Ibn Al-Jawzi
Excessive hope, lack of fear of Allah and deluding oneself are illnesses that have contaminated people’s hearts. The treatment of these diseases therefore requires medicine of intimidation and dissuasion. Indeed, when the heart remains in this dreamy state, treating it with doses of serenity would be equivalent to using, on a person suffering from hypothermia, amedication that lowers body temperature. It is for this reason that Ibn al Jawzi has collected, in this work, terrifying stories, warnings against sins, stories describing punishments and stories that put the heart in an uncomfortable state. All this is done with the aim of making the confident anxious, to soften hard hearts, bring tears to dry eyes, and motivate the lazy to do righteous actions. And it is with Allah that absolute success rests.
