Imam al-Ghazali: On Repentance, Kitab al-Tawbah,
[A5+] Paperback - 348 pages, English with separate Arabic text,
by Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali,
Translated by S.M. Stern.
Revised & Edited by Abu Ibraheem al-Hanafi,
Published by Dar al-Fiqh,
with the Imam al-Ghazali Institute, 900th Anniversary,
Kitab al-Tawbah ; Book XXXI of the Ihya Ulum al-Din.
Description :
Kitab al-Tawbah (The Book of Repentance) is the first book from the Fourth Quarter of the Ihya' Ulum al-Din, The Revival of the Religious Sciences. There is no doubt that tawbah (repentance) is an essential part of the teachings of Islam. As Allah Almighty has declared in al-Qur'an al-Karim "Indeed Allah loves the tawwabin (those who repent)."
The book is divided into an introduction and four chapters :
---Chapter One deals with the true nature of tawbah and an explanation of the obligatory character of tawbah.
---Chapter Two deals with situations that require tawbah and the divisions of Sins into Kaba'ir and Sagha'ir.
---Chapter Three deals with Remorse, the Requisites and the Permanent nature of tawbah.
---Chapter Four deals with persistence in Sins, its causes and its remedy in tawbah.
Table of Contents :
---Preface,
---Translation of the Introduction to the Revival of the Religious Sciences,
---Imam al-Ghazali's Introduction to the Ihya Ulum al-Din,
---Translation of the Book of Repentance (Kitab al-Tawbah),
---Introduction.
Chapter One :
The First Pillar - On the Nature of Repentance,
---Explanation of Repentance and it's Definition,
---Explanation of the Obligation and Excellance of Repentance,
---Explanation that Promptness is [essential in fulfilling] the Obligation of Repentance,
---Explanation of the Universality of the Obligation of Repentance, no one being free of it,
---Explanation that upon Accumulation of it's Requisites, Repentance is surely accepted.
Chapter Two :
The Second Pillar - The Context of Repentance Being Sins Venial and Mortal,
---Explanation of Division of Sin in Relation to the Qualities of Man,
---Explanation of How Higher and Lower States, in the Hereafter are distributed according to Good and Evil Works in this Life,
---Explanation of How Minor Sins are increased.
Chapter Three :
The Third Pillar - On the Fullness, Requisites and Permanence of Repentance,
---Explanation of How People differ in the Perseverance of Repentance,
---Explanation of What the Penitent must do if he Sins with either Intention and Dominant Desire or by Chance.
Chapter Four :
The Fourth Pillar - On the Remedy of Repentance and the Way of Treatment for the Dissolution of the Knot of Persistence.
---Arabic Text of Kitab al-Tawbah,
---Appendix A
---Abbreviation Key,
---Bibliography,
---Index.
