The spiritual life in Islam begins with riyadat al-nafs, the inner warfare against the ego. Distracted and polluted by worldliness, the lower self has a tendency to drag the human creature down into arrogance and vice. Only by a powerful effort of will can the sincere worshipper achieve the purity of soul which enables him to attain God's proximity. This translation of two chapters from The Revival of the Religious Sciences (Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din) details the sophisticated spiritual techniques adopted by classical Islam. In the first step, On Disciplining the Soul, which cites copious anecdotes from the Islamic scriptures and biographies of the saints, Ghazali explains how to acquire good character traits, and goes on to describe how the sickness of the heart may be cured. In the second part, Breaking the Two Desires, he focusses on the question of gluttony and sexual desire, concluding, in the words of the Prophet, that 'the best of all matters is the middle way'. The translator has added an introduction and notes which explore Ghazali's ability to make use of Greek as well as Islamic ethics. The work will prove of special interest to those interested in Sufi mysticism, comparative ethics, and the question of sexuality in Islam.

The Soul's Sincere Desire: Establishing a Personal Relationship with God explores the promises, the privileges, the advantages of establishing and maintaining a personal relationship with God. Prayer is quite often viewed as subject matter for discussion in Sunday/Church school, weekly Bible studies, or it is even preached during Sunday morning sermons. It appears, the early disciples of Jesus, in their daily interaction and observation of Jesus, their leader/teacher, believed themselves to be deficient in prayer. When asked to teach them to pray, Jesus began his teaching with much confidence, adamantly uttering, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. . ." There are many people who believe themselves superior to others. Jesus taught relationship with God is inclusive, experiential, and experimental.