Book by Shaykh Ibn Ata’illah al-Iskandari
This Sowsee summary of The Book of Wisdoms captures profound insights from Ibn ‘Ata’illah’s timeless classic, presenting a guide for aligning the soul with God’s will. It highlights seven core lessons that help readers navigate life’s challenges, refine their hearts, and strengthen their connection to the Divine.
The Book of Wisdoms by Ibn ‘Ata’illah al-Iskandari is a jewel that offers profound insights into our relationship with God. Written as a guide for spiritual aspirants, the text comprises 261 aphorisms, reflective letters, and intimate supplications. These teachings bridge outward Islamic practices with inward spiritual realization, drawing from the Qur’an and Hadith.
Ibn ‘Ata’illah al-Iskandari (1259–1309) was a leading scholar of his time. His works blend jurisprudence with spiritual insights, drawing respect across Islamic schools, including praise from critics like Ibn Taymiyyah. He taught at al-Azhar and authored several treatises that systematized doctrines on spirituality, leaving a lasting impact.
Insight 1: Reliance on Deeds Is a Form of Self-Deception
Insight 2: The Heart Can’t Reflect Divine Light While Occupied with the World
Insight 3: Trusting God’s Timing Over Your Own
Insight 4: The Power of Sincerity – Breathing Life into Actions
Insight 5: Deprivation as Divine Generosity
Insight 6: Gratitude as the Anchor of the Soul
Insight 7: Journey to The Creator, Not the Creation
“A feeling of discouragement when you slip up is a sure sign that you put your faith in deeds.”
—Ibn ‘Ata’illah al-Iskandari
You’ve felt it before—that sinking feeling when you miss a prayer, let your tongue slip, or fall short of the spiritual goals you set. Disappointment washes over you, and it feels heavy, as if you’ve let yourself and God down. It’s easy to think this discouragement is a sign of sincerity, a marker that you care deeply about your spiritual progress. But Ibn ‘Ata’illah offers a sobering truth: if failure brings you to despair, it’s not humility—it’s ego.
Here’s the reality: when you rely too much on your deeds, you inevitably rely too much on yourself. You begin to believe that your prayers, fasting, and charity are the only things holding your relationship with God together. And when those slip, even momentarily, your sense of spiritual worth crumbles. This mindset reveals a hidden flaw: you’ve unknowingly placed your faith in the actions of your limbs rather than the mercy of your Lord.
Ibn ‘Ajiba, in his commentary, takes this a step further. He explains that actions are like vessels, but it’s God’s mercy that fills them. Without His grace, the most meticulous prayers or righteous deeds are hollow. This isn’t to diminish the importance of action—far from it. But the essence of worship lies not in the act itself, but in the sincerity and reliance that accompany it.
Think of it this way: a farmer tills his land, plants seeds, and waters the soil. But no matter how diligently he works, he cannot make the rain fall or the sun shine. His role is to cultivate the land, but the harvest depends on forces beyond his control. Your spiritual work functions the same way. You pray, fast, give, and strive. But the growth—the closeness to The Creator, the purity of the heart—comes not from your labor alone but from His divine favor.
When you slip, and you will, the reaction that matters is not despair but redirection. A sincere heart sees failure as a reminder to return to God, not a reason to abandon the path. The reason despair after a slip is dangerous is that it feeds a subtle form of arrogance. It whispers, “I should be better than this. I deserve to be on a higher level.” This mentality forgets that any goodness you achieve is a gift, not a personal accomplishment. As soon as you forget that, the ego quietly replaces humility.
So how do you shift your mindset? Start by remembering that your deeds are not the currency that buys God’s mercy—they are the expression of your need for it. Every prayer is a declaration of dependence, every act of charity a plea for His grace. This realization liberates you from the exhausting cycle of spiritual highs and lows based on performance. Instead, you settle into a steady rhythm of trust.
On the days you miss the mark, return to your Lord without hesitation. The door of repentance is not just open—it was built for people like you. Ibn ‘Ata’illah reminds you that God’s mercy isn’t waiting at the finish line; it accompanies you at every step, even the missteps.
Ultimately, your relationship with God isn’t defined by perfection but by persistence. The goal is not to arrive unblemished but to keep walking, no matter how many times you stumble. As Ibn ‘Ajiba notes, “Your hope should not lessen when you fall into sin, nor should it grow when you perform good deeds. Your reliance should remain fixed on God.”
Trust that The Most Merciful’s mercy is far greater than your errors. And the next time you slip, let it be a reminder—not of how far you’ve fallen, but of how near God remains.
Don’t just read—take action. Every SowSee summary ends with challenge tasks, helping you turn insights into action—and action into transformation!