Ethics and Spiritual Growth

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