Al-Ghazali Rahimahullah
Theologian, Philosopher| Full Name | Abū Ḥāmid Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Ṭūsī al-Ghazālī |
|---|---|
| Kunya | Abū Ḥāmid |
| Birth | 1058 CE / 450 AH — Ṭūs, Khorasan, Persia (modern-day Iran) |
| Death | 1111 CE / 505 AH — Ṭūs, Khorasan, Persia |
| Title | Ḥujjat al-Islām (The Proof of Islam), Theologian, Jurist, Sufi |
| Position | Renewer of the 5th Islamic century, Shāfiʿī scholar, Ashʿarī theologian |
| Notable Works | Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn, Tahāfut al-Falāsifah, Al-Munqidh min al-Ḍalāl |
| Regions of Influence | Persia, Iraq, Syria, broader Islamic world, influence on Christian scholastic thought |
Life, Legacy, and His Scholarship
Early Life and Education
Born in Ṭūs in 450 AH (1058 CE), orphaned young. His guardian encouraged his pursuit of knowledge, and he excelled early in fiqh, theology, and logic.
Education and Teachers
Studied under Imām al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī in Nishapur, mastering Shāfiʿī jurisprudence and Ashʿarī theology.
Traveled extensively to Baghdad, Damascus, Jerusalem, and Makkah, seeking knowledge and spiritual refinement.
Expertise and Works
Al-Ghazālī united Sharia, philosophy, and Sufism, reconciling intellectual rigor with spiritual depth.
Key works:
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Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — revival of religious sciences
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Tahāfut al-Falāsifah — refutation of philosophical excesses
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Al-Munqidh min al-Ḍalāl — his spiritual autobiography
Famous For
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Bridging theology and spirituality
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Reviving Islamic piety in an era of intellectual crisis
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Critiquing Greek philosophy while preserving its useful methods
Character and Political Stance
Left a prestigious post at the Niẓāmiyyah of Baghdad for seclusion and spiritual purification. Prioritized sincerity over worldly honor.
Famous Quote
“Knowledge without action is madness, and action without knowledge is void.” (Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn)
Legacy
Titled Ḥujjat al-Islām by his peers. His works shaped Sunni orthodoxy and influenced both Muslim and Christian scholarship. Iḥyāʾ remains a cornerstone in Islamic spirituality.
Interesting Facts
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Spent long retreats in Damascus, Jerusalem, and Makkah
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Balanced rationalist methods with Sufi spirituality
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Influenced Western philosophers like Thomas Aquinas
References
- Al-Ghazālī, Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn; Al-Munqidh min al-Ḍalāl
- Al-Subkī, Ṭabaqāt al-Shāfiʿiyyah al-Kubrā
- Al-Dhahabī, Siyar Aʿlām al-Nubalāʾ
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