Books by Ibn al-Jawzi: Where to Start

Imam Abu al-Faraj Abdur-Rahman ibn al-Jawzi (508–597 AH) was a Hanbali scholar of Baghdad: a hadith scholar, historian and preacher whose written works are said to number in the hundreds. He lost his father as a small child, was raised by his mother and aunt, and was taken as a boy to the circles of the hadith scholar Abu al-Fadl ibn Nasir, who became his principal teacher. His sermons in Baghdad drew large gatherings, and much of what he wrote carries the voice of that pulpit: direct, vivid, and aimed at waking the heart.

In a number of matters concerning Allah's attributes, later Hanbali scholars, Ibn Rajab among them, noted that Ibn al-Jawzi was not consistent and at times inclined to interpretation, which differs from the way of the Salaf. The titles we carry are his works of admonition, biography and counsel, not his writing on those questions. If you have searched for books by Ibn al-Jawzi and felt unsure where to begin, this guide groups the titles we carry at The Islamic Book Cafe by theme and gives you a reading order.

Ibn al-Jawzi on Heedlessness and the Heart

Awaking from the Sleep of Heedlessness is a sincere reminder to the person who is not wicked, only asleep: to the shortness of life, the accounting ahead, and how easily this world absorbs a person who does not resist it. Disturber of the Hearts names the spiritual illnesses that come from sin and the attachments that unsettle the heart, traces each to its root, and prescribes the return to what settles it. Disciplining the Soul addresses the soul's inclinations and how a Muslim confronts and corrects them.

For where these fit among other works on the heart, see our guide to the best books on purifying the soul.

The Devil's Deceptions (Talbis Iblis)

The Devil's Deceptions is his study of how Shaytan misleads each kind of person through the thing that person values most: the scholar through his knowledge, the worshipper through his worship, the ascetic through his renunciation. He devotes long sections to the innovations of the groups of his time, showing how each began with something that looked like piety. It is a book to read slowly, and it rewards a second reading.

Ibn al-Jawzi's Biographies of the Prophet and the Pious

The Illustrious Life of Muhammad is drawn from his biographical work Sifat as-Safwah and presents the life and character of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The same work is behind Ranks of the Elite, Volume One and Ranks of the Elite, Volume Two, which record the knowledge, worship and sacrifice of the Companions, the Tabi'een and those who followed them, the generations the Prophet described as the best of people. Volume Two moves from the Hijaz outward to Yemen, Damascus, Baghdad and beyond. For more on the Prophet's life, see our essential seerah books.

Counsel for Students and for Children Toward Their Parents

Sincere Counsel to the Students of Sacred Knowledge is a letter Ibn al-Jawzi wrote to his own son, advising him on time, intention, and the distractions that waste a life. It is short, personal, and read well beyond students. At Their Feet: Piety Towards Parents gathers what the Qur'an, the Sunnah and the Salaf say about honouring one's parents, the duty Allah placed directly after the command to worship Him alone.

Where to Start with Ibn al-Jawzi's Books

Begin with Sincere Counsel, the shortest way into his voice. Follow it with Awaking from the Sleep of Heedlessness. Then read The Devil's Deceptions, his best-known work in English. Ranks of the Elite is best kept close and read a biography at a time.

For the other Hanbali imams in this series, see books by Ibn Qudamah, his contemporary, and books by Ibn Rajab and books by Ibn al-Qayyim, whose writing on the heart continues the same concerns.

Browse the full Ibn al-Jawzi book collection any time, and to plan the rest of your library, see our complete guide to the best Islamic books by topic. If you are unsure which book suits your level, reach out on live chat. We are always glad to help you choose.

Baarakallahu feekum — The Islamic Book Cafe | Portland, Oregon.