In this text, Ghazali deals with the subjects of patience and thankfulness and their different forms. This edition includes an introduction which illustrates the importance of the topics in Islam throughout the centuries.

Al-Ghazali on Patience and Thankfulness is a translation of the thirty-second chapter of The Revival of the Religions Sciences (Ihya Ulum al-Din). This chapter fills in the last of the four sections of the Ihya, the section dealing with the virtues or what is conducive to salvation. Ghazali here presents definitions for patience and its different forms; the need for patience; the degrees of patience; and why patience is considered to be half of faith. The second part of this chapter deals with thankfulness and again Ghazali gives us definitions for thankfulness, its nature and its blessings. In addition to the translation, Dr Henry Littlejohn provides an extensive introduction which illustrates the importance of the topics of patience and thankfulness in Islam throughout the centuries.

A Selection from the Table of Contents
1.An Exposition of the Virtue of Patience
2.An Exposition of Patience being Half of Faith
3.An Exposition of the Divisions of Patience according to the Varying Degrees of Strength and Weakness
4.An Exposition of the Virtue of Thankfulness
5.An Exposition of the Reality and Divisions of Blessing
6.An Exposition of the Cause which Diverts Humans from Thankfulness
7.An Exposition of the Coalition of Patience and Thankfulness in One Thing