Known as "the Philosopher of the Arabs," Al-Kindi grounds his approach in clear-eyed recognition of life’s impermanence, asserting that clinging to the impossible—eternal possession of worldly things—breeds unnecessary anguish. His logic unfolds with elegant simplicity:
“That which cannot endure forever in this world cannot be held forever. Thus, we should not desire what does not and cannot exist.”
This premise is both a diagnosis and a prescription.
Al-Kindi acknowledges the limits of human agency—we cannot bend the world to our will nor halt its ceaseless flux. However, mastery over our inner landscape lies within our grasp: how we perceive, interpret, and respond to life’s inevitable losses.
Echoing the Stoics, he argues that sorrow stems not from events but our attachment to illusions of permanence.
Yet Al-Kindi goes beyond mere acceptance.
He urges a more profound shift—not just a tweak in thought or emotion, but a fundamental reorientation of our being in the world.
For Al-Kindi, this transformation hinges on cultivating virtuous habits. Changing how we think or feel about loss is a start, but it is insufficient without sustained practice. He advocates for a deliberate, disciplined life—nurturing traits like patience, gratitude, and detachment from material excess.
By aligning our habits with reason and divine order, we recalibrate our relationship to sorrow, opening the door to enduring joy. This cognitive remedy, steeped in Islamic metaphysics yet universally accessible, positions Al-Kindi as a bridge between ancient wisdom and modern therapeutic insights, offering a timeless strategy to lighten the burdens of the human heart.
Read: The Epistle of Ya ̈qu ̄ b ibn Isha ̄q al-Kind‡ ̄ on the Device for Dispelling Sorrows:
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