Happiness is attained by three things: being patient when tested, being thankful when receiving a blessing, and being repentant upon sinning.
Ibn Qayyim Al-JawziyyaRead
There is no captive in a worse state than the one who is captivated by his worst enemy (Shaytan) and there is no prison which is tighter than the prison of hawa (desire) and there is no bond/fetter more strong than the bond of desire. How, then, will a heart which is captivated, imprisoned and fettered travel unto Allah and the Home of the Hereafter?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the destructive nature of uncontrolled desires and how they can imprison the heart, hindering spiritual growth.
Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya reflects on the perilous state of a person who is overwhelmed by their desires, which he equates to a form of captivity. He warns that such desires can serve as our worst enemies, creating a prison that prevents true connection with Allah and the pursuit of the afterlife. This implies that freedom and spiritual fulfillment can only be attained by overcoming these inner battles.
Themes
DesireCaptivitySpiritualityFreedomInner Peace
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about overcoming personal struggles and desires.
More from Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya
All quotes →The keys to the life of the heart lie in reflecting upon the Quran, being humble before Allah in secret, and leaving sins.
Ibn Qayyim Al-JawziyyaRead
As long as you are performing prayer, you are knocking at the door of Allah, and whoever is knocking at the door of Allah, Allah will open it for him.
Ibn Qayyim Al-JawziyyaRead
Satan rejoiced when Adam (peace be upon him) came out of Paradise, but he did not know that when a diver sinks into the sea, he collects pearls and then rises again.
Ibn Qayyim Al-JawziyyaRead
One of the most beneficial of remedies is persisting in du’a.
Ibn Qayyim Al-JawziyyaRead
The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah (repentance) and protection [from transgression]. It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance. It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is al-Taqwa. It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry, and its food and drink are knowledge, love, dependence, repentance and servitude.
Ibn Qayyim Al-JawziyyaRead
Similar quotes
Any genuine philosophy leads to action and from action back again to wonder, to the enduring fact of mystery.
Henry MillerRead
RUMOR, n. A favorite weapon of the assassins of character.
Ambrose BierceRead
Truth sees God, and wisdom contemplates God, and from these two comes a third, a holy and wonderful delight in God, who is love.
Julian Of NorwichRead
I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?
Willie NelsonRead
The world is kept alive only by heretics: the heretic Christ, the heretic Copernicus, the heretic Tolstoy. Our symbol of faith is heresy...
Yevgeny ZamyatinRead
We stand there, quiet. My questions all seem wrong: How did you get so old? Was it all at once, in a day, or did you peter out bit by bit? When did you stop having parties? Did everyone else get old too, or was it just you? Are other people still here, hiding in the palm trees or holding their breath underwater? When did you last swim your laps? Do your bones hurt? Did you know this was coming and hide that you knew, or did it ambush you from behind?
Jennifer EganRead