Top of page

Book/Printed Material Treatment for the Spirit, Refinement of Manners, and Renunciation of Vice.

About this Item

Title

  • Treatment for the Spirit, Refinement of Manners, and Renunciation of Vice.

Summary

  • Mudawat al-nafus wa tahdhib al-akhlaq wa al-zuhd fi-al-radha'il (Treatment for the spirit, refinement of manners, and renunciation of vice) is a collection of essays on various philosophical and ethical points by the famous Muslim thinker Ibn Hazm of Andalusia (994-1064). The author portrays the ethical life as the highest attainment of the learned man, and his personal reflections appear to be the distillation of a long life of scholarship, political activism, and eventual withdrawal from the world. In the introduction, he states that he has set down what he has learned with the passage of time during a life of study, reflection, and "avoidance of the worldly pleasures that attract most men and the accumulation of superfluous treasure, which I have roundly criticized." The work gives practical reasons for desiring knowledge, developing the intellect, and demonstrating true affection in friendship and marriage. It closes with advice on proper conduct during classes and discussions, including polite approaches to questioning instructors and engaging in debate. Ibn Hazm lived during the tumultuous period at the end of Umayyad rule in Spain. He was tenacious in his defense of the declining dynasty and suffered imprisonment and internal banishment for his views. Despite these difficulties, he wrote prolifically, although only a small number of his works have survived. Ibn Hazm is revered as a philosopher and jurist, but he is best known to world literature for his literary masterpiece on virtuous love, Tawq al-Hamamah (The neck ring of the dove). Mudawat al-Nufus is also known by the title al-Akhlaq wa-al-sayar (Ethics and behavior). From footnoted references to al-asl (the original text), this edition appears to be based on a manuscript, which unfortunately remains unidentified. The work also contains footnotes explaining unusual words and concepts. The book was privately printed in Cairo in 1905 by Shaykh Mustafa al-Qabbani al-Dimashqi at the Nile Press.

Names

  • Ibn Ḥazm, ʻAlī ibn Aḥmad, 994-1064 Author.

Created / Published

  • Cairo : Nile Press, 1905.

Headings

  • -  Spain--Andalucía
  • -  994 to 1064
  • -  Conduct of life
  • -  Ethics
  • -  Islamic philosophy
  • -  Manners and customs

Notes

  • -  Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
  • -  Original resource extent: 77 pages ; 21 centimeters.
  • -  Reference extracted from World Digital Library: J.W. Fiegenbaum et al., "Ibn Hazm" in Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Academic Edition.
  • -  Original resource at: Qatar National Library.
  • -  Content in Arabic.
  • -  Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.

Medium

  • 1 online resource.

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2021666280

Online Format

  • compressed data
  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is unaware of any copyright or other restrictions in the World Digital Library Collection. Absent any such restrictions, these materials are free to use and reuse. Researchers are encouraged to review the source information attached to each item. For information on contacting WDL partner organizations, see this archived list of partners

The Library asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here.

Credit Line: [Original Source citation], World Digital Library

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For additional information and contact information for many of the partner organizations, see this archived capture of the World Digital Library site from 2021.

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Ibn Ḥazm, ʻAlī Ibn Aḥmad, 994-1064 Author. Treatment for the Spirit, Refinement of Manners, and Renunciation of Vice. Cairo: Nile Press, 1905. Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666280/.

APA citation style:

Ibn Ḥazm, ʻ. I. A. (1905) Treatment for the Spirit, Refinement of Manners, and Renunciation of Vice. Cairo: Nile Press. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2021666280/.

MLA citation style:

Ibn Ḥazm, ʻAlī Ibn Aḥmad, 994-1064 Author. Treatment for the Spirit, Refinement of Manners, and Renunciation of Vice. Cairo: Nile Press, 1905. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2021666280/>.