The Ethics of Certainty : Makārim al-Akhlāq by Ibn Abī l Dunyā

This chapter explores Kitāb Makārim al-Akhlāq (“The Book of Noble Character”) by Ibn Abī l-Dunyā (d. 281/894), a pious figure who was one of the first to formulate a comprehensive vision of ethics in Islam—a vision that is based on a distinct understanding of the inner life and that also shows awareness of the debates of the day on diverse approaches to the ethics of Islam. I begin by examining Ibn Abī l-Dunyā’s identity, particularly issues around his status as a ḥadīth scholar that continue to be a source of controversy. I then offer a brief overview of the modern scholarship on him, focusing especially on studies that treat Kitāb Makārim al-Akhlāq in some measure. From there, I proceed to analyse the work itself, which follows not only from Ibn Abī l-Dunyā’s own explanatory statement in the work but also from core concepts that shape its outlook, whose meanings can be more fully understood only by considering them as they feature in other works of his. Finally, I end with a brief note on Ibn Abī l-Dunyā’s legacy.

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Published in: Key Classical Works on Islamic Ethics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
See chapter on publisher's website: https://dx.doi.org/10.1163/9789004459472_003