The Messenger of Allah said: ' Verily the most beloved and closest of you to me on the Day of Judgment will be the ones with the most excellent character, and the worst and most distant of you from me on the Day of Judgment will be the prideful and arrogant ones.' From this single statement of our beloved Prophet, we can gauge the loft status of excellent character and the detrimental effect of evil character. When deeply analyzed, it is realized that evil character traits are the root causes of all social ills, every manifestation of strife, and the general disharmony that plagues humanity.

Hence, removing these diseases from the heart is crucial and the only avenue towards success in this life and the hereafter. Allah Most High says, 'Indeed, successful is the one who purified (the self) and failed is the one who defiled it...'

This concise yet comprehensive book was written by one of the great sages and illustrious scholars of the modern era - the late knower of Allah, Hadrat Mawlana Hakim Muhammad Akhtar - as a beginner's guide to reforming one's character. The translation of this brief treatise is a boon for Western audiences who are seeking the path of purifying the heart and drawing nearer to Allah.