Ibn al-Qayyim famously compares the heart to a fish in water. Take the fish out of water, and it dies. He argues: "The heart’s nourishment, life, and strength come from its Creator through constant invocation." Just as the body needs food and water, the soul needs dhikr . The rust that accumulates on the heart due to sin is only polished away by the remembrance of God.

Imam Shams al-Din Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyya (d. 751 AH)

Ibn Qayyim identifies several types of invocation, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. These include:

note that the book is accessible to Muslims of various persuasions without the complex esotericism found in other mystical texts. Deep Impact : Readers on

For those interested in exploring Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya's works and Islamic spirituality further, the following resources are recommended:

For those downloading the here is a table of contents of the spiritual principles you will encounter:

Ibn Qayyim on Divine Invocation | PDF | Sufism | God In Islam