Ethics and Spiritual Growth

414 Pages·1997·2.551 MB·English

by  Sayyid Mujtaba Musavi Lari

ETHICS
AND
SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Sayyid Mujtaba Musavi Lari

Translated by:
Ali Quli Qara’i

Table of Contents
Preface ............................................................................................ 1
CHAPTER ONE
THE NATURE OF MAN AND HIS ENERGIES
Man Moves Towards Perfection...................................................... 9
Self-Purification as Agent of Development ................................... 11
The Causes of Crime ..................................................................... 15
The Worthiest Duty of Man........................................................... 16
Are There Any Born Criminals? ................................................... 20
Man's Pure and Immaculate Nature ............................................... 24
Freedom and Restraint ................................................................... 29
Habit and Its Constructive and Destructive Role .......................... 31
The Approach of Islam .................................................................. 35
Childhood and Habit ...................................................................... 38
CHAPTER TWO
REASON AND CONSCIENCE: MAN’S
TWO BIGGEST ASSETS
Man's Most Distinctive Merit ........................................................ 43
The Capacities of the Intellect ....................................................... 46
Is Conscience a Product of Internalized Prohibition?.................... 51
The Domain and Role of Conscience ............................................ 54
The Qur'an and the Voice of Nature .............................................. 56
The Bedrock of Reason and Conscience ....................................... 64
Sophistry and Rationalisation ........................................................ 67
CHAPTER THREE
THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMNT OF PERSONALITY
A Criterion of Human Values ........................................................ 73
The Basic Role of Spirituality in Education .................................. 81
The Development of Personality in Islamic Thought .................... 84
The Constructive Role of the Intellect and Faith ........................... 87
The Harms of Evil Thoughts ......................................................... 99
The Relation between Goals and the Development of Personality
..................................................................................................... 102
The Interrelatedness of Psychological and Physiological Activities
..................................................................................................... 104
CHAPTER FOUR
DUTY AS THE PIVOT OF LIFE
Man in the Midst of Duties .......................................................... 111
Struggle for Realization of Higher Ideals .................................... 113
Faith and Duty-Consciousness .................................................... 117
Luqman's Counsel ....................................................................... 121
The Levels of Duty-Consciousness and Worship ........................ 122
CHAPTER FIVE
THE MAINSPRING OF INNER PEACE
The Stormy Sea of Life ............................................................... 131
The Cause of Psychic Afflictions ................................................ 133
Too Much Concern for the Unknown Future .............................. 135
Clinging to Deviant Means .......................................................... 140
The Profound Effect of Suffering ................................................ 142
The Definite Role of Faith in Spiritual Peace .............................. 145
Taslim and Rida ........................................................................... 149
Unlimited Expectations ............................................................... 152
Faith in Immortality ..................................................................... 154
The Benefit of Unburdening One's Sorrow ................................. 159
Maintaining Good Spirits ............................................................ 161
CHAPTER SIX
THE LIGHT OF BENEVOLENCE ON THE HORIZON OF
LIFE
The Basis of Social Cooperation ................................................. 165
The Sublimity of Spiritual Pleasures ........................................... 167
Indifference to Others' Problems ................................................. 169
Islam and Social Ties ................................................................... 170
The Visage of the Benevolent in Islam ....................................... 173
The Visage of Benevolence in the West ...................................... 175
The Criterion of Human Worth Before God ............................... 178
Boundless Charity and Love ....................................................... 180
CHAPTER SEVEN
THE ROLE OF APPRECIATION IN SOCIAL PROGRESS
Man's Spiritual Needs .................................................................. 187
The Profound Effect of Appreciation and Recognition ............... 189
Cynicism and Principled Criticism .............................................. 192
Flattery is Reprehensible ............................................................. 194
Islam's Plan for the Propagation of Moral Virtues ...................... 197
The Great Harms of Ingratitude................................................... 200
The Campaign Against Vices ...................................................... 206
CHAPTER EIGHT
FORTITUDE, THE BRIDGE TO VICTORY
The Shortest Road to Success ...................................................... 213
The Bounteous Source of Strength .............................................. 216
The Principles of Life .................................................................. 217
The Lessons of Failure ................................................................ 218
The Means of Perfection ............................................................. 220
The Importance of Self Discipline ............................................... 223
Mere Adherence to Islam Does Not Lead to Victory .................. 225
Two Potent Educative Factors ..................................................... 229
A Superb Advantage .................................................................... 235
Concealing One's Weaknesses .................................................... 236
Steadiness in Friendship .............................................................. 239
CHAPTER NINE
THE MAINSPRINGS OF REAL HONOR AND DIGNITY
The Psychological Needs ............................................................ 243
False Advantages and Distinctions .............................................. 245
Honour, from the Islamic Viewpoint ........................................... 249
Refraining from Humiliation ....................................................... 251
The Spirit of Self-Reliance .......................................................... 255
Foresight ...................................................................................... 257
True Freedom .............................................................................. 259
Aligning Goals with Capacities ................................................... 260
Humiliation and Sin ..................................................................... 261
A Big Fault .................................................................................. 264
CHAPTER TEN
THE ABERRATIONS OF PRIDE
Exaggerated Opinion of Oneself ................................................. 269
Wealth and Pride ......................................................................... 272
The Pride of Learning .................................................................. 274
Destructive Activities .................................................................. 276
Spiritual Health ............................................................................ 277
Ignorance of One's Inadequacies ................................................. 279
Self-love, not Egoism .................................................................. 281
Real and Abiding Love ................................................................ 284
The Characteristic Sense of Worthiness ...................................... 285
CHAPTER ELEVEN
THE WONDERS OF WILL POWER
The Waves of Change Created by Outstanding Personalities ..... 293
Lack of Will Power, the Obstacle to Success .............................. 295
Vigilance in the Midst of Problems ............................................. 296
The Scope of Human Possibilities ............................................... 300
The Criterion of Responsibility in the View of Islam ................. 303
The Firm Support of Will Power ................................................. 305
Tenacity and Victory ................................................................... 307
Self-Suggestion............................................................................ 308
CHAPTER TWELVE
THE PRINCIPLES OF HEALTHY SOCIAL INTERCOURSE
Secured Spiritual Well-Being by Means of Fruitful Social Contacts
..................................................................................................... 313
True Worth of a Friend ................................................................ 316
Sensitivity and Touchiness .......................................................... 317
A Warning Against Corrupt Company ........................................ 320
Helping the Victims of Vicious Company .................................. 324
Moderation in Friendship ............................................................ 331
Pretence and Hypocrisy ............................................................... 332
Isolation and Unsociability .......................................................... 335
Books, Precious Companions ...................................................... 336
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
SELF-CONFIDENCE AND TRUST IN GOD
Success, a Human Right .............................................................. 343
Dependence on Misleading Hopes .............................................. 347
A Lesson Taught by the Noble Messenger .................................. 348
The Pessimists Lack of Self-assurance ........................................ 352
Islam and Personal Independence................................................ 353
Individual Responsibility ............................................................. 355
The Criterion of Moral Worth of Actions ................................... 357
Making Oneself the Measure of Things ...................................... 360
The Marvellous Effects of Trust in God ...................................... 362
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
FEAR AND HOPE
Fear .............................................................................................. 369
Neither Timidity Nor Rashness ................................................... 373
Ignorance of the Character of Life .............................................. 375
The Combination of Hope and Fear in Human Nature................ 377
Weakness of Will ........................................................................ 384
Courage in its Wider Sense ......................................................... 386
Hypocrisy, an Expression of Fear ................................................ 389
Bibliographical Index ................................................................ 393