating culture from the true Islamic traditions.