روضة العقلاء ونزهة الفضلاء

This tremendous book contains the qualities that are needed in order to be an example for one’s children, for one’s spouse, for one’s friends, to be an example for the Muslims and non-Muslims alike – to, in one’s character, embody what Islam is about; and to materialise, in one’s behaviour, the beauty of Islam.

The author starts of his authorship with: “It is clear and evident for the intelligent and sensible people that the times are always changing and in flux. People have emerged claiming mastery of intelligence and wisdom by using the opposite of what necessitates intelligence, such as the desires of the hearts and departing from the requirements of intelligence for apprehensions in their chests. They believed that the fundamentals of intelligence involved the problems of hypocrisy and flattery, and its branches that show up with their deputies; beautiful clothing and eloquent speech. And they claim that whoever governs these four things is the one who possesses intelligence and deserves to be followed, and whoever does not possess these traits is an imbecile and should be avoided.

So when I witnessed the scum of the earth bedazzling and misguiding with their actions, and the uncivilised people following their example, it led me to write a small book containing an elegant meaning that the intellectuals and the wise need these days, such as knowing the condition of their times, so as to be like a ticket for those of discernment when they are present and like a water spring for the people of understanding when they are absent, by which the scholar and the one who is heedful surpasses his contemporaries and comrades. It will be an honest confidant for the wise persil in private and an intimate protector in the open. By way of is, he will be favoured by his supporters and surpass his counterparts.

I clarify in this book that which will beautify for the wise person the practice of praiseworthy characteristics and make the practice of reprehensible characteristics seem ugly while intending to refrain and abstain from persistently increasing in these bad qualities, to lighten the load for the bearer and enlighten the ear of the listener. And because of the various narrations and verses of poetry that will be mentioned in this book, the one who strives to study each chapter in depth will wish that they would never end. And whoever refuses to reach completeness and success is, in reality, accepting inadequacy.”