Introduction
According to divine wisdom, when Allah intends goodness for an individual, He enlightens them in their faith and empowers them to contribute positively to their community. Today, we will discuss one of the esteemed figures of the Islamic world who merits the title of “Hujjat al-Islam” (Proof of Islam). His contributions to the faith and benefit to his nation are numerous. We are referring to the prominent scholar, Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad Al-Ghazali.
Early Life and Education
Imam Abu Hamid Muhammad bin Muhammad Al-Ghazali Al-Tusi belonged to the Shafi’i school of thought. He was born in the city of Tus in the year 450 AH (1058 CE). Orphaned at a young age due to the death of his father, he was raised under the guardianship of his elder brother. Before his death, his father recognized his son’s exceptional intellect and recommended to a close family friend, who was a student of Sufism, that he look after Al-Ghazali’s education. Under his tutelage, Al-Ghazali immersed himself in Islamic teachings while gradually becoming acquainted with Sufi principles. As he grew older and gained independence, he traveled to Nishapur to study under the renowned Imam Al-Haramayn, Abu Ma’ali Al-Juwayni, eventually becoming one of his most notable students. It was during this time that he began engaging in scholarly debates with other scholars, much to the delight and encouragement of his mentor, Abu Ma’ali.
Teaching Career
After the passing of Imam Al-Juwayni in 478 AH, Al-Ghazali moved to Baghdad. Thanks to his proximity to the prominent minister, Nizam al-Mulk, he began teaching at the Nizamiyyah schools in Baghdad. His subjects included Islamic jurisprudence, its principles, and various other aspects of Islamic law, and he taught for a period of four years. During this time, he gained significant fame, attracting students of knowledge from across the Islamic world. Imam Abu Bakr Ibn Arabi remarked, “I saw Al-Ghazali in Baghdad, with four hundred turbaned scholars and dignitaries attending his lectures to acquire knowledge from him.”
Pursuit of Asceticism
Following his successful teaching period, Imam Al-Ghazali devoted himself to studying Sufi literature and became a disciple of the esteemed Sheikh Al-Fadl bin Muhammad Al-Farmadhi, a well-known figure among Sufis in his time in Nishapur. This experience profoundly influenced him, prompting a retreat from societal engagement and leading him towards a new phase in his spiritual journey. In 488 AH, he secretly left Baghdad, abandoning his prestigious positions and worldly status, embarking on an eleven-year journey through Jerusalem, Hebron, Damascus, Medina, and Mecca. During this period, he penned his famous work “Ihya Ulum ad-Din” (Revival of Religious Sciences), which encapsulated his spiritual experiences.
Final Years
In 499 AH, Al-Ghazali returned to his hometown of Tus, dedicating himself to worship and solitude, and established a school for jurists adjacent to his residence. He continued his scholarly endeavors until his passing in 505 AH (1111 CE).
Literary Contributions
Imam Al-Ghazali left behind a vast corpus of works across various fields of Islamic knowledge, including jurisprudence, theology, Sufism, philosophy, and critiques of opposing viewpoints. Some researchers have attributed over 228 written works to him, with a mix of published, manuscript, and lost texts. Notable titles include:
- Al-Iqtisad fi al-I’tiqad (The Economy of Belief).
- Bughyat al-Murid fi Masail al-Tawhid (The Aspiration of the Seeker in Matters of Monotheism).
- Iljam al-Awwam an Ilm al-Kalam (Preventing the General Public from Theological Discourse).
- Maqsad al-Asna fi Sharh Asmai Allah al-Husna (The Ultimate Goal in the Explanation of the Most Beautiful Names of Allah).
- Tahafut al-Falasifa (Incoherence of the Philosophers).
- Mizan al-Amal (The Balance of Deeds).
- Ihya Ulum ad-Din (Revival of Religious Sciences).
- Bidayat al-Hidayah (The Beginning of Guidance).
- Ayyuha al-Walad (O Child).
- Al-Arba’in fi Usul al-Din (Forty Principles of Religion).
- Kimiya-yi Sa’adat (The Alchemy of Happiness, originally written in Persian and later translated into Arabic).
- Minhaj al-Abidin (The Path of the Worshippers).
- Al-Wasit, in Fiqh Imam Al-Shaf’i (The Medium in the Jurisprudence of Imam Al-Shafi’i).
- Al-Mustasfa fi Ilm Usul al-Fiqh (The Required Text in the Science of Jurisprudential Principles).
- Shifa al-Ghilil fi al-Qiyas wa al-Ta’lil (The Cure of the Gloom in Analogy and Deduction).
- Al-Qistās al-Mustaqīm (The Straight Balance).
- Lubaab al-Nazar (Essentials of Reflection).
References
(1) Arabic Encyclopedia, Al-Ghazali (Abu Hamid), Vol. 13, p. 859.
(2) Shadharat al-Dhahab fi Akhbar Man Dhahab, Ibn Amad Al-Hanbali.