1

BOOK
REVIEW
KHALID MAHMOOD LASHARI
19077
SAMIR ABDULLAHI MOHAMED
21413
M.PHIL. (PUBLIC POLICY)

2
SEQUENCE
Introduction of the book
About the author
Evaluation of the book
Impact of the book
Conclusion

3
INTRODUCTION OF THE BOOK
Title: Makashiffat-ul-quloob
Meaning: - Discoveries / Exposition
and is the plural of heart.
Author: Imam Muhammad bin Muhammad Ghazali
Number of chapters: 111
Pages: 736
Publishing house: Akbar Book Sellers, Lahore,
Pakistan

4
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Name: Imam Muhammad bin
Muhammad Ghazali
Born in 1058 A.D/ 450 A.H. in Tus
(Iran)
Died 1111 A.D/505 A.H. in Tus (Iran)
Interests: Philosophy, Mysticism,
Theology, Education, Jurisprudence

5
EVALUATION OF THE BOOK
Theme One: Vulnerability of Human Heart
Theme Two: Ethical Philosophy of Al-Ghazali
Theme Three: Cardinal Pillars of Islam
Theme Four : Huqooq-ul-Ibad
Theme Five: Self Appraisal & Ulema e Soo
Theme Six: Death and Day of Judgment

6
THEME ONE:
Vulnerability of Human Heart
(Qalb)

7
THEME ONE:
VULNERABILITY OF HUMAN HEART
The heart is like a fort
Satans entrances to the heart:
Immoral desires
Haste
Anger
Backbiting
Love of adornment

8
CONTD
Man must guard entrances against
enemy
Fear of Allah
Love of Holy Prophet ()
Knowledge

The ailments of the heart cannot be

treated except through knowledge and
practicing that knowledge. (Al Ghazali)

9
CONTD
Zikr-e-Elahi
Verily in the remembrance of God
do hearts find tranquility (Al Rad
13:28)
Follow teachings of Islam

10
THEME TWO
Ethical Philosophy of Al-
Ghazali

11
THEME TWO:
ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY OF AL-GHAZALI
Every creation has a purpose
Man---The most exalted creation
His supreme purpose--realization of moral
end
The Supreme Virtue --- Love of God
The summom bonum of all virtues

Love of world and self

Root of all vices

12
VIRTUES AL-FADAIL
Qualities which constitute human
perfection
Zikr (Remembering Allah)
Shukr (Gratitude towards Allah)
Sabr (Patience and self-control)
Tauba (Repentance)
Namaz (Prayers)

13
VICES AR-RADAIL
The unethical propensities of man
Shirk
Shunning prayers
Love of wealth
Pride and vanity
Envy and malice
Hypocrisy and deception

14
THEME THREE
Cardinal Pillars of Islam

15
THEME THREE:
CARDINAL PILLARS OF ISLAM
Iman
Salah
Sawm
Zakat
Hajj

16
CONTD
Iman:
Believing and Saying
There is no god except Allah, Muhammad is
the messenger of Allah.
Salah:
Five times a day
''Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the
believers at fixed hours (Al Nisa 4:103)

17
CONTD
Sawm:
Restraining from food and drink during
Ramadan
It is method of self-purification and self-
restraint.
''O you who believe, fasting for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, that you may attain
piety (Al Baqarah 2:183)

18
CONTD
Zakat:
Muslims obligation annually .
Equitable distribution of wealth.
''Truely, those who believe and do deed of
righteousness, and perform As-Salaah and give
Zakat, they will have their reward with the
Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they
grieve.' (Al - Baqarah 2:227)

19
CONTD
Hajj
Pilgrimage to Makkah at least once
in lifetime, if it can be afforded.
''And Hajj to the House (Ka'bah) is a duty
that mankind owes to Allah, those who
can afford the expenses' (Al Imran
3:97)

20
THEME FOUR
Haqooq-ul-Ibad

21
THEME FOUR:
HAQOOQ-UL-IBAD
Kindness with orphans
Charity
Hospitality
Helping Muslim brethren

22
KINDNESS WITH ORPHANS
Showing kindness to orphans
Dealing fairly with them
Sure way to Jannah
The one who cares for an orphan and myself
will be together in Paradise like this, and
Prophet held his two fingers together
(Sahih Bukhari: 5659)

23
CHARITY
Cleanses a persons wealth
Increases assets
Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (
) said that it protects from the

wrath of God

24
HOSPITALITY
Importance of hospitality
emphasized by all Prophets
including Hazrat Issa (AS), Hazrat
Musa (AS) and Hazrat Muhammad
()
Hazrat Muhammad ()
was specially kind towards poor,
sick and needy

25
HELPING MUSLIM BRETHREN
Help ye one another unto
righteousness and pious duty
(Maida:2)
Prophet (SAWW) stressed the
importance of helping each other

26
THEME FIVE
Self Appraisal & Ulema-e-Soo

27
SELF APPRAISAL
Struggle between Divine Power and
Satanic Forces
Self Accountability
O believers! Fear Allah and let every
soul should see that what it sent forth
for the morrow' and fear Allah.
Undoubtedly Allah is aware of your
doings (Al Hashar: 18)

28
RAZA E ELAHI
Insinuations of inner self and worldly desires
Al Ghazali quotes Holy Prophet(SAWW)
On the day of judgment, a group of people
would have wings to fly from their graves
directly into the Heaven and they would be
those who refrained from committing sins
and whole heartedly submitted to the Will of
Allah

29
TAWWAKUL (RELIANCE)
Reposing trust in Allah
Verily, Allah loves those who observe
Tawwakul (Al Imran:159)
If only you rely on Allah with due reliance,
He will provide you with sustenance as He
provides birds; they go forth hungry in the
morning and return satisfied in the
afternoon ( Al- Tirmidhi)

30
ULEMA-E-SOO (EVIL
SCHOLARS)
Personal aggrandizement and materialistic
gains
One doesnt qualify to become an Aalim
unless his conduct complies with his
preaching (Hadith)
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest
depths of the Fire - and never will you find
for them a helper (Al Nisah: 145)

31
THEME SIX
Death & Day of Judgement

32
THEME SIX:
DEATH AND DAY OF JUDGEMENT
Remembering death will keep
away from the vices of the
temporal world.
Death delivers from the life of
restraints.
Death a gift for Momin.
Always be prepared for death.

33
LOVE OF THE WORLD
Those are they who have bought
the life of this world at the price of
the hereafter (Al-Baqarah: 86)
Love of the world is the root of all
evil. (Hadith)

34
TORMENT OF THE HELL
And there are men who say: "Our
Lord! Give us good in this world
and good in the Hereafter, and
defend us from the torment of the
Fire! (AL-Quran)

35
PUL-E-SIRAT
Narration of the Scale (Meezan) on Day of
Judgement:
Human deeds shall be weighed.
The Prophet will intercede on behalf of his Ummah.
The Bridge:
A bridge shall be laid between Hell & the Paradise
and people will be made to cross it.
Those who cross shall be redeemed and those who
could not, be damned.

36
IMPACT OF THE BOOK
Emphasis on the dynamics of life and the
hereafter.
Stresses the importance of self-change.
Cardinal Pillars are Key to Closeness to God.
Distinction between purposeful & misleading
Life.
Purification of heart.
Achievement inner peace, tranquility and
satisfaction

37
CONCLUSION
Remedy of ailments of heart.
Positive change is achievable though
Continuous effort
Will power and
Fear of Allah

The author described basic Islamic

Teachings
in a lucid manner, with recurring references from
Holy Quran, Sunnah, and other sources

38
39
40