Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin (Towards the Hereafter)

Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi, Wa'il A. Shihab

• Publisher: Qadeem Press
• Year: 2025
• Print ISBN: 9788119946075
• eBook ISBN: 9789366083148
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Islamic Theology

The Journey Toward the Hereafter: A Timeless Guide to Islamic Spirituality

In an age marked by spiritual yearning yet overwhelmed by distraction, Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin (Towards the Hereafter) emerges as a guiding compass for those seeking genuine spiritual fulfillment. This masterwork by Imam Muwaffaq al-Din Ibn Qudamah Al-Maqdisi represents eight centuries of distilled Islamic spiritual wisdom, refined through three of Islam’s greatest scholars into a systematic and profoundly practical manual for inner transformation.

A Pedigree of Excellence

This work enjoys a distinguished lineage within Islamic scholarship. It begins with Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali’s monumental Ihya’ Ulum al-Din, renowned for synthesizing jurisprudence, theology, philosophy, and mysticism into a unified vision of Islamic life. Yet, its vastness and narrations of varying authenticity prompted subsequent refinement.

Imam Abu al-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzi, the eminent scholar and gifted preacher, extracted Ihya’s essential insights while meticulously authenticating the narrations according to rigorous hadith standards, resulting in Minhaj al-Qasidin. His effort preserved al-Ghazali’s spiritual brilliance upon a sound textual foundation.

Ibn Qudamah, recognizing both the strength and expansiveness of Ibn al-Jawzi’s work, further condensed and refined it into this Mukhtasar. He added his own insightful commentary, producing a text that is comprehensive yet accessible, profound yet practical. This triple distillation—al-Ghazali’s vision, Ibn al-Jawzi’s authentication, and Ibn Qudamah’s synthesis—yields a work of exceptional authority and clarity.

The Four Pillars: A Comprehensive Architecture of Spiritual Life

Ibn Qudamah structures the work around four foundational pillars that encompass every aspect of a believer’s spiritual journey.

Chapter One: Acts of Worship begins with knowledge—its value, ethics, and pursuit—affirming that true spiritual refinement requires a foundation in revealed knowledge. It then explores the inner dimensions of purification, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage, moving beyond legal rulings to emphasize transformative purpose. Guidance on engaging with the Qur’an and detailed instruction on dhikr and du'a' demonstrate how external practices nourish internal awakening.

Chapter Two: Customs illustrates how everyday life becomes an avenue for spiritual elevation. Topics include eating, hospitality, marriage, earning livelihood, friendship, travel, and ethical responsibility. Ibn Qudamah emphasizes that seemingly mundane activities become worship through intention and adherence to Islamic ethics. The chapter concludes with a beautiful portrait of the Prophet Muhammad’s ﷺ noble character.

Chapter Three: Destructive Flaws addresses the spiritual diseases that obstruct the heart’s journey toward Allah. With remarkable psychological insight, Ibn Qudamah analyses maladies such as unchecked desires, destructive speech, anger, envy, arrogance, ostentation, and self-delusion. Each section provides not only diagnosis but practical remedies rooted in the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the wisdom of the early generations.

Chapter Four: Means of Salvation presents the virtues and states that elevate the soul: repentance, patience, gratitude, hope, fear, asceticism, trust in Allah, divine love, sincerity, self-scrutiny, contemplation, and remembering death. Each topic combines inspiration with actionable guidance, helping readers cultivate enduring spiritual resilience.

Practical Spirituality for Every Seeker

The defining feature of Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin is its practical focus. Ibn Qudamah writes for all seekers—not just scholars—addressing universal struggles such as materialism, distraction, weakness of will, and spiritual dryness. His approach integrates authentic narrations, stories of the early Muslims, and relatable guidance that can be implemented immediately.

The work suits both structured reading and selective study. Readers may engage it systematically or consult specific chapters addressing their current needs, making it a lifelong companion for spiritual growth.

A Text for Our Times

Despite its medieval origins, the work speaks powerfully to contemporary challenges. Many spiritual diseases Ibn Qudamah identifies—ostentation amplified by social media, materialism fuelled by consumer culture, distraction from reflection—are even more prevalent today. His remedies offer exactly the grounding modern seekers require.

The Translation

Wa'il A. Shihab’s translation presents Ibn Qudamah’s classical Arabic in clear, contemporary English while maintaining the integrity of the original text. Concise notes clarify key concepts without disrupting the reading experience, and Qur’anic verses follow the familiar rendering of Abdullah Yusuf Ali.

Who Should Read This Book

This work benefits anyone seeking spiritual growth, moral clarity, and closeness to Allah. Beginners will find foundational guidance; those struggling with specific spiritual challenges will discover both diagnosis and cure; students and scholars will appreciate its distilled synthesis of classical Islamic spirituality. Even non-Muslims exploring authentic Islamic ethics and spirituality will find valuable insights.

The themes it addresses—purpose, virtue, desire, ethical relationships, mortality—resonate universally, transcending cultural and temporal boundaries.

An Investment in the Hereafter

The title, “Towards the Hereafter,” captures the book’s essence. It does not call for withdrawal from worldly responsibilities but instead reorients the heart, viewing this life as preparation for eternity. It teaches that every moment is an opportunity for worship, every intention a pathway to elevation.

Mukhtasar Minhaj Al-Qasidin is more than a text—it is a guide, companion, and mirror, illuminating both the seeker’s current state and their potential. It awakens aspiration, diagnoses weakness, prescribes remedies, and inspires hope. Most importantly, it directs the heart toward what every soul ultimately seeks: peace, purpose, and nearness to the Divine.

Table of contents

• Translator's Note
• Introduction
• Chapter One Acts of worship
• Chapter Two: Customs
• Chapter Three: Destructive Flaws
• Chapter Four: Means of Salvation