This book, authored by Luqman Nagy, is an introduction to the history and legacy of the great translation movement that began at the Bayt al-Hikmah in ninth century Abbasid Baghdad and culminated centuries later in Spain, with teams of Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars translating works of Greek and Islamic science from Arabic into Latin. These translations became the first scientific textbooks to be used at many European universities. This wealth of knowledge that was made available in Latin helped initiate the Renaissance, or ‘rebirth’ of learning in the West.

The subject of this treatise – the nature, essence and circumstances of the human soul – is fascinating to people of all ages, faiths and walks of life. It covers in particular the issue of death and what happens after it. Due to the nature of this exciting topic, one who researches this subject is faced with an enormous amount of conflicting information. Therefore in order to arrive at sound dependable conclusions regarding the soul, one must carefully read and analyse the available material and evaluate it according to stringent criteria. This is of utmost importance since it bears directly on one’s belief.

This book, written by Luqman Nagy, highlights the life and times of ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez, a truly exceptional Muslim ruler who, during his twenty-nine months in office, governed the Ummah totally in accordance with the Qur’an and the Sunnah. His sincere devotion to the religion of Islam enabled ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez to bring prosperity and contentment not only to the Ummah but to all those residing within the Umayyad state.

What should I do if I miss the fajr prayer? What are the consequences of excessive laughter? How should I deal with insinuating thoughts from Satan? How can I control my bad temper? What is so bad about staying up late night after night? Drawing on the great guidance of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, Shaykh Muhammad Sâlih al-Munajjid answers these questions and more, giving informative explanations and practical solutions to help you improve in your worship and in your performance of everyday activities.