The Maladies of the Nafs and Their Remedies is a 10th century treatise by Ab Abd al-Ramn al-Sulam which sheds further light on his fusion of two early movements in Islamic Spirituality: Sufism and the Malmatiyyah Way, also known as the Path of Blame. This thesis will analyze the historical context of Sulams work and demonstrate the importance of Malma-Sufism to the institutionalization of Sufism in Khurasn. The Maladies of the Nafs and Their Remedies provides insight into the unique Malmat-Sufi ethic which combines mysticism, asceticism, and the interiorization of piety. The Maladies of the Nafs and Their Remedies addresses the Malmat-Sufis perspective on the greatest obstacle to spiritual progress, the Nafs, a perspective which continues to influence Sufism today.
