Heaven's Door: Part Two of The Purification of the Soul

Ahmad Farid This book comprises the second part of the English translation of Tazkiyat an-Nufus wa Tarbiyyatuha kama Yuqarriruhu Ulama as-Salaf compiled by Ahmed Farid, the first part of which has already been published under the title The Purification of the Soul. Both books are concerned with assisting the traveller in life to pass smoothly through this world and safely into the next - and should be read together. Whereas The Purification of the Soul is concerned primarily with the science of awakening and purifying the heart - on which good inward intentions depend, Heaven's Door is concerned firstly, with outward action - which is the manifestation and outward expression of inward intention, and secondly, with the consequences of inward intention and outward action - which we meet both in this life and after we have died. Actions are known and evaluated by the intentions behind them and intentions are dependant on knowledge. The actions of a wise man are very different to those of an ignorant fool, even if outwardly they may appear to be similar. Good actions are dependant on a clean heart, and it is only once the heart has been purified that a person can concern themselves with guiding the actions of others. If the teacher's heart is not sound, how can the teacher's actions mirror the teacher's words - and how can he or she teach others? As we have seen in The Purification of the Soul, this soundness of the heart depends largely on being detached from the world, since desire for the world is what distracts the self and gives shaytan the opportunity to cause mischief.