Imam Al-Ghazali, The Philosopher who became Sufi

 Imam Al-Ghazali, The Philosopher who became Sufi 

Abu Hamid Muhammad Al-Ghazali was born in 1058 in Tus, Persia. His father was a Sufi and wool merchant. It is likely that Al-Ghazali was named after his father's business, as "ghazzali" means "wool merchant." When his father passed away, Al-Ghazali and his brother were taken care of by a Sufi friend named Ahmad al-Radkhani, who promised to educate them.

Al-Ghazali’s early education was challenging due to poor economic conditions. However, at the age of fifteen, he was able to continue his studies with a renowned scholar named Abu Nasr al-Ismaʾili in Jurgan, near the Caspian Sea. During his studies, he would take notes but not bother to understand or memorize the lessons.

Once, while returning to his hometown of Tus from Jurgan, his group was attacked by bandits. When Al-Ghazali pleaded for them not to steal his school notebooks, the leader of the robbers mocked him. This incident made Al-Ghazali realize that true learning should be in the mind and not just in notebooks. From then on, he started memorizing his lessons instead of merely writing them down.

In Baghdad, Al-Ghazali worked as a legal advisor for Nizam al-Mulk, taught, wrote, and interacted with other scholars. He followed the Shafi’i school of Islamic jurisprudence and the Asharite school of theology. At the age of thirty-three, he became the chief professor at Baghdad’s prestigious Nizamiyya college, a highly esteemed position.

During his time in Baghdad, Al-Ghazali authored one of his most famous works, “The Incoherence of the Philosophers,” where he aimed to criticize the theories of earlier Islamic thinkers such as al-Farabi and Ibn Sina. He believed they relied too heavily on rational thought, which he considered insufficient for understanding concepts like Allah and infinity.

However, in his early thirties, Al-Ghazali began questioning the purpose and meaning of his scholarly pursuits and religious beliefs, leading to a period of doubt and introspection. He experienced a crisis of faith, which caused his popularity to decline suddenly. In 1095, he developed a stutter that prevented him from lecturing and eventually rendered him unable to speak. Although he later regained his voice and overcame the stutter, he decided to give up his teaching position and leave Baghdad.

Al-Ghazali returned to Tus with his family, renouncing his wealth and adopting the austere life of a Sufi. Sufism involves contemplation, prayer, self-denial, and embracing poverty, aiming to understand and unite with Allah. Al-Ghazali established a Sufi retreat and school in Tus in 1099. He led a quiet life of prayer, writing, and became known as a mystic.

Despite his spiritual struggles, Al-Ghazali endeavored to address his doubts and strengthen his faith. He passed away in 1111. Throughout his life, he wrote over four hundred works, including “The Revival of the Religious Sciences” (IhyaʾʿUlum ad-Din), which brought Sufism into the mainstream of Islam. His writings have influenced not only Islamic thinkers but also Christian scholars.

In conclusion, Al-Ghazali’s journey was one of exploration and overcoming doubt. He thoroughly researched Islam, faced periods of uncertainty, and emerged as a more profound scholar. From being a philosopher, he transformed into a devoted Sufi, embracing a life of mysticism and prayer.

Notable books :

• “The Incoherence of the Philosophers”

• “The Revival of the Religious Sciences”

• “The Alchemy of Happiness”

• “Mishkat al-Anwar” (The Niche for Lights) 

    Courtesy: Sahil Sharifdin Bhat