Ibn Taymiyyah’s Essay on Servitude

a small excerpt from the book:

“And those who disbelieve say: “Why is not the Quran revealed to him all at once?” Thus (it is sent down in parts), that We may strengthen your heart thereby. And We have revealed it to you gradually, in stages.”[1]”[2]

Al-Zarnooji -rahimahullah- said, “Imam Sharf ul-Din al-Uqayli – rahimahullah- used to say, “My opinion regarding learning knowledge is in agreement with what our teachers taught us. They used to teach beginners level one books because they are understandable, easy to memorize, enjoyable, and common. A beginner should not write down something he does not understand because it numbs the intelligence and is a waste of time. Instead, a beginner should focus on the task of understanding his teacher through deep thinking and repetition. Significantly, the smaller the portion in one class with repetition the more progress in understanding. A famous saying states: Memorizing two letters is better than hearing two loads, and understanding two letters is better than memorizing two loads.”[3]

In this book, all the relevant Verses have been discussed reasonably, rationally and sincerely; and the essence of the Qur’an and Sunnah is placed in a very simple and appealing manner. This is the reason that the upright persons, beyond group ism and prejudices, have been adopting the correct Islamic path – the path of the Qur’an and Sunnah – under the influence of the basic facts and proofs produced herein. Kitab At- Tauhid is one of the best books on the subject of Tauhid (Monotheism) and ranks high in authenticity. Till date it has been published many times. It has been a means of guidance for millions of people throughout the world, by taking them out of the darkness of polytheism, heresy and error. If Allah wills, this book would also undoubtedly prove beneficial in all the times to come.

(I have only created Jinn and men, but to worship me)

And the most common and lofty way of worship Allah, as we all know, is to pray. Pray, pray, pray.

But how will we react if we find out that after years and years of praying, our prayer is performed incorrectly?!?!

Some of us would be angry… actually, very very angry… while some will be dissappointed and wishing that they knew the correct way of praying earlier…

This book covers all of the guidelines of prayer, and what you need to do before, after, and during prayer, to keep you from that humiliating moment of “learning it the hard way.”

So once this book is between your hands, flip through its thin pages and earn the knowledge of your deen as you sit on the cushions of a warm, comfortable couch.