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What is Book 31 of the Iḥyāʾ?
The Book of Repentance is Book 31 of Imam al-Ghazālī's Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn, written in the 11th–12th century. It is the first book of the fourth quarter, the Saving Virtues. Repentance, the opening says, is the starting point for the wayfarers, the capital of the winners, and the first steps of the seekers; it was so for our father Adam, peace be upon him, and for all the Prophets. The question the book answers is what repentance really is, when it is required, and what a person must do the moment a sin occurs.
The chapters cover the necessity and virtue of repentance and its immediate obligation. Al-Ghazālī then explains how degrees and ranks in the Hereafter are distributed based on deeds, and what causes minor sins to become serious. The final chapter tells the repentant what to attend to swiftly if a sin occurs, whether intentionally or otherwise. The opening names the First Pillar of the book as the essence of repentance, and says repentance holds a significant position in religion.
It opens by blending hope with fear: Allah forgives sins and accepts repentance, yet He is severe in punishment. It is no surprise if a human sins and errs, the opening says, for it is a habitual trait inherited from their forebears; but if the father mended after breaking, so should the return to Him be. Pure goodness is the habit of the near angels, sheer evil is the nature of the devils, and returning to good after falling into evil is the necessity of human beings.
Is there an English audiobook of Repentance?
Yes. Joyful Muslims publishes the complete Book 31 of the Iḥyāʾ, The Book of Repentance, as an English audiobook (about 4.5 hours), translated from the Arabic, with a word-synced bilingual transcript. It examines the conditions of repentance, its inner reality, and the swift changes of the heart, as the first station on the path to Allah.
Is it free to listen?
The whole library is open to everyone. Every member gets five hours of listening free each month; Joyful+ removes the time limit.
What does it cover?
Six chapters: the necessity and virtue of repentance, its immediate obligation, how degrees and ranks in the Hereafter are distributed by deeds, what causes minor sins to become serious, and what a repentant should swiftly attend to if a sin occurs. It runs about 4.5 hours.
Last updated 2026-09-11
Inside the book.
Chapters
Word-synced with the narrator.
The first three minutes are transcribed here. In the app, the Living Manuscript scrolls through the entire book in rhythm with the audio — Arabic alongside English.
Living Manuscript
Listen to the full book in the app for the complete Living Manuscript.
The full, word-synced transcript in Arabic and English is in the app.
