Uluw al-Himma
- Author died
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- Editions
- Dār al-Qimmah - Dār al-Īmān
Uluw al-Himma (High Aspiration) is a book on Islamic ethics, spiritual refinement, and personal drive by the contemporary Egyptian Salafi scholar and preacher Muhammad Ismail al-Muqaddim (b. 1371 AH / 1952 CE) . The work examines the concept of lofty ambition (himma), its role in historical Islamic revival, the causes behind spiritual lethargy, and practical ways to cultivate steadfast resolve across various spheres of religious life .
Subject and Scope
The core theme of the book is high ambition (uluw al-himma)—defined as aiming for the utmost attainable perfection in knowledge and righteous deeds while rejecting baseness and mediocrity . In the introduction, al-Muqaddim argues that early Muslims established widespread cultural and civilizational prominence because they balanced intellectual discernment (al-quwwa al-ilmiyya) with rigorous practical action and boundless resolve (al-quwwa al-amaliyya) . The book seeks to reawaken this ethos among contemporary Muslims by offering a systematic examination of the concept rooted in scriptural texts and historical precedents .
Structure and Content
The work is organized into overarching parts and chapters covering conceptual foundations, practical manifestations, and moral obstacles:
- Foundations and Definitions (al-Muqaddimat): Examines the linguistic and technical meanings of himma, distinguishing noble aspiration from base inclination (suful al-himma) and citing definitions from figures such as Abu al-Faraj Ibn al-Jawzi, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ali ibn Muhammad al-Jurjani, and Muhammad al-Khadir Husayn .
- Fields of High Aspiration (Majalat Uluw al-Himma): Details the primary domains where high ambition is demonstrated through five specific spheres :
- Seeking sacred knowledge (talab al-ilm) and valuing time .
- Devotional worship and steadfastness (al-ibada wa-l-istiqama) .
- The rigorous quest for religious truth (al-bahth an al-haqq) .
- Preaching and calling others to God (al-da'wa ila Allah) .
- Striving in the way of God (al-jihad fi sabil Allah) .
- Means of Elevation (Asbab al-Irtiqa' bi-l-Himma): Details spiritual catalysts that elevate resolve, including sincerity (ikhlas), truthfulness (sidq), acquiring sound knowledge, seizing opportunities immediately, perseverance under hardship, and supplication (du'a) .
- Causes of Decline (Asbab Inhitat al-Himam): Analyzes the moral and psychological impediments that weaken human resolve and cause apathy or despair .
Method and Sources
The author relies extensively on quotations from the Quran and the Prophetic Sunnah, classical biographical compilations, poetry, and earlier spiritual literature—drawing particularly on works by Ibn al-Qayyim (such as Madarij al-Salikin) and Ibn al-Jawzi (such as Sayd al-Khatir) . He pairs theoretical ethical definitions with concrete narratives and anecdotes from the lives of the Companions, early scholars, and prominent historical leaders to provide tangible models of elevated aspiration .
Publication and Reception
Uluw al-Himma was published in print editions in Alexandria by Dar al-Iman and distributed by Dar al-Qimma, alongside earlier releases published in Riyadh around 1416 AH (1995–1996 CE) . In addition to the written monograph, the material was delivered by the author as an extensive audio lecture series under the same title .
The book gained broad circulation in modern Islamic pedagogical circles and served as an impetus for related writings; the preacher Sayyid Husayn al-Affani noted that al-Muqaddim directly suggested to him the compilation of his multi-volume work Salah al-Umma fi Uluw al-Himma (The Rectification of the Ummah Through Loftiness of Resolve) . It is regularly cited alongside contemporary works on personal discipline and student self-cultivation .
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