al-Himma Tariq ila al-Qimma
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- Dār al-Andalus al-Khaḍrā’ lil-Nashr wa-al-Tawzī‘
al-Himma Tariq ila al-Qimma (High Resolve Is the Path to the Summit) is a treatise by Muhammad bin Musa al-Sharif focusing on the concept of high aspiration (himma), its cultivation, and its role in personal and spiritual development .
Background and Purpose
The author composed the work to address how individuals vary significantly in their endowed shares of resolve and willpower . Intended to serve both as a guide for beginners seeking a role model and as a reminder for accomplished achievers, the book was conceived as a focused manual rather than an expansive compendium . According to the author, it was the first contemporary book published specifically on the subject of himma .
Contents and Themes
The book examines high resolve through conceptual analysis and historical illustrations:
- Definition and Concept of Resolve: The work explores the linguistic and technical meanings of himma, defining it as the underlying impulse behind action, and high resolve ('uluww al-himma) as deeming anything short of the highest attainable matters as insufficient . Drawing on classical scholars such as Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya, it illustrates high resolve as an elevation that protects the soul from base inclinations and worldly hazards .
- Ranks of Resolve: The author classifies individuals according to their aspirations and effort, differentiating between wishful thinkers who demand high outcomes only with words, those whose energies are wasted on trivialities, and those whose resolve is dedicated to pleasing God .
- Means of Elevation: The book presents practical methods to develop and elevate resolve, including spiritual striving (mujahada), continuous effort in acquiring knowledge and self-improvement, and distancing oneself from distractions and factors that degrade resolve .
- Exemplars: The text draws upon statements and precedents from historical figures, including the second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, and later scholars such as Siraj al-Din al-Bulqini and his son Jalal al-Din al-Bulqini .
Editions
The book underwent several revisions across multiple editions:
- Third Edition: The author expanded the text to include historical examples of Western figures during and following the Industrial Revolution of the early nineteenth century . These examples were incorporated to demonstrate the universal divine norm (sunna) whereby diligent striving brings worldly results regardless of faith, and to motivate Muslim readers toward renewed industry .
- Fourth Edition: The work incorporated academic standards for biographical entries (tarajim) of historical personalities and was equipped with multiple indices .
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