The Art of Cultivating Noble Character

Imam Raghib al-Isfahani's Kitab al-Dhari'a ila Makarim al-Shari'a is a seminal ethical treatise grounded in the Sharīʿah that demonstrates the synthesis of reason and revelation in ethical thought and explores the unity of transmitted and rational sciences. It offers a contemplative journey into Islamic moral thought, discussing topics such as man’s states, faculties, virtues, and moral character; intellect, knowledge, and speech; the concupiscent and irascible faculties; justice and injustice; love and hatred; crafts, earning, spending, generosity, and niggardliness; and actions. The work integrates Quranic principles and prophetic traditions into its ethical discourse and has influenced thinkers like Imam Ghazali. It continues to provide timeless wisdom on moral virtues, spiritual refinement, and ethical questions.