Infamies of the Soul and Their Treatments

Infamies of the Soul and Their Treatments is a wonderful collection of extremely brief descriptions of various flaws and diseases (translated here as "infamies", which I like) of the soul and, more importantly, their cures. Though a short work, implementing the wisdom it contains would surely take a lifetime of gradual development, and even then perhaps only with the guidance of a mentor who has already traversed such a path.Reading it can often be depressing as you discover infamies in your own soul that you never knew were there. However, this can only benefit you, as awareness is a necessary first step in combating such infamies. Despite the nature of the work, its brevity makes it an enjoyable read - I could see myself reading one infamy (out of the 69 contained in the work) a day for the rest of my life, as constant reminders are needed.The language used is overall very tight and precise. Referencing is brief but gives you everything you need. This translation of Abu 'Abd al-Rahman al-Sulami's timeless work truly does it justice.NB: the translator has a nice collection of these infamies and their treatments in abbreviated (one-liner) form on his personal website. I think these would make a great appendix or quick reference guide in a second edition of the work. He also had some fascinating posts on his Facebook page about the process of translating the work and the effort that went into it.

I have followed Shaykh Musa’s work for some time now and benefitted immensely from his original research as well as translations such as these. The genre of self-help - while invokes notions of a very contemporary rhetoric along the lines of self-care, etc. - the concept is not new. The most well known book I can think of and my peers know about is Purification of the Heart by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf (a translation and commentary on the original poem by Imam Muhammad Mawlud), which has similarities in concepts but marked differences. Here, the chapters are quite small and every “infamy” accompanied only by a hadith or saying or few, with maybe a couple lines on how to approach them. But don’t let the brevity fool you - the heavy language belies a sense of urgency. We are on this Earth for a short time, and we need to improve before our final reckoning, inshaAllah.

Shaykh Musa Furber, an American Muslim who is traditionally trained in the Islamic sacred sciences has come out with another excellent translation that will be of great benefit to English-speaking Muslims. In the present work, his translation of Imam Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī's classic on spiritual refinement makes the work easy to understand and follow, even for students unfamiliar with Tasawwuf.It is a very practical work, not overburdened with technical language that is only intelligible for specialists. It is a must for Muslims who want to further refine their soul and be sincere with God and it will also be of benefit for people who seek to understand practical Sufism/Tasawwud as understood by classical Muslim scholars.

The English translation of the Arabic is not as rich, but is still well done. This is a worthy book to have in the library.

I purchased the Kindle edition and I could not be happier. Fantastic translation! See accompanying class/commentary on Sound Cloud from translator Musa Furber.

Much needed translation of work on Islamic spirituality. Excellent translation at great price.

This is a great classic and a great translation. Great for the soul.

While the infamies of the soul are categorized perfectly but the 'treatments' are mostly super generic like; one of the infamies of soul is "this' - you should remember Allah more, or fear Allah more. And most of the treatments have similar suggestions. I mean, you don't have to be an "aalim" to know this. Some do have some ahadith attached to them but they are not necessarily 'treatment' per say but more like examples/incidents.I was really looking forward to read this book as I struggle with 'inner-demons' but unfortunately, this book felt short meeting my expectations.

Brilliant and powerful book and makes a demonic person feel remorseful and wanna be a better person and appreciate God's grace.

This book was small, yet comprehensive. It addresses many of the spiritual maladies we suffer from today. Even though it was written hundreds of years ago, it is relevant now more than ever in this age of decimating spiritual health. The book format is simpleThe malady is listedThe cause of said malady is givenThe cureThis books is a must have for one seeking to address their own spiritual ailments.Sheikh Musa Furber did an excellent job translating this as well as adding footnotes

It's a step towards understanding oneself better and using the treatment to work on ourselves. Identify the infamies within yourself and try to apply the treatment offered in this book.

I absolutely love this gem. Shaykh Musa Furber is a humble, and great asset to the Muslim community. I can use this book as a realistic and practical guide to daily life and treating the harshnesses of the soul in a troubling world. Thank you. May Allah protect you.

This is a great book. Clear and simple. Very hard hitting if you are serious about personal development.