Session 1
• Introduction
- Humility in knowledge
- Biography of Imam Al-Ghazzali
- Merits of Ihya 'Ulum ad-Deen
- Scholastic praise for the Ihya
• Beginning of chapter - "The Book of Disciplining the Soul, Refining the Character and Curing the Sicknesses of the Heart"
Session 2
• "An Exposition of the Merit Which is in Having Good Character and a Condemnation of Bad Character"
• The importance of good character
• Abasement and elevation according to character
• Examples of the Prophetic character
Session 3
• The narratives
• "An Exposition of the True Nature of Good and Bad Character"
• What is good character?
• The four fundamental noble traits of character
Session 4
• "An Exposition of the Susceptibility of the Traits of Character to Change Through Discipline"
• Can character change?
• The wisdom of desire
• Dealing with anger
Session 5
• The source of equilibrium in character
• Finding pleasure in worship at all times
• The purpose of worship
• The food of the heart
Session 6
• "An Exposition Detailing the Method Used in Refining the Character"
• The guiding shaykh as a doctor of the souls
• The body as a metaphor for spiritual disease and cure
• Particular medicines for particular sicknesses
• "An Exposition of the Symptoms by which the Diseases of the Heart may be Recognized, and the signs which Indicate a Return to Health"
• The purpose of the heart
Session 7
• "An Exposition of the Way in which a Man may Discover the Faults in his Soul"
• The ease of finding faults in others
• The four methods of discovering one's faults
• The importance of being proactive on the path of purification
• The four types of remembering hearts
• The five afflictions of a believer
• Making hijrah from sins
Session 8
• "An Exposition of Evidence handed down from Men of Spiritual Insight and Provided in the Law to the Effect that the Way to cure the Diseases of the Heart is by Renouncing one's Desires, and that the Stuff of such Diseases is Following Desires"
• The secret of self discipline
• Examining one's love for the world
• Finding pleasure in spiritual struggle
• Being patient in spiritual struggle
• "An Exposition of the Signs of Good Character"
• The signs of good character
• Tests of good character
• Stories of good character
• 10 Signs of good character
Session 9
• "An Exposition of the Way in which Young Children should be Disciplined, and the Manner of their Upbringing and the Improvement of their Characters"
• Starting good habits early
• Etiquette of eating
• Concerning clothing & education
• Censor & Reward
• The story of Sahl al-Tustari
Session 10
• "An Exposition of the Requirements of Aspirancy, the Preliminaries to Spiritual Struggle, and the Progressive Induction of the Aspirant in Treading the Path of Discipline"
• Definition of a mureed
• Reasons for the lack of wayfaring
• The Final Purpose of Wayfaring
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