Purification of The Mind
SowSee Summary
About the Book
Purification of the Mind, a collection of discourses by Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani, illuminates the spiritual path towards nearness to God. Delivered in Baghdad nearly a thousand years ago, these teachings continue to resonate, addressing the perennial struggles of the human heart with poetic imagery and profound insights. The book reveals how one can transcend worldly attachments and attain spiritual clarity through repentance, love of God, and refined manners in faith.
About the Author
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (1077-1166 CE), known as “Sultan al-Awliya” (The King of Saints), was a prominent Islamic scholar and mystic. A descendant of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, he combined deep legal knowledge with profound spirituality. His teachings continue to inspire millions worldwide.
Insight 1: Repentance is the Gateway to Transformation
Repentance is not a one-time act but a way of being. It is the soul’s journey back to its Creator, a reclamation of purpose, and a declaration of independence from everything that hinders your spiritual ascent. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani describes repentance as the “water of the True One,” an act that revives the barren, dead heart and prepares it for Divine grace. Without repentance, you stagnate. With it, you transform.
In today’s world, for some, repentance might feel archaic, perhaps even outdated. But look closer, and you’ll see its universality. Every great personal transformation begins with an admission of wrong, a willingness to change, and the resolve to act differently. Repentance is not about punishment; it is about liberation. It is the unlocking of the chains you didn’t realize you were carrying.
To repent is to step into the light of God’s mercy. It begins with recognition—acknowledging that you’ve strayed, that the path you’re on has veered away from the purpose for which you were created. This acknowledgment requires humility. It is the surrender of your ego, the admission that you are not self-sufficient, and the realization that God alone holds the keys to your redemption.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “All the sons of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent.” In this, you find hope. No matter how far you’ve gone astray, the door of repentance remains open. God calls out to you, as He says in the Qur’an: “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of God. Indeed, God forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful”. The only thing standing between you and forgiveness is your willingness to turn back.
But repentance is not passive. It is not merely feeling sorry or uttering words of regret. It is active, requiring you to stop the sin, seek forgiveness, and resolve never to return to it. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir writes: “Repent, O backsliders, O disobedient ones! Seek reconciliation with your Lord by means of repentance.” It is a call to take ownership of your life and your choices. Repentance doesn’t erase the consequences of your actions, but it shifts their weight from your shoulders to God’s mercy.
To repent is also to confront the darkness within. You cannot repent for what you will not acknowledge. This is where courage comes in. It takes bravery to look in the mirror and confront the ways you have fallen short. It is not easy to admit that your anger, greed, or neglect has caused harm. But repentance is your way forward. It is the way out of the cycles of behavior that entrap you.
And repentance doesn’t end with you. It’s a bridge to others as well. When you repent to God, you are also called to seek forgiveness from those you’ve wronged. This act of humility strengthens your relationships and purifies your interactions. Repentance repairs not only the soul’s relationship with God but also its ties to the world around it.
Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of repentance is its effect on the heart. With every sincere act of repentance, you polish the mirror of your soul. Where once there were stains of sin and forgetfulness, there is now clarity. The heart, free from its burdens, begins to reflect Divine light. This is the transformation Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir describes—a barren heart becomes fertile, a dead soul comes alive, and the seeker begins to feel the pull of God’s nearness.
Do not delay repentance. Time is fleeting, and death waits for no one. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir urges: “Your death is so close that it may come while you are sitting here. In this case, you would have come here on foot but would be carried back to your house in a coffin.” Repentance is not about fear but urgency. It is about choosing life—the life of the soul—over the illusions of this world.
So, begin today. Turn to God with a heart full of hope and humility. Lay your burdens before Him and resolve to walk the path of righteousness. In that act of turning, you will find freedom. Repentance is not just a return; it is a renewal.
Insight 2: Love of God Transforms the Heart
True love is transformative. It takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary, the selfish and makes it selfless. When this love is directed toward God, it has the power to redefine your entire existence. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani warns against divided loyalties, emphasizing that the heart can hold only one true object of devotion. If you claim to love God, your life must reflect that singular focus. Anything less is a contradiction.
Think about the nature of love in your life. When you love someone deeply, they occupy your thoughts, influence your decisions, and become a central part of your identity. Now, elevate that love to the level of the Divine. Loving God is not just about saying “I love God.” It is about reorienting your heart, so everything in your life flows toward Him, like rivers converging into the sea.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir’s metaphor of Majnun Layla encapsulates this perfectly. Majnun, consumed by his love for Layla, could think of nothing else. When asked where he came from and where he was going, his answer was the same: Layla. For a heart truly in love with God, every destination, every action, and every thought returns to Him.
“Do not lie; you do not have two hearts but one, so once it is filled with something, there is no room for another.”
The Qur’an echoes this truth: “God has not made for any man two hearts in his breast”. If your heart is occupied with the love of wealth, status, or people, where is the space for God? When you claim to love Him but find your heart captivated by worldly desires, you deceive yourself. True love demands exclusivity.
Loving God requires more than words—it requires evidence. Imagine a person who claims to love their family but neglects them at every turn. Their actions betray their claim. Similarly, the lover of God demonstrates this love through obedience, devotion, and sacrifice. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir describes a lover who is restless until they attain nearness to their Beloved. The love of God is not about comfort but yearning, a longing that propels you closer to Him with every step.
Love of God transforms you because it purifies your heart. The things you once chased—recognition, wealth, indulgence—lose their luster. Your priorities shift. Where once you sought to please others, you now seek only God’s pleasure. This transformation isn’t just internal; it radiates outward. People around you notice the serenity and purpose that come with a heart devoted to the Creator.
The beauty of loving God is that it is reciprocal. God promises to love those who love Him. He says: “God will bring forth a people He will love, and they will love Him”. This mutual love brings tranquility to the heart, a peace that transcends the chaos of the world. You begin to see every moment, every trial, as an expression of His care for you. Your love deepens because you recognize that everything is from Him and for your ultimate good.
But beware: love of God requires letting go. You cannot hold onto the world and expect your heart to soar toward the Divine. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir is clear: “There can be no heart in which this world and the hereafter coexist.” To truly love God, you must relinquish your attachment to anything that competes with Him. This doesn’t mean abandoning the world entirely but placing it in its proper place—beneath your devotion to God.
This is a daunting task, but it begins with a single step. Start by examining your heart. What occupies your thoughts? What drives your decisions? If the answer isn’t God, ask yourself why. Then, take intentional steps to align your life with His love. Prioritize your prayers. Reflect on His names and attributes. Spend time in remembrance, letting His presence fill the spaces in your heart that were once occupied by lesser loves.
True love transforms. It strips away the superficial and reveals what is eternal. The love of God is not just another love—it is the ultimate love, the only love that can truly fulfill you. When you allow your heart to be consumed by this love, you’ll find that everything else falls into place. The distractions, the doubts, the divisions—they dissolve in the light of Divine love. What remains is clarity, purpose, and a heart wholly devoted to its Creator.
Insight 3: Guidance Requires Submission
Guidance is not an abstract concept; it is a living, breathing relationship. To seek guidance is to admit that you do not know everything, that there are paths you cannot navigate alone. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani insists that mentorship is not optional on the spiritual journey. A guide—a true Shaykh—is someone who has walked the road to God, someone who knows the perils and pitfalls and can help you avoid them. Yet, guidance comes with a price: submission.
This is where the modern ego struggles. You live in a culture that glorifies independence, self-reliance, and individual achievement. Submission feels like weakness, like relinquishing control. But here’s the paradox: on the spiritual path, surrender is strength. It takes humility to admit you need help, and courage to follow the advice of someone more experienced.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir uses the analogy of a student before a master, someone who must lower themselves to be lifted. He writes: “The person who wishes for success must become a piece of ground under the feet of Shaykhs.” This is not humiliation but liberation. To empty yourself of arrogance is to make space for wisdom. To trust your guide is to align your will with the will of God, for it is God who places mentors in your path.
Think about it: when you’re sick, you seek a doctor. When your car breaks down, you find a mechanic. Why then, when your soul is ailing, would you try to fix it alone? The Shaykh acts as a spiritual physician, diagnosing the diseases of your heart and prescribing the remedies. But just as a patient must follow the doctor’s advice, you must trust the guidance of your mentor.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir emphasizes the necessity of approaching a mentor with an open heart. If you come to a guide with arrogance or doubt, you sabotage the relationship before it begins. He writes: “If you harbor doubts about your Shaykh, you better leave his company, for in this case accompanying him and obeying him would bring no benefit to you.” This is a stark warning. A guide cannot help someone who refuses to be helped.
Submission to a guide does not mean blind obedience. A true Shaykh does not demand servitude but inspires trust. They lead by example, embodying the principles they teach. They do not claim perfection but point to the perfection of God. Your task is to discern their sincerity, then follow with humility.
This relationship is transformative. A mentor doesn’t just teach; they shape you. They expose your weaknesses, not to humiliate you, but to help you overcome them. They challenge your ego, pushing you to grow. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir describes this as a process of purification, where the guide helps separate the gold from the impurities in your heart. It is not comfortable, but it is necessary.
This submission extends beyond the Shaykh. Ultimately, it is about submitting to God. Your mentor is merely a vessel, a means through which God’s guidance reaches you. When you follow their advice, you are not serving them; you are serving your Creator.
But here’s the catch: this kind of submission requires trust, and trust takes time. Start by examining your own resistance. Why do you hesitate to seek guidance? Is it fear of losing control? Is it pride, the belief that you know better? Be honest with yourself, for only then can you move forward.
When you finally submit, you’ll discover something remarkable. Submission is not a loss of freedom; it is its fulfillment. By following a guide, you free yourself from the confusion of trying to navigate the spiritual path alone. You gain clarity, direction, and purpose. Your guide becomes a mirror, reflecting your flaws and your potential, helping you see yourself as God sees you.
So, seek a mentor. Approach them with humility, and trust the process. Submission is not a sign of weakness but a sign of wisdom. It is the first step toward true guidance and the ultimate submission to God’s will. In that submission, you will find the clarity and strength to walk the path to your Creator.
Insight 4: Struggle is the Key to Spiritual Growth
There’s no shortcut to greatness, and the spiritual path is no exception. If you want to grow closer to God, you must embrace struggle—not as an inconvenience to avoid but as the crucible that refines your soul. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani doesn’t romanticize the spiritual journey. He speaks plainly, acknowledging the toil and exhaustion it demands, yet urging you forward with the promise of what lies beyond: nearness to God.
Spiritual growth is not passive. It requires effort, persistence, and a willingness to push past your comfort zones. Think of the athlete who endures grueling training sessions or the artist who spends countless hours perfecting their craft. The same principle applies to the soul. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir commands: “Walk in search of Knowledge and practicing knowledgeable scholars until no further walking can be done. Keep walking until your legs no longer obey you.”
This isn’t just poetic imagery—it’s a call to action. You cannot stumble upon spiritual enlightenment. You have to pursue it with intention. This means prioritizing your prayers, engaging in remembrance, and seeking knowledge, even when your lower self tempts you toward laziness or distraction. Struggle is the evidence of your sincerity. It shows God that you value the path enough to endure its difficulties.
But let’s be honest: struggle is hard. It’s easier to stay in your comfort zone, to rationalize why you’re not ready to take the next step. You might tell yourself that you’ll get serious about your faith later, once life settles down. Yet Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir warns against procrastination. Time is fleeting, and the opportunity to struggle for God may not come again. He says: “If the footsteps of your heart come to a halt and you lose all your energy in your way to Him, that will be a sign of your nearness to Him.”
Understand that struggle is not punishment—it’s preparation. Each difficulty you face polishes your soul, just as fire refines gold. The mistakes you make along the way are not failures but lessons. When you persevere despite setbacks, you strengthen your faith, proving to yourself and to God that you are committed to this journey.
Think about the trials of the Prophets. Did they achieve their stations without struggle? Prophet Ibrahim faced the fire of Nimrod. Prophet Yusuf endured betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, faced rejection, exile, and war. Yet in their struggles, they found nearness to God. Your trials, though different, are part of the same pattern. Struggle is the way to greatness.
And here’s the paradox: as you embrace struggle, you discover that it is not a burden but a blessing. Struggle teaches you patience, resilience, and reliance on God. It forces you to let go of your illusions of control and submit to the One who truly governs your life. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir explains: “When you become totally exhausted outwardly and inwardly and have to sit, nearness to God and attainment to Him will come to you.”
This doesn’t mean you’ll never face moments of doubt or fatigue. Struggle is not linear. There will be days when you feel stuck, frustrated, or overwhelmed. That’s normal. What matters is that you keep going. Even when your steps feel small, they are steps nonetheless, and God sees them.
To struggle is to grow. It is to break free from the stagnation of complacency and step into the flow of Divine grace. The path may be steep, but the destination is worth every sacrifice. So, take the next step—whatever that looks like for you. Maybe it’s committing to pray all your prayers on time. Maybe it’s starting to memorize Qur’an or seeking out a teacher who can guide you. Whatever it is, do it with sincerity and persistence.
The journey is long, and the road is hard, but you are not alone. Struggle alongside your fellow seekers, draw strength from their companionship, and remember that God is with you every step of the way. Struggle is not a detour; it is the path itself. It is the means through which God transforms you into the person He created you to be. Keep walking. Keep striving. And know that your struggle is seen, valued, and rewarded by the One who matters most.
Insight 5: Good Manners Reflect Your Connection to God
Your manners are the outward reflection of your inward state. They reveal your connection to God—or the lack thereof. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani emphasizes this truth, insisting that refined behavior is not optional for the believer. It is as vital as repentance is for the sinner. Good manners with God and His creation are the proof of a heart that has been polished by faith.
Let’s start with the root of the matter. Good manners, in Islam, are not just about etiquette. They are an extension of your relationship with God. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who was described in the Qur’an as being “upon an exalted standard of character”, modeled this for us. His kindness, humility, and patience weren’t just social graces—they were acts of worship. To be well-mannered is to embody the values God loves, to align your actions with His divine attributes.
Think about it this way: how you behave toward others mirrors how you view your Creator. When you are patient with people, you reflect your belief in God’s attribute of As-Sabur (The Patient). When you show mercy, you emulate His name Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful). But when you are harsh, arrogant, or dismissive, what does that say about the state of your heart? What does it say about your awareness of God?
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir doesn’t mince words: “Everyone who lacks polite behavior is detested by the creatures and the Creator.” Manners are not a mere formality—they are a spiritual obligation. When you lack good manners, you sever your connection with God and repel the very people you are called to serve.
Good manners begin with God. How do you approach Him? Do you pray hurriedly, distracted by worldly concerns, or do you stand before Him with focus and humility? When you recite His name, do you feel awe and gratitude, or do you treat it as routine? Politeness with God is about more than words; it is about a state of the heart that reveres Him above all else.
This reverence for God naturally extends to His creation. How you treat people—your family, your neighbors, even strangers—is a reflection of your spiritual maturity. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: “The best of you are those who are best to their families.” If you claim to worship God but are cruel to those around you, there is a disconnect in your faith.
Good manners, however, are not just for moments of ease. The real test comes in adversity. When someone wrongs you, do you retaliate, or do you respond with forgiveness? When life gets difficult, do you lose your temper, or do you remain composed? Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir warns: “Refined behavior is as much an obligatory duty on the knower as is repentance on the disobedient person.” Just as repentance restores your relationship with God, good manners restore harmony with His creation.
Refining your manners is not easy. It requires self-awareness and self-control. You have to check your ego, recognizing that your worth does not depend on being right or getting your way. You have to practice patience when it’s easier to lash out, and humility when pride tempts you to elevate yourself above others. These are acts of worship in their own right.
But here’s the reward: good manners don’t just benefit others—they transform you. When you practice kindness, it softens your heart. When you show gratitude, it opens your eyes to God’s blessings. When you forgive, it frees you from the chains of resentment. Manners are not just outward; they change you from within.
Start small. Begin by being mindful of your interactions. Speak kindly, even when you’re frustrated. Listen attentively, even when you’re busy. And when you fall short, seek forgiveness—from God and from the person you’ve wronged. This is the path to spiritual refinement.
Good manners are not about perfection; they are about sincerity. They are a daily commitment to reflect God’s light in a world often shrouded in darkness. They are your opportunity to show that your connection to Him is more than words—it is a lived reality. In every moment, with every person, let your behavior be a testament to the One you serve.
Insight 6: Gratitude in All Circumstances
Gratitude is the language of the soul. It is a recognition of God’s gifts in every moment, every circumstance, and every breath. Gratitude is not conditional; it is not reserved for the easy days or the moments of abundance. True gratitude is unwavering, even in adversity, because it stems from a profound understanding of who God is and what His decree entails.
Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani paints a vivid picture of the grateful believer. This is the person who sleeps on God’s doorstep, content with whatever comes—whether it’s an embrace or a test. Gratitude is their natural state because they see everything as an extension of God’s wisdom and mercy. He writes: “He does not object to Him should He give favors to others and deprive him. If He grants him favors, he offers thanks to Him, and if He withholds things from him, he endures that with patience.”
This is a radical way to live. Most people tie their gratitude to their circumstances. When life is going well, they feel thankful. But when the storm clouds gather, gratitude evaporates, replaced by frustration or despair. The grateful believer, however, understands that God’s wisdom transcends their understanding. They trust that whatever God decrees is for their ultimate good, even if it feels bitter in the moment.
Gratitude begins with recognizing the blessings you already have. Look around you: the air you breathe, the food on your plate, the loved ones in your life—these are not accidents. They are deliberate gifts from a Lord who cares for you more than you care for yourself. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir invites you to reflect on these blessings, to train your heart to see God’s fingerprints in every corner of your life.
The Qur’an commands this mindset: “And if you should count the favors of God, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, God is Forgiving and Merciful”.
Yet gratitude isn’t just about acknowledging blessings; it’s about how you respond to them. Do you take them for granted, assuming they’ll always be there? Or do you use them in ways that please God? Gratitude in action is using your blessings—your time, wealth, health—for good. It’s about turning what you’ve been given into a means of drawing closer to your Creator.
But what about when life is hard? How can you be grateful when you lose your job, face illness, or experience heartbreak? Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir reminds you that gratitude isn’t about pretending pain doesn’t exist; it’s about seeing beyond it. It’s about recognizing that every trial is an opportunity to grow, to draw nearer to God, and to purify your soul. Gratitude in hardship is the ultimate act of trust, a declaration that God’s plan is better than yours.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, exemplified this when he said: “How amazing is the affair of the believer! His affair, all of it, is good. And this is for no one except the believer. If something good happens to him, he is grateful, and that is good for him. And if something harmful happens to him, he is patient, and that is good for him.” Gratitude and patience are two sides of the same coin. Together, they form the foundation of a life centered on God.
To cultivate gratitude, start with small, deliberate acts. Begin each day by thanking God for three specific blessings. Make it a habit to say Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to God) not just in moments of joy but in moments of challenge. When faced with difficulty, remind yourself that God sees the bigger picture, that every hardship is a stepping stone to something greater.
Gratitude transforms your heart. It shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have. It softens your spirit, turning bitterness into contentment and entitlement into humility. When you live with gratitude, you see the world differently. Every interaction, every moment, becomes a reminder of God’s mercy. You walk through life not weighed down by complaints but lifted by praise.
Gratitude is not just a feeling; it is a state of being. It is the soul’s acknowledgment of its Creator, a whisper that says, “Whatever You will, I am content.” In this state, you will find peace that cannot be shaken, no matter what life brings. This is the power of gratitude—it grounds you in the reality of God’s care, guiding you to see every moment as a gift, and every challenge as a mercy. Live in gratitude, and you will live in harmony with the One who gave you everything.
Insight 7: Purity of Intention is the Foundation
Intentions are everything. They are the unseen drivers of your actions, the silent architects of your outcomes. In the grand scheme of your spiritual life, what you do is only as meaningful as why you do it. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani warns against hypocrisy, describing it as a spiritual disease that corrodes your deeds from within. Without pure intentions, even acts of worship can become hollow rituals. He writes: “God accepts only sincerity, which you do not have.”
Imagine planting a tree. If the seed is corrupt, the tree will never grow strong, no matter how much you water it or expose it to sunlight. Your intentions are that seed. They determine whether your efforts bear fruit or wither away. Sincerity, or ikhlas, is the cornerstone of every meaningful deed. It is what transforms your prayers from rote movements into profound acts of connection. It is what makes charity more than a transaction—it becomes an offering of love and compassion for God’s sake. Without sincerity, even the grandest of actions is empty. The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, said: “Actions are but by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended.”
But let’s be honest: maintaining pure intentions is hard. Your ego wants recognition, your lower self craves validation, and the world is full of distractions that pull your heart in different directions. You might begin an action for God, only to find yourself seeking praise or personal gain along the way. Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir calls out this tendency, urging you to confront the hypocrisy within: “O hypocrite, you are unworthy of respect until you come to be like this!” He challenges you to root out these impurities with brutal honesty.
Purity of intention doesn’t come automatically—it requires vigilance and self-awareness. You have to constantly check yourself: Why am I doing this? Is it truly for God, or is it for others? Is my heart aligned with my actions? This self-audit can be uncomfortable, but it is essential for growth. Think of it as spiritual housecleaning. You’re clearing away the clutter so that your deeds can shine with the light of sincerity.
One way to cultivate pure intentions is to simplify your focus. Instead of worrying about how others perceive you, concentrate solely on pleasing God. This requires taqwa—a consciousness of God that permeates your thoughts and actions. When you act with taqwa, you stop chasing the fleeting approval of people and start seeking the eternal pleasure of your Creator.
Another practice is to supplicate, asking God to purify your heart. The Prophet, peace be upon him, often prayed: “O God, purify my heart and make my deeds sincere for Your sake.” This prayer is a reminder that sincerity is not something you achieve once and for all—it is a lifelong effort, sustained by God’s guidance and mercy.
Purity of intention also transforms the mundane into the sacred. When your heart is aligned with God, even small, everyday actions become acts of worship. Cooking for your family, working to provide for them, or helping a neighbor—all of these can carry immense spiritual weight when done with the intention of pleasing God.
And here’s the beauty of sincerity: it frees you. When your intentions are pure, you no longer feel the need to prove yourself to others. You’re no longer burdened by the fear of judgment or the craving for recognition. You act for God alone, and that is enough.
But don’t be discouraged if you struggle. Purity of intention is a process. It’s a journey of constant recalibration, a daily effort to realign your heart with your Creator. The fact that you care about your intentions is itself a sign of sincerity. Keep working at it, knowing that God sees your efforts and will reward even the smallest act done for His sake.
In the end, intentions are the essence of your worship. They determine whether your deeds ascend to the heavens or remain trapped in the world’s illusions. Purify your intentions, and you purify your soul. Align your heart with God, and every action becomes a step closer to Him. This is the power of sincerity—it transforms not just what you do, but who you are.
Purification of the Mind is not merely a book; it is a spiritual guidebook for those seeking God. It challenges you to reflect on the state of your heart and calls you to elevate your relationship with the Creator through repentance, love, and surrender. Its timeless wisdom beckons seekers to embark on the ultimate journey toward Divine proximity.